We all know how unpredictable the British weather can be. Spring might be here at last, but that doesn’t necessarily mean an end to wet and windy days. Still, there’s plenty of reasons to get out of the house – think museums, galleries and other indoor experiences and activities from festivals to sport and food.
What’s more, they’re all accessible by train, making it even easier to get away from it all, wherever you’re based. Plus, Railcard offers a third off rail travel around Britain. With nine Railcards to choose from, saving customers an average of £172 a year, it pays for itself in no time. Find the one for you at railcard.co.uk. Railcard has also created a handy online calculator to determine what you could save – simply enter your journey details and the relevant Railcard and it will calculate the discount you can get.
Read on for some great ideas for days out around the country that don’t rely on sunshine…
Sample street food in an exciting new space
One of Britain’s most vibrant cities gets even more lively this spring with the addition of a new huge indoor food hall. Alfred Works (a ten-minute walk from Birmingham Moor Street), set within Digbeth’s iconic Custard Factory, spans over 17,500 sq. ft, with 15 independent kitchens, an outdoor courtyard and a packed events programme. Flavours on offer include Palestinian cuisine, Italian soul food and Caribbean fusion.
It follows the opening last year of Society (a five-minute walk from Snow Hill station), which offers a mix of independent street food, craft beer and cocktails in a huge space in the heart of the city. Vendors include Slap and Pickle burgers, famous for their 40-day-aged smash burgers, Japanese sando spot Shokupan, and local Birmingham favourite Amore Pizza Napoletana.
Nearest station: Moor Street, Snow Hill
Visit an experimental Scottish distillery
Not all Scottish distilleries are out in the wilds – Holyrood Distillery is right in the heart of Edinburgh in the city’s Southside district, just a short walk from the old town. Opened in 2019 in an old railway goods building, it was the first new distillery in the city in nearly a century, and prides itself on a modern approach to spirit making, with experimental and innovative recipes and flavours. The distillery runs a range of tours to suit both the whisky-curious and full-on connoisseurs, including some led by experienced distillers that give an inside look at the whisky making process. There are also whisky and gin tasting sessions, and whisky and chocolate sessions where you can sample malt-flavoured truffles made exclusively for the distillery by The Chocolatarium (who also run tours at their micro factory in the old town).
Nearest station: Edinburgh Waverley
Head to the tropics
If the British weather is getting you down, escape to somewhere more tropical – like Britain’s largest butterfly house. Just a 15 minute walk from the town’s train station, Stratford-upon-Avon’s Butterfly Farm is home to over 250 species from 20 different countries. There are around 2000 butterflies in total, all fluttering around in a rainforest-like environment with waterfalls and fish-filled ponds. You can also spot Iguanas, rare frogs, tropical birds and a pair of venomous Sumatran pit vipers (don’t worry, they’re housed safely away from the main farm). With a year-round temperature above 27 degrees, you’ll forget all about the weather outside. And with plenty of other indoor attractions, including Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Tudor World, Stratford is a great rainy-day destination.
Nearest station: Stratford-upon-Avon
Enjoy a good story
2026 is the National Year of Reading, which makes it a perfect time to visit Newcastle’s Seven Stories, the UK’s National Centre for Children’s Books. Housed in a seven story, Grade II listed former-Victorian mill, the centre celebrates the magic of children’s stories with exhibitions, events and workshops. You’ll find work by beloved children’s authors such as Jacqueline Wilson, Phillip Pullman and Quentin Blake, including original illustrations and manuscripts. Immersive exhibitions transport visitors into some of their favourite imaginary worlds (including Judith Kerr’s Mog, The Forgetful Cat) and there are daily storytimes for little ones. Plus, of course, a bookshop.
Nearest station: Newcastle Central
Catch a must-see exhibition in London
Spring brings with it a raft of enticing exhibitions at London’s galleries. From the end of February, the Tate Modern will host Tracey Emin: A Second Life, the largest ever exhibition of the artist’s work (runs until 31 August) – and yes, her famous bed will be there.
At the National Portrait Gallery, Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting (runs until 4 May) shows a lesser known side of the artist’s work. Film fans can enjoy a huge show celebrating the work of Wes Anderson at the Design Museum (until 26 July), while style lovers should head to The UK’s first exhibition on Elsa Schiaparelli, showing at The V&A (until 8 November), it follows the journey of her fashion house’s groundbreaking origins in the 1920s, to the incredible influence it still has today.
Meanwhile miniature culture vultures will love Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends, an interactive celebration of the animated favourites at the Young V&A.
Nearest station: All London stations
Take a trip to Space
The Science Museum’s recently reimagined Space gallery is dedicated to the stories behind space exploration. Expect iconic objects, including the space suit worn by Helen Sharman, the first British person in space; the capsule that carried Tim Peake; and a three-billion-year-old piece of the Moon. The gallery also showcases the future of space exploration, with the latest technologies from the UK and around the world on display – including the LEV-2, a tiny lunar explorer made in collaboration with a toy company. Explorers of all ages will find lots to discover and, best of all, it’s all completely free.
Nearest station: London Victoria or Euston
Hit the slopes or get stealthy at laser tag
How about enjoying some exhilarating outdoor sports… all while staying under a roof? Indoor real snow centres offer the chance to boost your ski and snowboarding skills, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a complete beginner, and without the pesky need for access to real slopes or good snow weather. SnoZone in Yorkshire is just a few minutes walk from Glasshoughton station and all the gear you’ll need is included in your session, making it a hassle-free way to take to the slopes (just remember to wrap up warm). Located at Castleford’s mammoth indoor adventure centre Xscape, there’s plenty of other weather-proof fun nearby too, including trampoline parks, go-karting, escape rooms and laser tag.
Nearest station: Glasshoughton
Go to a literary festival
There’s lots for book lovers to enjoy over the spring months, with several big literary events taking place around the country. Oxford Literary Festival (21-29 March) has talks with authors including Simon Schama, Chris Packham, Michael Rosen and Julia Donaldson. In Cambridge (22-26 April), you can catch Mary Berry, Andrew Miller, Alan Hollinghurst, Sarah Perry and more. And in May the Stratford Literary Festival (7-10 May) has appearances by Prue Leith, Sophie Raworth, Mark Gattiss and Robert MacFarlane – plus workshops and talks for children, too.
Nearest station: Oxford, Cambridge, Stratford-upon-Avon
Visit a dungeon
You don’t get more weatherproof – or spooky – than a dungeon. Dark, atmospheric and buried deep underground, they’re made for gloomy days. Step inside and you’ll find immersive storytelling with horrible histories brought to life by actors and special effects – all with a hefty dose of gallows humour. Edinburgh Dungeon explores the city’s dark folklore, including the famous witch trials. The York Dungeon bills itself as the “scariest dungeon in history” and has 10 live actor shows sharing 2000 years of history. Meanwhile Warwick Castle Dungeon has the authentic backdrop of a real medieval fortress, making it especially atmospheric. Get a third off all of these experiences when you travel by train.
Nearest station: Edinburgh Waverley, York, Warwick
Enjoy great value British adventures by train. From stunning nature and the great outdoors, to culture, cuisine and incredible scenery, there’s no doubt Britain has it all in spades, and these unmissable adventures are just a simple, enjoyable train ride away. So there’s never been a better time to start planning some Great British getaways, from day trips to weekends away or a longer staycation.
With Railcard, whether you’re travelling solo or with a friend, on a couples weekend or off on holiday with the family, you can save on all sorts of train journeys around Great Britain. Railcard helps you save a third off rail travel and for just £35 for the year, it pays for itself in no time. With nine different Railcards available, find the one for you at railcard.co.uk
