The pretty UK city has plenty of indoor attractions (Image: Getty)
It’s fair to say that the weather in the UK has taken a turn for the worst. Several storms have swept over the country in recent days, and with more probably on the way, you might be wondering how to keep yourself and your family entertained.
Rainy days don’t always have to mean staying inside, and if it’s safe to do so, there are plenty of fun places to visit with loads of indoor attractions. And one particular UK city has been crowned as the very best for miserable, wet days. New data from The Co-operative Bank has crowned Norwich as the number one destination for when it’s too rainy to do much outside – and there is so much to discover.
The experts analysed 30 UK cities, ranking them on their number of indoor attractions, such as museums, cinemas, escape rooms, bowling alleys and art galleries, how well tourists rate them, and the cost of entry to each city’s most popular indoor attractions.
And Norwich in East Anglia came out on top with a overall score of 8.46/10, more than 100 indoor attractions, many of which are very highly rated on TripAdvisor.
Things to do in Norwich
The ancient city centre is brilliant to visit on a rainy day. Visitors can head straight into the historic Royal Arcade to browse quirky boutiques under an ornate Victorian Art Nouveau canopy, sheltered from the wet weather.
Just a stone’s throw away sits Norwich Market, one of the oldest and largest open-air covered markets in the country. Here, you can enjoy some cosy street food, from fresh artisan hog roasts and curries to warm churros.
Norwich Cathedral is the city’s main attractions (Image: Getty)
If you want to step back in time while also stepping away from the rain, the city’s heritage spots have you covered. Norwich Castle, a towering 900-year-old fortress perched on a grassy hill, will keep you entertained for hours.
Just across the cobbled streets, the sweeping structure of Norwich Cathedral provides plenty of dry walkways alongside soaring medieval vaulted ceilings that look even better in person.
The cathedral is one of the main attractions in the city, and even better, it’s completely free to visit.
One fan on Tripadvisor said: “A beautiful and stunning place of worship, well worth visiting! The cathedral is wonderfully well kept, peaceful, and steeped in history. It was a lovely bonus that dogs are welcome, making our visit with our dog even more enjoyable. There’s also a charming little gift shop, and the staff were absolutely amazing—friendly, welcoming, and helpful. A truly lovely must-see place to visit in Norwich!”
The market in Norwich is covered, making it easily accessible in the rain (Image: Getty)
Places to eat and drink in Norwich
The city also has a thriving food and drinks scene that is obviously best enjoyed when the weather is miserable – especially the cosy pubs.
Norwich is famously known to have once had a pub for every single day of the year, and many of its best pubs are hundreds of years old.
The Adam and Eve, thought to be the oldest pub in the city, boasts log fires and locally brewed real ales where you can watch the rain fall outside.
For something special, famous spots like Roger Hickman’s offer high-end fine dining in an intimate townhouse setting, while the vibrant Benedicts serves up modern British comfort dishes that will make you feel so cosy.
Top 10 best UK cities for a rainy day
- Norwich
- Cambridge
- York
- Edinburgh
- Brighton
- Exeter
- Glasgow
- Nottingham
- Liverpool
- Cardiff