Rain streaming down a window with colourful wellington boots and an umbrella on the sill, warm golden light inside
Seasonal Guides

Best Rainy Day Activities in West Sussex for Families

Don't let the rain stop play. West Sussex has brilliant indoor attractions for families, from soft play centres to museums and leisure pools with flumes.

West Sussex Weekly12 February 20264 min readLast verified: 12 February 2026
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Don't let the rain stop play. West Sussex has brilliant indoor attractions for families, from soft play centres to museums, leisure pools with flumes, and independent cinemas. Here are our top picks for keeping kids entertained when the British weather does its thing.

Quick Comparison

| Venue | Location | Best For | Price | |-------|----------|----------|-------| | Weald & Downland Museum | Singleton | History, hands-on activities | £16.50 adults, £9 children | | Fishbourne Roman Palace | Chichester | Roman history, mosaics | £12.50 adults, £6.50 children | | Jungle Rumble | Fontwell | Adventure golf, dinosaurs | From £9.50 | | Splashpoint | Worthing | Swimming, flumes | From £6 | | The Ark | Horsham | Soft play, toddlers | From £6.50 | | Chichester Cinema | Chichester | Family films | From £4 (Kids Club) | | K2 Crawley | Crawley | Swimming, soft play | Varies | | Amberley Museum | Amberley | Vintage transport | £16 adults, £8 children |

Best Indoor Attractions

Weald & Downland Living Museum

Over 50 historic buildings rescued from across the region, set in beautiful grounds near Chichester. Many are open to explore inside, with costumed interpreters and hands-on activities. The cafe is excellent and there are covered areas throughout. You will recognise it as the home of The Repair Shop on BBC.

Even on a rainy day, you can spend hours here. The buildings themselves provide shelter, and the museum runs special indoor craft activities during school holidays.

Location: Singleton, near Chichester

Price: £16.50 adults, £9 children

Top tip: Wear wellies as the paths between buildings can be muddy. But the buildings themselves are dry and fascinating.

Fishbourne Roman Palace

Britain's largest Roman home with stunning mosaic floors you can see up close. The museum tells the story of Roman Britain and there is a hands-on discovery centre where kids can try on Roman clothes and handle real artefacts.

Location: Fishbourne, Chichester

Price: £12.50 adults, £6.50 children

Top tip: The Roman garden is outside but worth a quick dash if the rain eases. Kids love the discovery centre.

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf

Tropical-themed indoor adventure golf with two 18-hole courses, completely covered. Animatronic dinosaurs and jungle theming make this genuinely fun for all ages, not just kids.

Location: Fontwell, near Arundel

Price: From £9.50 per person

Top tip: Book online for discounts. Gets very busy on rainy weekends, so arrive early or book a slot.

Splashpoint Leisure Centre

Modern leisure centre right on the Worthing seafront with a fantastic pool featuring flumes, wave machine, and lazy river. There is also a soft play area for younger kids. Watching the waves crash while you swim is quite the experience.

Location: Worthing seafront

Price: From £6 per session

Top tip: Family swim sessions are at weekends and school holidays. Check the timetable online before you go.

The Ark Soft Play

Three-storey play frame with massive slides, ball pools, and a dedicated toddler area. Good cafe with proper coffee and food. One of the largest and best soft play centres in the county, and the parents' coffee is genuinely good.

Location: Horsham

Price: From £6.50

Top tip: Term-time mornings are much quieter. Socks required for kids. Adults can relax with good coffee while the kids go wild.

Chichester Cinema at New Park

Beautiful independent cinema showing mainstream and arthouse films. Regular Kids' Club screenings at weekends with £4 tickets. The art deco building itself is gorgeous and worth visiting just for the atmosphere.

Location: Chichester

Price: From £4 (Kids' Club)

Top tip: Saturday morning Kids' Club is brilliant value. Arrive early for the best seats.

Amberley Museum

Industrial heritage museum in a former chalk quarry. While partly outdoor, many of the workshops and exhibits are covered. Kids love the vintage buses and trains, and the hands-on workshops are genuinely engaging.

Location: Amberley, near Arundel

Price: £16 adults, £8 children

Top tip: Not fully indoor but enough covered areas for a rainy day. Bus rides run rain or shine.

K2 Crawley

Olympic-sized swimming pool plus leisure pool with slides. Also has soft play, gymnastics, and an indoor athletics track. One of the biggest leisure centres in the South East and genuinely impressive.

Location: Crawley

Price: Varies by activity

Top tip: The leisure pool is better for young kids than the Olympic pool. Book swimming lessons here too.


All details were correct at the time of writing (February 2026). We recommend checking venue websites before visiting, as details can change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best soft play centres in West Sussex?

The top soft play centres include The Ark in Horsham (three-storey frame with great cafe), Chipmunks in Worthing, and Monkey Bizness in Crawley. Most leisure centres also have smaller soft play areas attached to their pools.

Are there any free indoor activities in West Sussex?

Libraries across West Sussex run free activities, especially during school holidays. The Novium Museum in Chichester is free for under-18s. Some leisure centres have free viewing galleries, and shopping centres sometimes have free events.

What indoor activities work for toddlers?

Soft play with dedicated toddler areas (like The Ark), sensory play sessions at local children's centres, library rhyme time sessions, and leisure centre splash pools with baby areas are all great for toddlers.

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