Best Indoor Activities in Surrey for Kids and Teens (Rainy Day Ideas)
This is one of those things you end up Googling more often than you’d expect.
Usually it’s because it’s raining. Again.
Or it’s week three of the summer holidays and everyone’s already saying they’re bored and you’re desperately trying to think of something that doesn’t involve sitting at home all afternoon.
I actually think it gets harder once the kids are older. Soft play is off the table, they don’t want to trail around the shops with you, but they still need something to get them off the sofa and away from their phones for a couple of hours.
We’ve had plenty of days like that.
Over the years we’ve ended up with a handful of places we keep going back to because they just work. Whether you’re planning a birthday, trying to fill a rainy Saturday or simply looking for something different to do during the school holidays, hopefully you’ll find an idea here that suits everyone – or at least stops the inevitable “I’m bored” for a little while.
Last updated: September 2026. We’ve included a mix of places we’ve visited ourselves and others that come highly recommended by local families. Opening times, activities and prices can change though, so it’s always worth checking with the venue before setting off.
Best indoor activities in Surrey for kids and teens
I think people are always surprised by how much there actually is to do indoors around Surrey. We’ve found quite a few of these places purely because the weather’s turned or someone’s suddenly announced they’re bored.
Whether you’ve got younger kids with energy to burn or teenagers who just want somewhere different to hang out with their friends, there’s usually something that works.
From go karting and trampoline parks to escape rooms, climbing centres and places like Urban Fun, there’s actually quite a lot of choice.
Some days they’ll happily throw themselves around a trampoline park. Other days, a couple of games of bowling and some lunch is about as much enthusiasm as you’re going to get. And that’s fine too.
Most of the ideas below work well for kids from around 8 upwards, although I’ve included a few options for younger siblings too. If you’ve got teenagers, climbing, escape rooms and VR tend to be the safer bets in our house.
Active indoor activities (older kids and teens)
This is usually where we have the most luck with teenagers. Anything competitive, a bit different or something they can do with their mates tends to go down well.
Go karting
If your kids are at the “I want to drive” stage, go karting is always a good shout. It feels grown up, there’s plenty of competition and, actually, it’s pretty good fun for adults too.
My youngest is currently obsessed with it. I think mostly because he gets to pretend he’s an F1 driver for an hour!
Read more: Go karting in Surrey →
Trampoline parks
I always think trampoline parks are one of those things people assume kids grow out of. Mine haven’t. If anything, they probably enjoy them more now than they did when they were little, especially the evening sessions aimed at older kids.
Some options to look at include:
- AirHop Guildford, with obstacle courses, dodgeball and After Dark sessions
- Jump In Esher, which combines trampolines with Clip ‘n Climb activities
- Jump In Camberley, featuring giant airbags, wipeout zones and inflatables
They’re brilliant for burning off energy when everyone’s been stuck indoors all morning.
Ninja Warrior and indoor climbing
If you’ve got kids who are constantly climbing the furniture at home, this is probably the section for you.
Mine have always loved anything they can climb, jump over or hang off, so we’ve done our fair share of climbing over the years. I think it works particularly well with older kids because it doesn’t really feel like organised sport.
Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Guildford is packed with climbing walls, obstacle courses and timed challenges inspired by the TV show. Definitely one for competitive families!
If climbing is more their thing, Surrey Summit at Surrey Sports Park has routes for beginners right through to experienced climbers, while Adventure Climb at The Light in Redhill is more colourful and challenge-based, including a leap of faith.
There’s also White Spider Climbing in Surbiton and Blue Spider Climbing in Guildford. Both are good options if your kids want proper climbing rather than a one-off activity centre, and could work particularly well for older kids and teens.
Laser tag
Laser tag is basically organised chaos, which is probably why kids love it! It’s a good one for birthdays or groups of friends too, especially when they’re at that awkward age where they don’t really want a “party” anymore. Woking Superbowl, Tenpin Camberley and Laser Quest are all worth a look.
Read our Laser Quest Kingston review →
Indoor activities when you want something more relaxed
Not every rainy day calls for maximum effort.
Sometimes you just want something simple that everyone will enjoy.
