What to do in the Cotswolds when it rains

There’s no need to pout if it’s pouring down at these campsites in the Cotswolds. Simply check out these great suggestions for what to do in the Cotswolds when it’s raining and you’ll soon forget all about the dreary weather!

Explore enchanting historic houses

Snowshill Manor boasts a fantastic collection of diverse and intriguing objects amassed by Charles Wade, a collector, architect and craftsman who appreciated good design and workmanship as well as colour within the objects he collected. With around 22,000 objects in the collection there is something to entice everyone, from instruments and bicycles to toys and one of the biggest collections of Samurai armour in Europe.

If you want to shelter from the rain in sheer grandness, it’s hard to beat Blenheim Palace. The impressive exterior of the palace is more than matched by the sumptuous interior with its beautiful Baroque architecture and excellent collection of furniture, portraits and tapestries. A guided tour is a great way to find out about the history of the palace, which was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

Discover fascinating facts in marvellous museums

Home to one of the best Roman collections in England, the Corinium Museum in Cirencester takes its name from Britain’s second biggest Roman town outside of London. The museum collections incorporate a huge variety of objects spanning diverse periods such as the Neolithic period, the Bronze Age, the Anglo-Saxon period and the seventeenth century. Visitors will be able to see the likes of a Civil War coin hoard, carvings, jewellery and mosaics. The museum also hosts a number of evening lectures, afternoon talks and temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

Anyone with an interest in aviation should definitely swoop by the Jet Age Museum which provides wonderful insight into the history of aviation in Gloucestershire. The museum is free to visit and contains a variety of enticing exhibits and a great collection of Gloster aircraft. Visitors can explore inside an Avro Vulcan B2 cockpit, while kids will love playing in Biggles which is a fundraising children's play-plane.

Keeping the kids occupied

If the wet weather is making the kids glum, herd them up and head to the Cattle Country Adventure Park. The fantastic attractions here will have children eager to stampede through the doors and with the likes of two massive indoor play barns, a sheltered beach barn and adorable animal encounters on offer who could blame them? Kids can go wild on the huge slides and in the squishy assault course, while the soft play area just for toddlers ensures even the youngest members of the family can have an exciting day out. If the weather clears there are many enticing activities to do outdoors as well but with so much fun on offer indoors kids won’t mind staying inside!

If discovering the delights of the biggest indoor soft play centre in Gloucestershire sounds like a perfect day for your children then they are guaranteed to be spellbound by Magicland. The centre spans 13,000 square feet and offers kids a variety of exciting things to try, such as zipping down slides, firing foam balls at targets and navigating ball rivers and log ramps. There are also separate areas dedicated to children under four years old and tiny tots younger than 18 months. In addition, the story corner and five-a-side indoor football pitch provide even more entertainment.

See something a little different

Forget seeing the sights by car, bus or on foot – instead for something truly memorable catch the train and journey along the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, the only standard gauge heritage railway in Wiltshire. Passengers can enjoy a round trip of around four miles on a steam or diesel train with several stations en route. Blunsdon Station has two museums, one of which features railway memorabilia while the second, the Wartime Museum, incorporates models and relics as well as 1940s recreations.

Ever wondered how perfumes are made? Well with a tour of the Cotswold Perfumery you can find out. This informative and entertaining tour provides visitors with a first-hand look at a perfume factory, you will visit the perfume laboratory, the compounding room and the packing area and discover the intricacies of the perfume-making process. Perfumery courses are also available for visitors who are eager to learn how to make their very own perfume.

Sights and scents to delight on even the dullest of days

These great sheltered attractions are ideal ways to pass the time when it’s raining in the Cotswolds. Whether you’re keen to increase your general knowledge, looking for something fun to do with the kids or eager to get creative with your own signature scent, you can do it all in the Cotswolds no matter how wet the weather is.