Rainy Days
A little rain doesn’t have to stop the adventure.
Woodland camping is not only for blue skies. Pull on waterproofs, slow the day down around your tent, warm up in the sauna or choose a genuinely good indoor escape nearby.
Don’t rush to leave the woods
Light rain changes the sound, colour and atmosphere of the woodland. A slower day can still be a very good camping day.
Explore the woodland
Walk straight from your pitch and see how the rides, glades and trees feel in rain or mist.
Slow the day down
Make a hot drink, cook something good, read, play cards or listen to the rain from under a well-pitched tarp.
Plan the next dry spell
A shower may pass. Use our local walking guide to choose an easy route if the weather lifts.
Woodland sauna weather
A wet or chilly camping day followed by the heat of our wood-fired sauna feels exactly right. Step outside to cool down, breathe in the woodland air, then go back in for another round.
Your rainy-day rescue
Start with the kind of day your group needs. The suggestions below range from a quick local escape to a proper full-day outing.
Good options without a big journey
These are the most useful choices when everyone needs a quick change of scene.
Rebound, Ashby
A large indoor inflatable park with active obstacles, open-jump sessions and dedicated younger-child sessions. It suits school-age children and teenagers especially well.
- Inflatable activity park
- Sessions for different ages
- Café and free parking
The Pavilion soft play
The Donisthorpe venue many returning guests know as Jungle Madness now trades as The Pavilion. Its four-storey indoor soft play gives younger children space to climb, slide and explore while adults can sit down for food or a drink.
- Four-storey soft play
- Family-run local business
- Food and drinks available
Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre
Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre offers swimming, family sessions and Clip ’n Climb. Check the live timetable before travelling, as public sessions vary.
Check sessionsFancy a swim?
The teaching pool is smaller and shallower for less-confident swimmers.
Climb the walls instead
Clip ’n Climb offers colourful indoor climbing challenges with a safety briefing.
ODEON Swadlincote
Sometimes you just need a film, a warm seat and popcorn. Check what is showing and book a time that works around your day.
Films and timesCONKERS
CONKERS combines more than 80 interactive exhibits with an indoor Enchanted Forest play area, a 4D cinema and outdoor woodland adventures. It works well when showers come and go because you can change plans as the weather changes.
Worth knowing: CONKERS is not completely indoors. Save the outdoor trails and play areas for breaks in the rain.
Plan your visitWorth the longer drive
These are proper day trips rather than quick local diversions, but both can turn a very wet day into a highlight of the stay.
National Space Centre
Six galleries, the iconic Rocket Tower and the UK’s largest domed planetarium make this a strong choice for children, teenagers and adults. Allow several hours.
Explore the Space CentreSnowDome, Tamworth
Turn bad weather into snow with skiing, snowboarding, skating, snow play, climbing and swimming. Activities are booked separately, so check age rules and availability first.
Choose an activityGood days do not need a big budget
Indoor family attractions can become expensive. These smaller local and low-cost choices are useful when you only need a few dry hours.
Ashby Museum
A volunteer-supported museum telling Ashby’s local story. It is a short visit, so pair it with lunch, coffee or a wander around town if the rain eases.
Visit museum website →Sharpe’s Pottery Museum
Explore a Grade II listed bottle kiln and the surprising local story of pottery, clay, mining and sanitary-ware production in South Derbyshire.
Visit museum website →Leicester Museum & Art Gallery
Free entry, dinosaurs, geology, Ancient Egypt and temporary exhibitions. Several art and family galleries are currently closed for redevelopment, so check the visitor notice first.
Check current galleries →Prices, exhibitions and opening arrangements can change. Check each attraction’s own website on the day before setting off.
Bosworth Battlefield
The ticketed indoor exhibition tells the story of the Battle of Bosworth through interactive displays and family activities. Add the country park or battlefield trail if the weather improves.
Keep the original adventure
A shower does not have to cancel the day. Explore the Fire & Stars woodland, walk beside the Ashby Canal, choose an easy route at Sence Valley or spend a few hours in Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
Where the current Fire Safety status permits, settling around the fire can be one of the best parts of a wet woodland evening.
A few things make all the difference
Good waterproof gear often matters more than the forecast, especially outside the height of summer.
What is close and what is a day trip?
This simple travel map groups the attractions by how they fit into your day, rather than pretending every option is just around the corner.
Start at Fire & Stars
Woodland walks, a slower camp day and the wood-fired sauna are all here on site.
Close or short drive
Rebound, The Pavilion, CONKERS, Ashby Museum, ODEON, Sharpe’s Pottery and Whitwick leisure centre.
Longer day out
Bosworth Battlefield, SnowDome, Leicester Museum and the National Space Centre.
Not to scale. Check live traffic and each venue’s current visitor information before travelling.
Don’t wait for the perfect forecast.
Woodland camping changes with the seasons, and some of the most atmospheric stays are not the sunniest ones. Bring the right kit, embrace the weather and enjoy the woods whatever the forecast decides to do.