Bowling, games and family fun
Sometimes you just want an easy win. Somewhere everyone can agree on, nobody needs any special kit and you don’t have to spend ages planning it.
Bowling is usually an easy one for mixed ages too. Add in some arcade games and food afterwards and you’ve pretty much got an afternoon sorted without having to think too hard about it.
Some good options include:
- Hollywood Bowl – a classic choice with bowling, arcades and food all in one place.
- Tenpin – combines bowling, laser tag, karaoke, pool tables and arcade games, with several locations in and around Surrey.
- Guildford Spectrum – one of Surrey’s best all-round indoor attractions, combining bowling, ice skating, swimming and climbing under one roof.
Interactive entertainment centres
There are quite a few of these popping up now and they’re a good option if bowling feels a bit too predictable.
Urban Fun has venues in Kingston and Reading with loads of different games and challenges, while Pop Playrooms Kingston mixes crazy golf, music and interactive games. Both are more geared towards older kids, teens and adults, which is handy when soft play days are long gone!
Indoor golf
Even if nobody in your family plays golf, don’t write this one off.
Topgolf Addlestone is much more about the games than serious golf. You don’t need any experience and somehow everyone ends up getting competitive anyway.
You hit balls from your own bay and score points through the different games, with food and drinks brought over while you play. It’s an easy way to lose a couple of hours on a rainy afternoon.
If you’re after something a little more relaxed, Mr Mulligan’s Adventure Golf in Guildford is another great option. The indoor crazy golf course has a fun, slightly quirky feel and works just as well for families as it does for groups of teenagers looking for something different to do.
Arcades and gaming
Retro arcades have definitely made a comeback.
High Score Arcades in Farnborough is brilliant for older kids, while Gravity Wandsworth combines arcades, games and food under one roof for an easy afternoon out.
Cinemas
Sometimes the simplest option is the best one.
A couple of hours sitting in a cinema while everyone switches off can be exactly what’s needed in the middle of a long rainy week. And if you can find a cheaper family or weekday screening, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune either.
VR and immersive experiences
If you’ve got gamers in the house, this is usually a guaranteed success.
MeetspaceVR in Guildford offers free-roam virtual reality experiences where you’re physically moving around the game rather than standing still.
It’s definitely something a bit different. Also a good one for birthdays or a group of teenagers who have completely rejected all your other suggestions!
Read more: VR experiences in Surrey →
Escape rooms
Escape rooms are another good one for teenagers. There’s enough competition to keep things interesting and it’s one of the few activities where everyone actually has to put their phones away for an hour!
They’re good for birthdays too, especially when they’ve reached the age where a traditional birthday party is apparently deeply embarrassing.
Some excellent Surrey and nearby options include:
- Escape Hunt (Basingstoke, Kingston, Wandsworth and Woking) – a great choice for first-timers, with a range of family-friendly themed rooms.
- Horton Golf Park Escape Rooms – several different escape room challenges near Epsom.
- Gatwick Escape Rooms – an independent venue with a variety of immersive experiences.
- ClueHQ Kingston – several themed rooms to choose from, with options suitable for families and teenagers.
- XScream Escapes – ideal for older teens who enjoy horror-themed experiences and don’t mind a few jump scares.
Most sessions last around an hour and make a really memorable rainy day activity.
Creative indoor activities
Not every rainy day has to involve everyone running around. Sometimes sitting down with a paintbrush and a hot chocolate is exactly what’s needed. Especially after a busy week.
Pottery painting
Pottery painting has become surprisingly popular with older children and teens.
It’s relaxed, social and everyone leaves with something they’ve created.
Happy Glaze in Epsom, Appletree Studio in East Horsley and Ceramics Café in Farnham are all lovely places to spend a couple of hours.
Cooking experiences
Cooking classes are another option if you fancy doing something a bit different.
The Gordon Ramsay Academy in Woking runs family and junior sessions throughout the year, while Totally Tangerine near Shepperton offers dedicated teen cookery classes.
They’ll learn something, you get a couple of hours out of the house and, if you’re lucky, they might even cook dinner afterwards.
Indoor activities for younger kids
My boys are past the soft play stage now (thank goodness!), but if you’ve got younger siblings to entertain too, there are still plenty of options.
