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Whereas Suffolk’s seashores are all the time a implausible solution to spend a sunny day, I’ve spent sufficient wet days within the county to know you’ll have simply as a lot enjoyable in Suffolk within the rain with youngsters.
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From some quirky museums to a royal burial web site, animal sights and lots extra indoor household enjoyable, there’s tons to find throughout the county.
So whether or not you’re visiting Suffolk in winter, or dodging the showers in mid summer season, listed here are my recommendations on the very best issues to do in Suffolk within the rain with youngsters.
Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge
It’s a narrative that’s straight from a fairytale – a king buried below a hill along with his treasure, undisturbed for hundreds of years. Till a small crew of archaeologists found “the discover of a lifetime” within the mounds at Sutton Hoo on the eve of the Second World Battle.
Last resting place of the King of the Wuffinga, Raedwald, King of East Anglia who dominated within the seventh century, his boat had rotted away however the valuable gadgets of his hoard survived, from jewelry to gold cash and an intricate metallic helmet.
There’s a treasure path for youths, plus dressing up and you’ll stroll out to the burial mounds if the rain isn’t too unhealthy, in addition to visiting Tranmer Home, adorned as it might have been through the Second World Battle.
Prebook tickets right here Should you’re visiting Suffolk in winter, it’s price understanding that there are restricted opening hours through the winter months.
Learn extra about our go to to Sutton Hoo with youngsters
Ipswich Museum
The pure historical past part which is the largest draw with youngsters at Ipswich Museum, however that’s solely the beginning of what there’s to see should you’re on the lookout for issues to do in Ipswich within the rain with youngsters.
You possibly can uncover native historical past, in addition to taking a visit by means of time to find extra concerning the Iron Age, the Romans and the Saxons – very best should you’ve additionally seen Sutton Hoo.
There are additionally shows on Historic Egypt, plus animals together with gorillas to lions and even a uncommon sub-species of giraffe within the Victorian pure historical past assortment – and final however very undoubtedly not least, a mammoth.
Christchurch Park and Mansion, Ipswich
Constructed on the positioning of a twelfth century priory, Christchurch Mansion is implausible should you’re on the lookout for a free time out in Suffolk within the rain with youngsters, with a mix of historical past, museum and locations to play if the unhealthy climate improves.
You possibly can discover rooms adorned in numerous types from the previous 450 years, starting from the Tudors proper by means of to the Victorians.
There’s additionally artwork on show, together with Gainsborough and Constable, in addition to different reveals, starting from ceramics to musical devices and toys – the non permanent exhibitions have additionally centered on all the pieces from Ed Sheeran to the ability of tales.
Ickworth, Bury St Edmunds
The Italianate palace of Ickworth is named a lot for its lovely gardens and grounds as for the home, with its uncommon rotunda, however should you’re visiting on a wet day in Suffolk, there’s nonetheless a lot to see.
The constructing was meant to be as a lot gallery as residence, and there’s nonetheless some spectacular artwork on present at Ickworth – designed to encourage guests, there are sometimes household actions with the identical goal.
There’s additionally an opportunity to see how the servants lived, venturing into the servants’ quarters, together with tales of among the most vibrant earls and marquesses who’ve referred to as Ickworth residence.
And for many who are decided to get outdoors and never deterred by some drizzle, there’s an all-weather path to find. Prebook tickets right here.
Mid-Suffolk Mild Railway, Stowmarket
The Mid Suffolk Mild Railway is Suffolk’s solely normal gauge heritage railway, with a museum for train-lovers in addition to an opportunity to make a journey on a steam practice.
There are occasions all year long, together with Middy within the Battle Years, an opportunity to nearly return to the Nineteen Forties, and Santa specials at Christmas.
Do verify earlier than you flip up although because the trains don’t run each day.
Ipswich Transport Museum
There are over 100 automobiles on show on the Ipswich Transport Museum, all made or used within the native space over a interval of round 200 years.
So in addition to police automobiles and fireplace engines, you’ll discover bicycles, classic prams, lawnmowers and even a funeral hearse.
There’s additionally a mannequin railway, the place everybody can attempt their hand at driving the trains, plus an exercise zone for youths – a really enjoyable solution to spend a wet day in Suffolk with youngsters huge and small!
The Meals Museum
The Meals Museum in Stowmarket is the one one among its form within the UK, exploring all the pieces it’s good to learn about rising, making, and consuming meals.
