Rainy Day Activities
Rainy Day Activities – Looking for things to do when it rains in Harrogate, Knaresborough or Ripon? North Yorkshire has plenty of indoor attractions to keep families, couples and visitors entertained whatever the weather. In Harrogate, discover the Royal Pump Room Museum and Mercer Art Gallery, enjoy indoor swimming or try climbing. Knaresborough offers fascinating local history at its Castle & Courthouse Museum, alongside independent shops and welcoming cafés. Ripon is perfect for a rainy-day history adventure, with Ripon Cathedral, the Workhouse Museum, Prison & Police Museum and Courthouse Museum all within easy reach of the city centre. From museums and heritage attractions to family activities, shopping and cafés, rainy days can still be great days out in North Yorkshire.
Planning a visit? Check the event websites before travelling, as events, dates, times, ticket availability and programmes can change
Rainy Day Activities in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon
Harrogate
Royal Pump Room Museum
Address: Crown Place, Harrogate HG1 2RY
Activity: Museum and local history
Good for: Families, couples and history lovers
About: Discover Harrogate’s history as a spa town through exhibitions about its mineral waters and the people who visited and worked here.
Website: Royal Pump Room Museum
The Mercer Art Gallery
Address: 31 Swan Road, Harrogate HG1 2SA
Activity: Art gallery
Good for: Art lovers, adults and families
About: Spend a rainy afternoon exploring fine art and changing exhibitions.
Website: Mercer Art Gallery
Turkish Baths Harrogate
Address: Parliament Street, Harrogate HG1 2WH
Activity: Spa and relaxation
Good for: Adults, couples and relaxing days out
About: Unwind inside Harrogate’s historic Turkish Baths, known for their striking Moorish-style interiors.
Website: Turkish Baths Harrogate
Harrogate Theatre
Address: Oxford Street, Harrogate HG1 1QF
Activity: Theatre and live entertainment
Good for: Couples, families and evening entertainment
About: Check the programme for plays, comedy, music and family shows.
Website: Harrogate Theatre
Harrogate Leisure and Wellbeing Hub
Address: Jenny Field Drive, Harrogate HG1 2RP
Activity: Swimming and fitness
Good for: Families, children and active days
About: Indoor swimming and fitness facilities offer an active option when the weather is wet.
Website: Active North Yorkshire
Starbeck Swimming Pool
Address: Spa Lane, Starbeck, Harrogate HG2 7JF
Activity: Indoor swimming
Good for: Families and swimmers
About: Head indoors for a family swim or an exercise session.
Website: Active North Yorkshire
Live For Today Climbing Centre
Address: Hornbeam Park Avenue, Harrogate HG2 8QT
Activity: Indoor climbing and bouldering
Good for: Families, teenagers and active adults
About: Try an indoor climbing session suited to your ability.
The Little Bees
Address: Beech Avenue, Harrogate HG2 8DS
Activity: Indoor children’s play
Good for: Babies and younger children
About: An indoor space for younger children to play when outdoor plans are washed out.
Harrogate Library
Address: Victoria Avenue, Harrogate HG1 1EG
Activity: Books, reading and children’s activities
Good for: Families and quieter rainy days
About: Browse books or check the library’s programme of activities.
Website: North Yorkshire Libraries
Victoria Shopping Centre
Address: Station Parade, Harrogate HG1 1AE
Activity: Indoor shopping
Good for: Shopping and casual rainy days
About: Browse shops undercover in the centre of Harrogate.
Knaresborough
Knaresborough Castle and Courthouse Museum
Address: Castle Yard, Knaresborough HG5 8AS
Activity: Museum and local history
Good for: Families, visitors and history lovers
About: The Courthouse Museum offers an indoor look at Knaresborough’s history and historic courtroom. The castle grounds are outdoors.
Website: Knaresborough Castle and Museum
Knaresborough Heritage Centre
Location: Knaresborough town centre
Activity: Local history and heritage
Good for: Visitors and history enthusiasts
About: Learn about the town’s people, stories and heritage.
Website: Visit Knaresborough
Knaresborough Leisure and Wellbeing Hub
Address: King James Road, Knaresborough HG5 8EB
Activity: Swimming and fitness
Good for: Families, children and active adults
About: An indoor option for swimming and exercise.
Website: Active North Yorkshire
Knaresborough Library
Address: 40 Market Place, Knaresborough HG5 8AG
Activity: Books, reading and library activities
Good for: Families and children
About: A quieter stop in the town centre, close to cafés, shops and the museum.
Website: North Yorkshire Libraries
Ripon
Ripon Workhouse Museum
Address: 75 Allhallowgate, Ripon HG4 1LE
Activity: Museum and social history
Good for: Families, children and history lovers
About: Explore a former Victorian workhouse and learn about the people who lived and worked there.
Website: Ripon Museums
Prison and Police Museum
Address: St Marygate, Ripon HG4 1LX
Activity: Crime and policing history
Good for: Families and older children
About: Explore historic cells and displays about policing, prisons, crime and punishment.
Website: Ripon Museums
Ripon Courthouse Museum
Address: Minster Road, Ripon HG4 1QS
Activity: Museum and legal history
Good for: Families and history enthusiasts
About: Step inside a historic courtroom and discover how justice was administered in the past.
Website: Ripon Museums
Ripon Cathedral
Address: Minster Road, Ripon HG4 1QT
Activity: Architecture and history
Good for: Families, couples and heritage enthusiasts
About: Explore centuries of architecture and craftsmanship inside the cathedral.
Website: Ripon Cathedral
Ripon Leisure and Wellbeing Hub – Jack Laugher Centre
Address: Dallamires Lane, Ripon HG4 1TT
Activity: Swimming and fitness
Good for: Families and active days
About: An indoor choice for swimming and exercise.
Website: Active North Yorkshire
Ripon Library
Location: Ripon city centre
Activity: Books, reading and children’s activities
Good for: Families and quieter days
About: Browse books or check for activities while visiting the city centre.
Website: North Yorkshire Libraries
Make a Day of It
For a full rainy day in Harrogate, combine the Royal Pump Room Museum and Mercer Art Gallery with lunch, shopping or an indoor activity. In Knaresborough, combine the Courthouse Museum with the Heritage Centre, library and town-centre cafés. In Ripon, the Workhouse Museum, Prison & Police Museum and Courthouse Museum make an especially strong wet-weather itinerary because all three attractions can be explored as part of the Ripon Museums experience.
If you have a query, need help, or cannot find what you require, email info@harrogateuk.co.uk and we will try to help you.
Rainy Day Activities