- Clip ‘n Climb centres such as Jump In Esher
- Soft play centres for younger children
- Indoor play cafés
- Smaller activity centres
- Sensory play spaces
When you just need something easy
This is probably the most realistic section.
Because not every day needs to be a full-blown activity.
Sometimes you just need everyone out of the house for a couple of hours.
Shopping centres
I’ll be honest, sometimes we don’t need a “proper” day out. A wander around Kingston, something to eat and maybe a stop for dessert is enough to get everyone out of the house for a couple of hours.
Multi-activity venues
If nobody can agree what they want to do, venues with several activities under one roof are ideal.
The Light in Redhill combines bowling, climbing, mini golf, karaoke, arcades and cinema, while Guildford Spectrum offers bowling, swimming, ice skating and climbing all in one place.
They’re perfect for mixed-age families and school holiday meet-ups.
Cafés with space
Sometimes all you really need is a decent lunch somewhere different.
Dessert cafés, family-friendly coffee shops or somewhere with room to linger can completely change the mood of the day.
It doesn’t always have to be a big adventure.
Indoor activities in Surrey when it rains
This is usually when this list comes in handy.
Sometimes you don’t need another massive list. You just need to work out what everyone can actually be bothered to do that day!
So, roughly speaking…
Lots of energy:
- Go karting
- Trampoline parks
- Ninja Warrior and climbing
Some energy:
- Escape rooms
- Bowling
- VR gaming
- Interactive entertainment centres
Absolutely can’t be bothered:
- Cinema
- Pottery painting
- Shopping
- Cafés
It sounds silly, but sometimes narrowing it down like this makes deciding what to do a lot easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best indoor activities in Surrey when it rains?
It really depends on the ages of your kids and how much energy everyone has! Trampoline parks, escape rooms, bowling, climbing and VR are all good rainy day options. If nobody can be bothered with anything too energetic, try pottery painting, the cinema or somewhere like The Light or Guildford Spectrum where you’ve got a few different things to choose from.
What indoor activities in Surrey are suitable for teenagers?
Teenagers can definitely be harder to please, but we’ve found anything competitive or that they can do with friends tends to work best. Go karting, Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Guildford, White Spider Climbing, VR gaming, escape rooms and Topgolf are all popular choices. Venues like Urban Fun, The Light Redhill and Guildford Spectrum also offer a mix of activities, making them ideal if you’re visiting with friends or siblings of different ages.
Are there indoor activities in Surrey for mixed-age families?
Yes, many indoor attractions in Surrey work well for families with children of different ages. Guildford Spectrum, The Light Redhill, Tenpin Camberley and Urban Fun all offer multiple activities under one roof, so younger children, teenagers and adults can all find something they enjoy. Bowling and adventure golf are also great options if you’re looking for an activity everyone can take part in together.
Where can I go in Surrey on a rainy day with kids?
On a rainy day, Surrey has plenty of family-friendly attractions to help you escape the weather. Depending on your children’s ages, you could head to a trampoline park, climbing centre, cinema, escape room or indoor entertainment venue like Urban Fun. For a quieter day out, pottery painting, cafés or a wander around the shops in Guildford or Kingston can be an easy option when everyone just needs to get out of the house.
Are there free indoor activities in Surrey?
While many indoor attractions charge an entry fee, there are some budget-friendly options including museums, libraries, shopping centres and community events. If you’re trying to keep costs down, it’s also worth taking a look at our guide to Free Days Out in Surrey for more inspiration.
More Surrey days out ideas
If you’re planning a few different days out, or just trying to survive the school holidays, these guides might help too:
- Surrey days out hub
- Free days out in Surrey
- Water Parks and Lidos in Surrey
- Adventure golf in Surrey
- Go Karting in Surrey
- Family-Friendly Restaurants in Surrey
Hopefully there’s something here that works next time it’s pouring with rain or someone’s announced they’re bored five minutes into the school holidays.
Some of our favourite family days haven’t been expensive attractions or big adventures. They’ve just been a couple of hours somewhere different, everyone off their phones for a bit and a change of scenery.
When you’ve got teenagers, you learn to appreciate those little wins.
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