Whilst it can be easy to think of lots of things to do in North Wales on a sunny day, sometimes we can feel a bit glum when we’re on holiday and rain threatens.
But, don’t let a bit of the weather spoil your time in North Wales. There’s no need to cancel all the fun – there’s plenty to do on a rainy day or even a wet weekend. North Wales is packed with fantastic activities, whatever the weather.
Read on for our favourite all-weather – or even wet weather – activities in North Wales.
In this post we’re focusing on the Snowdonia and North Wales coast area, keep an eye out for a dedicated post about Anglesey.
Zip World Caverns, Snowdonia
Part of the Zip World group of centres which boasts seven locations, five of them in Wales, Zip World Slate Caverns is the most suited to wet weather. You’ll find it in Blaenau Ffestiniog in the heart of Snowdonia National Park.
Once there, you’ll find six different ‘adventures’. You may wish to swerve the outdoor zip lines themselves, but there are plenty of indoor – or rather underground – activities for everyone to enjoy. There’s the underground Caverns ropes and zips course through the old slate mine, the Bounce Below indoor playground with nets and trampolines,
For those who may prefer something a little less adrenaline-heavy, enjoy the Seep mine Tour or try the 18-hole underground crazy golf course, accessible via cable railway.
Great Orme Copper Mine, Llandudno
A fantastic day out is to be had at the Great Orme Bronze Age Copper Mine. Not only educational but exciting too.
Explore incredible bronze age mine of the tunnels under the Great Orme which were originally mined over 3500 years ago. Imagine the conditions prehistoric ancestors lived through in their search for copper.
You’ll also get the chance to view the surface excavations, explore the 4,000 year old open cast part of the mine and even see a 145m deep mineshaft from Victorian times.
Do be aware that the mine is not open over the winter and will reopen in mid-march 2023.
The National Slate Museum, Llanberis
Museums are a great wet weather activity. The kids might groan initially but in our experience, they always enjoy themselves in the end and museums are brilliant at engaging the younger generation.
The National Slate Museum is located in the Padarn Country Park near Llanberis in Gwynedd, North Wales. The museum is packed with exhibits about the history of Welsh Slate mining, and there are always lots of special activities and demonstrations during the school holidays.
Like all the national Welsh museums, entry is free.
SeaQuarium Rhyl
Set on the Rhyl seafront, SeaQuarium Rhyl has loads to see at this impressive aquarium and sealife centre. Get up close and personal with the sealife with the underwater viewing tanks.
There is a mixture of indoor and outdoor exhibits and viewing areas, so ideal for swerving showers, but perhaps not one for a torrentially wet day. Make sure to check the website for the seal show and feeding times.
RNLI Llandudno Lifeboat Station
RNLI Llandudno is generally open for visits and tours in the holiday season. You’ll find a fairly new lifeboat station, completed in 2017 which is home to two lifeboats, a Shannon Class named Reg and a D Class named Dr Barbara Saunderson, after its donor.
Do check seasonal opening hours before travelling.
The Fun Centre, Caernarfon
The Fun Centre is the perfect way to spend a day with children. It’s North Wales’s biggest indoor play centre.
As well as play areas with climbing walls, nets, mazes, slides and much more, (including a dedicated under 5s soft play area), you’ll find go-karts, laser tag and a mini museum.
There’s a café to keep the adults happy and for the kids to refuel after burning off all that energy!
The Great Orme Tramway
Ok, so we’ll admit that the Great Orme Tramway might be even better in the sunshine. But there’s no reason not to experience this 120-year-old delight in less-than-perfect weather.
Make sure to take time to marvel at what was at the time cutting-edge engineering. The tramway is now the only funicular (cable-hauled) tramway still operating on public roads.
Begin your journey at Victoria Station at the bottom, close to Llandudno Pier. There’s an exhibition at the Halfway Station and the views from the top are breath-taking. It’s well worth spending some time exploring the Great Orme itself, which is almost 700ft high. There’s a playground and even mini golf.
Rainy days don’t need to get you down!
So, there’s our whistlestop tour of wet weather and all-weather activities in North Wales for all the family. Do let us know if we’ve missed your favourite attraction or activity. Check back soon for a dedicated post of wet weather activities in Anglesey.
