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 | £16.90 adults, £8.80 children |
| Fishbourne Roman Palace | Chichester | Roman history, mosaics | £15.00 adults, £7.50 children |
| Splashpoint | Worthing | Swimming, flumes | From £6 |
| Chichester Cinema | Chichester | Family films | From £4 (Kids Club) |
| K2 Crawley | Crawley | Swimming, soft play | Varies |
| Amberley Museum | Amberley | Vintage transport | £18.00 adults, £9.00 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.
Key Information
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.
Key Information
Top tip: The Roman garden is outside but worth a quick dash if the rain eases. Kids love the discovery centre.
Splashpoint Leisure Centre
Modern leisure centre right on the Worthing seafront with a fantastic leisure pool with a flume, plus a 25m competition pool and a learner pool. Watching the waves crash while you swim is quite the experience.
Key Information
Top tip: Family swim sessions are at weekends and school holidays. Check the timetable online before you go.
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.
Key Information
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.
Key Information
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.
Key Information
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.