What is there to do in London when it rains?

Head for the free museums — the British Museum, Natural History Museum and V&A — then book an afternoon tea, browse the covered stalls at Borough Market or Leadenhall Market, and end with a West End show.

Are London museums free to enter?

The permanent collections of the major national museums, including the British Museum, Natural History Museum, V&A and Tate galleries, are free. Special exhibitions and guided tours are ticketed separately.

Do I need to book afternoon tea in advance?

Yes — popular sittings, including the afternoon tea bus tours, generally sell out days ahead, and weekend slots go first. Book before your trip and note any dress code for hotel venues.

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Rainy Day in London: Best Indoor Things to Do

London barely notices the rain — its greatest museums are free, its tea rooms are legendary and Theatreland runs every night regardless of the forecast. Here is how to turn a wet day into one of the best of your trip, with the top-rated indoor tours and tickets to book.

At a glance

1British Museum, guided entry
2Afternoon tea indoors
3Covered markets & arcades
4West End show at night

Museums built for grey days

The British Museum is the classic rainy-day refuge: entry is free, and a guided tour from around £35 gets you to the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon sculptures without drifting aimlessly through 90-plus galleries. The Natural History Museum and the V&A in South Kensington sit a short walk apart, so you can switch buildings without much time in the weather. Guided small-group tours are worth it here — the collections are overwhelming solo.

Afternoon tea, the warmest tradition

Afternoon tea was made for weather like this. Classic hotel sittings run from about £45 per person, while a rolling alternative — tea served aboard a vintage Routemaster bus circling the sights for about 90 minutes — lets you watch Westminster and Buckingham Palace slide past from a dry seat. Most sittings book out days ahead, particularly weekend slots, so reserve before you travel rather than on the morning.

Covered markets and arcades

Borough Market, trading by London Bridge for over 250 years, keeps most of its food stalls under cover — a guided tasting tour strings together seven or eight stops without a menu decision required. Leadenhall Market's painted Victorian roof and the arcades off Piccadilly do the same for browsing. Time it right and you can eat your way from late morning to mid-afternoon entirely indoors.

A West End evening

Finish in Theatreland. Long-runners like Wicked and The Mousetrap — on stage for over 70 years — sell from around £25, and same-week seats are often available midweek outside December. A theatre-district walking tour earlier in the day covers the stage-door history if the rain eases; if not, go straight to the show. Book seats rather than queuing for day tickets in the wet.