Photo: Photo of Southampton: Christopher Hilton, CC BY-SA 2.0Rainy day ideas in Hampshire
For a wet day in Hampshire, England, try SeaCity Museum in Southampton for the Titanic story, the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth for a Tudor warship rescued from the seabed, or Milestones Museum in Basingstoke for hands-on science. Southampton City Art Gallery is free to enter too.
Hampshire has more indoor days out than most families expect, from the Tudor warship Mary Rose in Portsmouth to a Titanic gallery in Southampton and a science centre in Winchester. Most of these museums take one to two hours, so pairing two in the same city fills a wet afternoon.
Opening days matter more than usual. Milestones Museum is closed on Mondays, Southampton City Art Gallery is closed on Mondays too, and the Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum is closed on Sundays. Check the day before you set off, because a Monday or Sunday trip may need a different plan.
Indoor play is worth planning. Active Monkeys in Fleet is an indoor play centre for toddlers and young children, with sessions booked online because capacity is limited. Manor Farm Country Park in Bursledon keeps its daily activities running in wet weather.
Every place here is checked against its official website; the latest check was on .
Museums and history under cover
Compact, weatherproof visits that suit curious children and adults. Southampton and Portsmouth each have several to choose from.
Image: SeaCity MuseumSeaCity Museum
SeaCity Museum tells the story of RMS Titanic and how the disaster affected Southampton, with an interactive model of the ship and recorded messages from passengers. Its other galleries cover 200,000 years of the city’s history, from Roman traders and Saxon settlers to the docks and the Second World War.
Why it's here: The Titanic story with original objects from the ship, and an interactive model of it. Adult £14.50, child (5 to 16) £9.50, and under 5s go free.
Photo: Christine Matthews, CC BY-SA 2.0The Mary Rose Museum
The museum displays the Tudor warship Mary Rose, rescued from the seabed, together with objects recovered with her. It is run by an independent charity that relies on ticket income to maintain the ship and collection.
Why it's here: The Tudor warship Mary Rose, rescued from the seabed, with objects recovered with her. Tickets are sold through Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, and large luggage cannot be stored on site.
Photo: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0The D-Day Story
A museum on Clarence Esplanade about the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation in the Second World War. The story is told through the possessions and words of the people who took part.
Why it's here: Personal possessions and first-hand words from people who took part in the liberation of Europe, with the landing craft LCT 7074 on site. Adult £18.25 on the door or £16.60 online.
Photo: Hugh Venables, CC BY-SA 2.0Solent Sky
Solent Sky is an aviation museum on Albert Road South in Southampton, known as the home of the Spitfire and the Empire flying boats. It is also home to the Hampshire Police and Fire Heritage Trust, whose collection is on display.
Why it's here: Spitfire and Empire flying boat displays, open every day of the week and all year. Adult £14, child £10, with last entry at 4pm.
Photo: Stephen McKay, CC BY-SA 2.0Milestones Museum
A museum in Basingstoke Leisure Park with hands-on science and history for families, plus Christmas experiences in the autumn and winter. It is an indoor option for rainy days and school holidays.
Why it's here: Hands-on experiments and live science shows at Basingstoke Leisure Park. Adult £16.50, child (5 to 15) £11.50, and under 5s go free.
Free indoor places
Free to enter, warm and central, and each takes an hour or two.
Photo: Paul Gillett, CC BY-SA 2.0Southampton City Art Gallery
Southampton City Art Gallery is a free public gallery on Commercial Road in the city centre. It is open six days a week, closed on Mondays, and its visitor information covers opening times, facilities and access.
Why it's here: Free entry in the city centre on Commercial Road. Open Tuesday to Sunday, and closed on Mondays.
Photo: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0New Forest Heritage Centre
A free museum run by an independent charity in the middle of Lyndhurst, telling the story of the New Forest, its people, traditions and ancient laws, and how its wildlife is looked after today. A highlight is the 7.5-metre New Forest Embroidery, made by Lady Belinda Montagu and 60 volunteers to show 900 years of the Forest's history.
Why it's here: Free entry, with a 7.5-metre New Forest Embroidery made by Lady Belinda Montagu and 60 volunteers. Open daily, 10am to 5pm from April to October.
Photo: Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum
The museum of the Royal Hampshire Regiment, based at Serle's House in Winchester, tells the story of the regiment from 1702 to 1992. There is a memorial garden, and entry is free.
Why it's here: Free entry at Serle's House in Winchester, telling the regiment's story from 1702 to 1992. Closed on Sundays and on other Mondays.
Play and hands-on indoors
Places where younger children can burn off energy when the weather turns.
Image: Active Monkeys Play CentreActive Monkeys Play Centre
An indoor play centre in Fleet for toddlers and young children. Sessions are booked online, and the centre is open most days of the year.
Why it's here: An indoor play centre for toddlers and young children, open daily except Christmas and Easter Sunday. Sessions are booked online.
Kids2Day Soft Play
Kids2Day is an indoor soft play centre in Chandler’s Ford, with a café and a pre-school on the same site. The centre is now run by The Play Park and offers open play with no timed sessions.
Why it's here: Open play from 10am to 6pm every day with no timed sessions, and a café on site. The official page lists membership prices only, so check entry before you visit.
Photo: Rob Young from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0Manor Farm Country Park
Manor Farm is a family farm inside River Hamble Country Park, with farm animals to meet and daily activities in all weathers. Visitors can walk in without booking, and once inside they can stay all day.
Why it's here: Farm animals to meet and daily activities in all weathers, in a purpose-built barn. Under 3s go free, and you can walk in without booking.
Photo: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium
A science centre with two floors of interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and one of the largest planetariums in the UK. It is aimed at families and school groups.
Why it's here: Two floors of interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and a planetarium. Adults and children are £22.50, and under 3s go free.
Questions people ask
Where can a family go in Hampshire when it rains?
SeaCity Museum in Southampton covers the Titanic story, Milestones Museum in Basingstoke has hands-on science and live shows, and Manor Farm Country Park in Bursledon runs daily activities in wet weather.
Which Hampshire museums are free indoors?
Southampton City Art Gallery, the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst and the Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum in Winchester are all free to enter.
Where can toddlers play indoors in Hampshire?
Active Monkeys Play Centre in Fleet is an indoor play centre for toddlers and young children, and Kids2Day Soft Play in Chandler's Ford has open play from 10am to 6pm with no timed sessions.
Is the Mary Rose Museum indoors?
Yes. The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth displays the Tudor warship Mary Rose, rescued from the seabed, with objects recovered with her. Tickets are sold through Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.