14 things to do on rainy days that are worth the drive from Manchester

The unsettled weather is part and parcel of the autumn and winter months, but there's no reason why you can't have fun on rainy days.

If you're looking for something fun that will keep the whole family entertained for an entire day, all without getting drenched, we've got you covered.

Forget endless soft play centres and repeated cinema trips, these great days out could be your new rainy-day go-to's.

And they're only a short drive - or train ride - away, meaning you can really get a full day out of the house having fun, whatever the weather.

Take a look at some of our top suggestions of indoor attractions that are worth the journey from Manchester.

Xscape, Castleford, West Yorkshire

Around 55 minutes by car

Nearest train station - Castleford

Over at Xscape you'll find the country’s biggest real snow slope, two rock climbing walls, an aerial assault course, an indoor skateboard park, two mini golf courses, Laserzone, bowling, and a multiplex cinema.

There's also an indoor trampoline park, escape rooms, an XD Experience Theatre, VR experiences and more.

The scale of the centre is huge - it’s the size of six football pitches - and at 38m high you could fit nearly four double-decker buses on top of each other inside.  And it's jam packed with indoor activities.

There are also bars, restaurants and several retail outlets meaning you really can spend a whole day there and avoid the bad weather.

Doncaster Dome, South Yorkshire

Around 1 hour 20 minutes by car

Nearest train station - Doncaster

The Doncaster Dome is a massive leisure park with tonnes of great indoor activities for the whole family.

The Lagoons is a multi-pool water wonderland of geysers, fountains, jets and airbeds, set against the tropical rainforest backdrop of the Amazonian Adventure.

It comprises seven free form interlinked pools with a children's area and flume water rides and loads of slides.

There's an Aztec themed two-tier soft play area, indoor sports areas including football and badminton pitches and more.

The Dome is also home to the UK's only split level ice rink with interconnecting ramps linking two Ice Pads together.

With over 50 activities taking place under one roof, there's plenty to keep everyone occupied for the day.

Adventure Parc Snowdonia, Dolgellau

Around 1 hour 40 minutes away by car

Nearest station - Dolgellau

Adrenaline Indoors, in the Adventure Parc at Dolgarrog, is a new weather-proof adventure facility and features one of the longest artificial caving courses in the world.

It is home to the only extreme kicker slide in the UK, where riders are propelled two metres up in the air and four metres forward, before landing on a giant air cushion.

Their tandem zip line is the only one on the planet where you can fly directly over the heads of surfers. Starting from the top of the 12m high indoor flight tower, visitors can zip across the lagoon, and enjoy a bird's eye view of the surfers in action against the backdrop of the Conwy Valley.

The Adrenaline Pass is like a giant soft play area. 

With a host of creative obstacles aimed to test agility and stamina, visitors will find a parkour ninja floor trail, multi-level high-rise bag jumps, extreme kicker slides and an extensive netted aerial assault course.

World Museum, Liverpool

Around 45 minutes away by car

Nearest train station - Liverpool Lime Street

Spanning over five floors its easy to spend a day exploring all the amazing exhibits at the World Museum.

From Antiquities to Zoology, there are over 1.7 million internationally significant artefacts and specimens.

Take a 5,000 year journey through time to Ancient Egypt with real-life mummies, or explore human cultures from around the world, see some prehistoric dinosaurs or travel through space and discover the wonders of the universe in the immersive, full dome planetarium.

The museum is famous for its great collections, its history of innovation and the family-friendly experience that it offers - and its a great way to spend a rainy day.

Jorvik Viking Museum, York

Around 1 hour 15 minutes away by car

Nearest train station -  York

Found in the heart of York city centre there's the popular JORVIK Museum which focuses on the fascinating viking era.

 Hop aboard the state-of-the-art ride experience and be transported back in time over 1,000 years.

You'll discover the impact of international trade on Viking-Age York, including the evolution of a multicultural society in the city.

Guests can get up close to the original artefacts and dig deeper into the ancient history of York, using the latest in cutting-edge technology throughout the centre.

There are life-sized animatronics and dioramas to explore and catch a glimpse of what life was like for inhabitants of Jorvik - the Old Norse name for the city of York - back in AD975.