An amazing place to get kids extra engaged with the place their meals comes from and the individuals who produce it, youngsters will love the various hands-on reveals and interactive shows across the museum, together with the chance to check out agricultural instruments.
There are additionally loads of enjoyable indoor actions for the entire household, resembling talks, excursions, demonstrations, meals tastings, and baking lessons.
The principle museum is about throughout 17 buildings and also you’ll must go outdoors to get between them, so ensure to deliver an umbrella/coat. The farm space and grounds aren’t significantly wet day pleasant. However tickets are legitimate for 12 months, so you may all the time return one other day to benefit from the out of doors actions too.
Aldeburgh museum
Aldeburgh is one among my favorite locations on the Suffolk coast – however ideally when the solar is shining. So should you’re on the lookout for one thing to do in Aldeburgh within the rain, it’s nicely price popping into the city’s little museum.
Housed within the sixteenth century Tudor Moot Corridor, which continues to be used for council conferences, the museum relies downstairs, with a wildly eclectic assortment to find.
In addition to taking a look at among the city’s with Roman and Anglo-Saxon finds, you’ll see reveals from Aldeburgh’s maritime previous and a few distinctly uncommon odds and ends, together with drawers filled with collected butterflies.
Lengthy Store Museum
Suffolk’s inexperienced fields are sufficient to make you overlook that the county has its personal industrial historical past as nicely – and the Lengthy Store Museum is the place you may uncover it.
Making engines, machines and automobiles, the positioning has been transformed to a museum, with loads of quirky info and surprising reveals to deliver all the pieces alive for households – together with how deep the county’s deepest nicely is.
And together with dressing up, making sample moulds in sand and extra trails, youngsters can discover a van which employees generally slept in, in addition to tales together with that of Elizabeth Garrett, who was a relation of the manufacturing facility homeowners, earlier than occurring to her personal inspiring achievements.
Lowestoft Maritime Museum
The Lowestoft Maritime Museum is a captivating family-friendly museum that takes you on a journey by means of the maritime heritage of Lowestoft. It’s residence to a big assortment of maritime artefacts, together with actual lifeboats, ship reconstructions, and an enormous scale-model boat assortment.
Youthful visitors might be given hats to put on as they enter the museum, with fisherman, captain, sailor, and pirate hats to choose from. The museum additionally has loads of partaking hands-on actions to maintain little ones entertained, together with a kids’s maritime identification path and a household play room with sea-themed jigsaws, puzzles, and kids’s books.
The museum does shut briefly over the winter months, so ensure to verify the opening schedule earlier than your go to, however in any other case it’s a enjoyable possibility for a wet day by the Suffolk coast.
Snape Maltings
On the financial institution of the River Alde, not removed from Aldeburgh, there’s all the time one thing to find at Snape Maltings for households.
The transformed Victorian buildings now home artwork galleries, unbiased outlets, a eating places and cafe, in addition to efficiency venues – to not point out occasions and actions for youths, together with free toddler music periods, and seasonal enjoyable like Halloween trails.
Younger Harry Potter followers can benefit from the probability to go to Snape close by as nicely – and get a photograph with the signal if the rain isn’t too heavy.
Landguard Fort, Felixstowe
Who knew that Suffolk was the positioning of the final opposed seaborne invasion of England, the place the Royal Marines fought off the Dutch in 1667, of their first land battle.
When the battle passed off close to Harwich Harbour, the present Landguard Fort hadn’t but been constructed, constructed within the 18th century earlier than extra work was completed within the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when it performed an vital anti-aircraft function through the Second World Battle.
Disarmed in 1956, now you can discover the maze of tunnels, passageways and rooms throughout the historic fort, with guided excursions alongside the shows, plus some particular re-enactments happening all year long
There are additionally particular household occasions which occur all year long.
Easton Farm Park, Woodbridge
Easton Farm Park is ideal in case your youngsters like to get palms on with the animals, with an opportunity to stroke and meet bunnies, pygmy goats, horses, donkeys and guinea pigs.
It’s additionally an amazing place should you’re visiting Suffolk within the rain with youngsters – as I can attest, having ended up exploring throughout a torrential summer season downpour – with tiny tractors and play areas inside.
Or there are pony and tractor trailer rides when it’s dry, plus a path by means of the water meadows.
