Rainy Day Activities for Children
Sometimes it's great to just wrap up, get your waterproofs on & brave the rain for puddle jumping, wave splashing & beach walking, followed by coffee & cake in one of the lovely local cafes.
For further information, I have discovered www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk which gives good descriptions, links , opening information etc. for many of the places listed below.
Tenby is an hour & twenty minutes away but there are quite a few places to visit such as Heatherton World of Activities, the Dinosaur Park, Tenby Museum & Art Gallery & the Overhang Indoor Climbing Centre & if the weather improves it has lovely beaches.
Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, Patent Slip Building, SA45 9PS. Tel: 01545 560224 https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/cardigan-bay-marine-wildlife-centre/ Opening times 9am – 5pm from Easter to end of Oct & to 6pm in summer hols.
You are actually better off looking on Facebook to see the ongoing events for children. There are indoor & outdoor activities to choose from. https://www.facebook.com/CBMWC/
Deli Delights Kitchen, Aberporth https://www.delidelightswales.co.uk/
Have a look on Facebook to see info on children’s cookery courses being run by Mandy. Spaces are limited so book as soon as you can if you’re interested. https://www.facebook.com/Deli-Delights-175433405801687/
Dinosaur Park, Great Wedlock, Gumfreston, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, SA70 8RB. Tel: 01834 845272 https://www.thedinosaurpark.co.uk/the-park/
Indoor & outdoor play areas & activities.
Dolaucothi Mines, The Coach House, Pumsaint, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire, SA19 8UW. Tel: 01558 650177 https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dolaucothi-gold-mines
Discover what life was like for Roman miners, who tunnelled through the landscape with only the most basic of hand tools; or for the Victorian miners who used explosives to break through tonnes of shale to get to the precious metal within. Guided tours run throughout the day between March & November.
Fantasy Farm Park, Llanrhystud, Ceredigion, SY23 5DA. Tel: 01974 272285. https://fantasyfarmpark.co.uk/
“At Fantasy Farm Park there is a heated indoor play area for toddlers, with ride on equipment, inflatable slides, ball pit & the usual bright and colourful soft play frame with features for the smalls (& the not-so-smalls) to go nuts on!” – Day Out with the Kids
Hangar Five Trampoline Park, Fishguard Road, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 4BY. Tel: 01437 700555. https://hangar5.wales/
Hangar 5 is an hour’s drive away through the stunning Pembrokeshire National Park. Pop for lunch or coffee at Pwnc Café (kids can have a go at the climbing wall there) in pretty Newport on the way
Heatherton World of Activities, B4318 St Florence, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, SA70 8RJ. Tel: 01646 652000. https://www.heatherton.co.uk/ Open 10am – 6pm in the holidays.
Day Out with The Kids say “Heatherton World of Activities is a magical place, with a range of fantastic & fun activities for all ages. With lots of activities all on one site that range from Go-karting, Golf and High Ropes to Archery, Paintball and Water Zorbing, it makes for the perfect family day out.
The fantastic Tree Tops Trail offers the chance to both juniors & adults to take to the trees & swing like monkeys, all year round, with the challenging assault courses through the woodland.”
Internal Fire, Museum of Power, Castell Pridd, Tan y Groes, SA43 2JS. Tel: 01239 811212 https://www.internalfire.com/
A museum, close to Wild Wellingtons, covering the history of steam & internal combustion engines. Open 5 days a week with engines running every day from the oldest working Diesel in the UK to a 4000hp jet & various steam engines.
Library, Council Offices, Morgan Street, Cardigan SA43 1DG. Small library with a kids’ corner. Open 9am – 1pm & 2pm – 5pm.
Llanerchaeron National Trust, Llanerchaeron, Ciliau Aeron, Aberaeron, SA48 8DG. Tel: 01545 570200. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/llanerchaeron
Georgian villa with tours & kids’ activity sheets to complete. Working Farm, ornamental gardens, parkland & café. If you get a break in the rain, take a walk around the lake.
Llanerchaeron say “outdoor family-themed activities are the name of the game at Llanerchaeron this summer. With soap making and a vegetable trail in the garden, the Petticoats of Power Trail and 50 Things Fridays, we've got plenty to keep everyone entertained. Enjoy craft activities in the house, Meg’s Mondays in the garden, learn about terrible fashion trends throughout history or try your hand at rag rugging!”.
Museum of Childhood Toys, Pen-ffynnon, Llangeler, SA44 5EY. http://www.toymuseumwales.co.uk/
Museum with a tea room & gift shop not visited so unsure what they’re like but close by. Open Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun 10am – 5pm.