Blackpool Dungeons, Lancashire

Around 55 minutes away by car

Nearest train station - Blackpool North

The Blackpool Tower Dungeons opened almost eight years ago and tell the story of life in 16th century Lancashire, whilst giving crowds a fright with actors simulating torture scenes and executions.

Delve into 1000 years of Lancashire's dark past at the experience with scary fun, live actors, a thrilling ride and exciting effects.

As you move from show to show you’ll see, smell and hear the gruesome history through a series of ten live action shows.

Treak Cliff Cavern, Peak District

Around 55 minutes away by car

Nearest train station - Edale

An underground wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites, rocks, minerals and fossils and home of the unique Blue John stone.

It is part of the Castleton Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of only two sites where the ornamental mineral Blue John is still excavated.

The cavern houses some of the most beautiful cave formations found in the UK and you can take a guided tour through millions of years of geological history and wonder.

York Motorsports Village

Around 1 hour 20 minutes by car

Nearest train station - York

This indoor race facility has the North’s only driver training race simulator as used by real F1 drivers. 

Visitors can enter the cockpit of an F1 car and race on internationally renowned Grand Prix tracks. 

There are also indoor karting tracks with a number of different race formats for small to large groups - and battery karts for the really little ones.

National Science and Media Museum, Bradford

Around 1 hour 20 minutes by car

Nearest train station - Bradford Interchange

Explore the science and culture of image and sound technologies and their impact on our lives over a massive eight floors of galleries.

The museum has permanent exhibitions focusing on photography, television, animation, videogaming, the Internet and the scientific principles behind light and colour.

It also hosts temporary exhibitions and maintains a collection of 3.5 million pieces in its research facility.

Filled with fun educational exhibits, including the state-of-the-art Wonderlab gallery, and three cinema screens including the IMAX 3D cinema, the museum also hosts events for children and festivals covering animation, retro TV, film and more.

Eureka!, Halifax

Around 45 minutes by car

Nearest train station - Halifax

This award winning children's museum is dedicated to learning through play and experience.

Make some noise and explore how music is created, experience the world of work and take over a child-sized town, step inside giant body parts.

There are six unique zones to discover, each filled with hundreds of interactive exhibits designed to inspire enquiring minds to find out about themselves and the world around them, packed with equipment to explore, activities to do, and buttons to press.

Techniquest Glyndwr, Wrexham

Around 1 hour by car

Nearest train station - Wrexham General

Techniquest Glyndŵr is the only place in North Wales you will find live science shows, 65 hands-on interactive activities and a science garden.

The science discovery centre offers a self-guided tour through all the exhibits, which are great for hands-on interactive play and education.

Wray Castle, Lake District

Around 1 hour 40 minutes away by car

Nearest train station - Windermere

Wray Castle is a National Trust owned family friendly mock-Gothic castle on the shores of Lake Windermere.

You can wander the Castle’s elaborate hall, rooms with towers, turrets and arrow slots.

The castle building room has new foam blocks and there is lots of dressing up to do, plus the newest addition to the castle, the Peter Rabbit Adventure.

But, unlike many National Trust properties, it is completely empty. 

There's literally no furniture and no fittings, meaning kids can explore with little worry of touching something they shouldn't.

Blue Planet Aquarium, Chester

Around 45 minutes away by car

Nearest station - Ellesmere Port

Home to more than 100 living displays, as well as one of Europe’s largest collections of sharks, the aquarium offers plenty of marine life to marvel at - and it's all indoors.

There's plenty to see and do on your visit too.

Take a wander through the Underwater Shark Tunnel and watch fish swim over your head, or explore the coral cave and look straight down below the surface through to the floor where brightly coloured reef fish play.

The tropical river exhibit is designed to represent a branch of the Amazon River, the mighty waterway of the rainforests of South America, with its abundant and exotic freshwater life.

Cadbury World, Bournville

Around 1 hour and 50 minutes away by car

Nearest station - Bournville Rail Station

Cadbury World is a self-guided tour through 14 different chocolately zones that you can complete at your own pace.

You’ll see the Cadbury World Demonstration staff showing off their skills in the chocolate making zone.

And, with ample free parking space, an outdoor catering kiosk, the children’s African Adventure play area, and a picnic area – the grounds of Cadbury World offer plenty to see and do if the weather does clear up a bit.

There's also complimentary entertainment during weekends and summer holidays too.