Try my overview of a (moist) time out at Easton Farm Park
Baylham Home Uncommon Breeds Farm, Ipswich
Excellent with youthful youngsters, you may get near pleasant livestock on the Baylham Home Uncommon Breeds Farm, with a free bag of feed to supply to cows, sheep, goats, alpacas, pigs, and poultry residing right here.
Because the title suggests, lots of the animals on this farm are uncommon breeds that you simply aren’t more likely to see in very many locations, and there’s a lot to study alongside the farm path. Don’t miss the prospect to cuddle a goat too!
No must guide, and youngsters get a free bag of animal meals on arrival. Inevitably you will want to stroll between the completely different barns and sheds, so do come ready with waterproofs and wellies although.
Jimmy’s Farm, Ipswich
Not removed from the border with Essex (we visited whereas staying in Mistley), it’s additionally straightforward to achieve Jimmy’s Farm from fairly Pin Mill in addition to Ipswich. And with its farm and wildlife park, to not point out some excellent meals within the cafe and store, there’s a lot to maintain you entertained on a wet time out with youngsters.
Together with the furred and feathered inhabitants, there are some nice indoor play areas too, together with tender play.
Plus you may see over 80 completely different species of animals, so that you’ll discover farmyard creatures (together with some uncommon breeds) but in addition meerkats and wallabies plus camels and crocodiles – as above, you’ll must stroll between among the lined areas, whereas some animals are outdoor, so it’s finest for a drizzly day fairly than in torrential rain.
Get Inventive at a Craft Cafe
For artistic youngsters, a craft cafe is a good way to spend a wet day in Suffolk with youngsters
The Craft Cabin & Tea Room in Glemsford has nice espresso and do-it-yourself truffles in its cafe, in addition to an enormous vary of enjoyable crafts for ages 2+. Children can get pleasure from portray pottery animals, colouring in, taking part in with loopy sand, or making their very own teddy.
Should you’re in Ipswich, Pennikity Pots Ceramics Cafe presents ceramics portray periods proper within the coronary heart of the town. Or Glass & Craft is one other craft centre round a 15 minute drive away, with glass and ceramic portray, clay moulding, bear making, sand artwork, mosaics, and extra.
Or head to the Wild Raspberry Ceramic Café in Shotley. In addition to portray your individual ceramics – with all the pieces from animal figures to souvenirs and plates – there are a number of different workshops together with the prospect to attempt printing, make mosaics… or slime.
Clip’n’Climb
Energetic youngsters can burn off some power at Clip n Climb, a big indoor climbing centre in Ipswich.
The indoor centre has quite a lot of climbing partitions appropriate for various ages and expertise ranges. There are many workers on the ground to verify tools is safe and supply assist when wanted. Plus, actual daredevils may try the exhilarating vertical drop slide and the thrilling leap of religion.
Common climbing periods are appropriate for youths 4 years and older. However should you do have toddlers who’re too small to climb, the centre additionally has a tender play space and cafe the place you may await the older youngsters to complete their climbing session.
Go Karting
Whereas Suffolk is residence to a number of implausible karting tracks, Anglia Indoor Karting in Ipswich is the county’s greatest and finest indoor karting centre – very best when its trying somewhat gloomy outdoors.
The big karting centre has two major racing circuits and a smaller household monitor, with particular karts out there for youngsters 5 years and above.
Children between 5-7 can benefit from the battery operated mini Kubz Karts, older kids (8+) can experience the 200cc engine Kadet Karts, whereas teenagers (16+) will love the speeds they will attain within the 270cc engine grownup karts.
Kids can hit the tracks on their very own or dad and mom can be part of within the enjoyable too. Simply attempt to not get too aggressive with the little ones!
Strive an Escape Room in Suffolk
An escape room is a good way to check your loved ones’s teamwork, problem-solving, and inventive considering abilities in an thrilling high-pressure setting. You’ll all must work collectively towards the clock to find clues, decode riddles, and clear up puzzles that can assist you escape.
There are many thrilling escape rooms all throughout Suffolk, together with Cluetopia in Ipswich, Suffolk Escape Room in Saxmundham, EO Escape in Sudbury, and The Proof Room in Bury St Edmunds.
Should you’re staying close to the Norfolk Suffolk border and on the lookout for extra wet day actions, try my choose of the very best issues to do in Norfolk within the rain with youngsters
Disclosure: This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Christchurch Mansion/Ickworth/Rabbit/Climbing wall courtesy of Depositphotos, all different photos copyright MummyTravels
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