National Botanic Garden of Wales, Near Carmarthen, Llanarthney, Carmarthenshire, SA32 8HG. Tel: 01558 668768 https://botanicgarden.wales/
Open 1st April – 31st October 10am – 6pm.
National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, near Newcastle Emlyn, Llandysul, SA44 5UP (we found that it was better to follow our Google Satnav rather than the brown signs as it was quicker) https://museum.wales/wool/
The National Wool Museum doesn’t exactly sound hugely interesting, but Trip Advisor reviews are very positive. Entry is free & there are tours, live demonstrations, hands on activities for children, a mini quiz to complete as you explore the mill & an increased programme of family activities during each school holiday. There is also a giftshop & café.
Pot Sian, Derw Stores, Caerwedros, SA44 6BS. Tel: 01545 560763.
Paint potter & build a bear studio with tea, coffee & ice cream area & a shop selling some nice bits & pieces. Open 7 days a week in the holidays 10am – 5pm & 7pm – 9.30pm.
Pwnc Café, East Street, Newport
A small café with good coffee, sweet treats nice menu & a little climbing wall, that our kids really enjoyed, in the lovely village of Newport. Great place for cycling info & they have a cycling club on Sat morns.
Lots of nice places to eat in Newport, a couple of nice shops & a gallery & a pretty coastal walk from the Parrog: park near Newport Golf Club &, looking out to sea, walk right along the coast (short walk is a lovely one for kids).
Swimming Pools: There are swimming pools in Aberaeron, Cardigan, Llandysul & Newcastle Emlyn
Felinwynt Café & Play Barn, Felinwynt, SA43 1RT – small but nice. Check there are no parties before you go.
Tenby Museum & Art Gallery, Castle Hill, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, SA70 7BP. Tel: 01834 842809. http://www.tenbymuseum.org.uk/projects/just-for-kids/
All children up to the age of sixteen have free admission to the museum when accompanied by an adult. There is plenty of amusement for children including Pirate Treasure Trails, gallery quiz sheets & jigsaw puzzles, both fun & educational. You can also dress up as a pirate & enjoy the hands-on archaeology.
The Blue Lagoon Waterpark, Canaston Bridge, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, SA67 8DE. Tel: 01834 869900 http://www.bluelagoonwales.com/
You can usually save money on tickets by booking online.
The Magic of Life Butterfly House, Cwm Rheidol, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3NB. Tel: 01970 636697. http://www.magicoflife.org/
This is a pretty small butterfly house and we can imagine if it is busy it could be hot, cramped & uncomfortable but there are lots of different species of butterfly to see & having them land on your finger is magical. It is a bit expensive for the size of the place, but when you read the display about running costs you can understand more why. We enjoyed it. The walk along the reservoir outside is stunning. Closeby is Bwlch Nant ar Arian Forest Visitor Centre, Devil’s Bridge waterfalls & The Vale of Rheidol Railway.
The Overhang Indoor Climbing Centre, Castle Slipway, Castle Beach, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, SA70 7BP. Tel: 01834 842302 http://tenbyclimbingwall.co.uk/
Teifi Valley Railway, Station Yard, Henllan, SA44 5TD. Tel: 01559 371077 http://www.teifivalleyrailway.wales/
A small railway station, 15 mins away. Teifi Valley Railway is a little tired, but our 2 boys enjoyed taking a short journey on 1 of 2 steam engines & riding the Pixie Halt, a miniature, sit-on train. There’s also a small outdoor & indoor play area & crazy golf. You also don’t pay crazy prices like you can do on other railway lines. Open Wed & Sun, 11am – 4pm.
The Vale of Rheidol Railway, Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 1PG. Tel: 01970 625819. https://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/
This train runs through stunning countryside. Check timetable before you go.
Theatr Mwldan, Bath House Road, Cardigan SA43 1JY. Tel: 01239 621200 http://www.mwldan.co.uk/whatson
Arts & cinema complex in Cardigan.
Welsh Wildlife Centre and Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve, Cilgerran SA43 2TB. Tel: 01239 621600
https://www.welshwildlife.org/visitor-centres/the-welsh-wildlife-centre/
See our Kids’ activities page for further information. Often has indoor crafting activities in the holidays. Free entry to the reserve, aside from £3 for all day parking. Gift shop & large café with great views.
Wickedly Welsh Chocolate, Unit 13, Withybush Trading Estate, Haverfordwest SA62 4BS
https://www.wickedlywelsh.co.uk/pages/chocolate-factory
Just under an hour away (also close to where Hangar 5 Trampoline Park is) Wickedly Welsh run factory tours (though it’s more like a giant kitchen) which include a family-friendly interactive demonstration where you will use all of your senses and see, touch, smell and of course taste the chocolate. They also have a chocolate deli and shop – dangerous! See website for opening times and days..
