28 things to do in London when it rains

Londoners rarely venture out without two things - their Oyster Card and an umbrella. According to weather data, even in the height of summer there's a chance of a shower in London every three days. But don't let that put you off, because there are enough indoor activities and ways to make the most of the city even when it's a bit wet outside. While the city is an exciting city to simply explore by foot during your London holiday, with its incredible architecture, lively street performers and more, when the rain hits it’s good to know where to run for cover. 

So to make sure you're prepared, here are a list of things to do in London when it rains.

There's something deliciously decadent about sneaking off to the cinema during the day. If you don't fancy the Odeon, try one of London's independent cinemas, as a lot of them have great bars and cafes inside as well.

There’s loads of covered markets to choose from in London, but Borough Market has to be considered as one of the best. Spanning two sites by London Bridge, the main covered market is a circus of activity, with stalls selling all sorts from fresh fruit to French cheeses, Croatian wines to freshly baked breads, and more exotic items as well as a few freebie tasters. Once you’ve shopped til’ you’ve dropped, stop off at one of the restaurants that line the market, or head over the road to the second site, where a number of food stalls offer a delicious array of dishes, from falafels to sausage rolls. 

Have a go at this game, which is a variation of Boules. The only indoor Pétanque court is in a pretty good bar - Baranis on Chancery Lane.

The 1920 in Clerkenwell has four American pool tables and a great cocktail bar (try the gin-based Bam-boozled). Number 1 Sports Bar in London Bridge has a large number of pool tables and it turns into a club later in the evening. For a traditional pool hall, try Rileys Sports Bar in Victoria or Haymarket which also feature big screens showing the latest live sport.

If there's a group of you (between three and five), head to Kings Cross and try clueQuest. It's a live escape game, which sees you and your friends use logic and those little grey cells to spring yourselves from a locked room within an hour.

Find out more about London's theatres and venues by taking a tour behind the scenes. You'll be able to smell the greasepaint (and even handle some of the props), discover the history of some of these famous buildings and hear little-known stories about actors and actresses who have trodden the famous boards. The National Theatre, Royal Albert Hall and Shakespeare's Globe have tours taking place daily. 

If it’s raining in London and you’re wondering what to do, take an official guided tour of the Royal Albert Hall. As you wind your way around this Victorian-age edifice, you’ll find out all about the royal areas, the incredible auditorium and dramatic engineering issues. It’s long been a stage where some of the top stars have performed, from the Arctic Monkeys to Beyonce, and the Cirque du Soleil in between. 

Visit Flashback on Essex Road, the area around Berwick Street in Soho, or Lucky Seven in Stoke Newington and spend an hour scouring the racks for obscure LPs. 

The Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has four indoor courts if you fancy a game, and they're open every day of the week. You can hire racquets and tennis balls at the centre.

Rain has been known to cause train delays. If you're stranded at the station with an hour or so to kill, drop into a pub near the main London train stations and wait it out.

James Smith & Sons sell the best umbrellas in London. The company has been in business for more than 180 years and have sold to prime ministers like Andrew Bonar Law and William Gladstone.They still make the umbrellas in the basement of their beautiful Victorian shop in New Oxford Street. As well as umbrellas, you can also get canes and walking sticks - but if you want one that's custom designed it can take up to four weeks to create the finished product.

London has a decent indoor bowling scene - and prices are generally cheaper in the off-peak day time. All Star Lanes have four venues in the capital, Holborn, Bayswater, Brick Lane and Westfield Stratford City, or at Bloomsbury Lanes, where you can munch on American pizza while you bowl.

Karaoke Box has three venues in Mayfair, Smithfield and Soho, where you can hire rooms for between 5 - 12 people by the hour. You can also get waiter service. Islington and Soho also has Lucky Voice, where you can sing along with inflatable instruments as props. Bloomsbury Lanes also have four private singing rooms if you want to combine a few tunes with a game of ten pin bowling.

The Barbican is a great place to hang around - you can see some exhibitions or just have a drink in one of the cafes. They also have free WIFI in the public area.

Many of London's museums are free, like the Wellcome Collection which has some intriguing exhibits (as well as a library, restaurant and cafe to hang out in). If you're caught in the rain in South Kensington, you'll find the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A all within a short walk of each other. See our full list of London museums for more inspiration.