Brighton is and always will be one of the go to places for tourists. With it’s sandy pebble beaches and crystal clear murky waters, you’ll have a tough time thinking of anywhere better to spend your summer. But as the rain rolls in with the increasing waves, Brighton gets given back to the residents in the winter and often becomes a ghost town when it comes to tourists. The students go home and Brighton is forgotten about for another season.

But unlike other seaside locations, Brighton is actually still business is usual. With shops remaining open and the pier still in full swing. If you’re lucky, you may even still get robbed of your doughnut by a seagull the size of an ostrich.

So if you’re stuck on what to do one blustery day, remember that your favourite seaside city still has plenty of things to do with the family in the winter. Here are a few of our favourites:

Booth Museum of Natural History

Tucked on the outskirts of Brighton town centre in Seven Dials, the booth museum was originally a victorian collector’s private museum, however now it boats several species of birds, butterflies, and fossils. The space is a lovely area for a toddler to explore on a rainy afternoon, especially as there’s plenty to interact with.

Plus, just opposite is also a nice play park for when the rain the stops or if you own a toddler who doesn’t care about the weather!

Brighton and Hove Museum & Art Gallery.

Unlike the Booth Museum, this museum is located in the centre of Brighton next to the Royal Pavilion. Here you’ll find a selection of exhibitions that range from photography to fine art, as well as more interactive pieces.

Exhibitions are changing constantly, so even if you’ve already been it’s well worth checking them out to see what’s on. Admission is also reasonably priced at £5.20 for an adult and £3 for a child (there are also family ticket deals), although Brighton and Hove residents are free!

Soft Play!

There is a huge choice of soft play in Brighton, with each venue offering something that bit different (even if it’s free parking!). New to Brighton Pier is their ‘Palace Play’ which opened this year and offers four-storey and multi-purpose fun. The Fun Plex in Bevendean is your typical soft play area, but is a complete tardis from the outside. Lastly, just off London Road is SAMA Circus City, which is certainly as described; a fun factory, it also offers a ‘Drop and Shop’ service as well as movie nights!

Sea Life Centre.

Probably one of the more expensive excursions in Brighton, but it makes up for it in things to see and do. It’s also one of the oldest aquariums, dating back to 1872. In comparison to other aquariums, there’s tons to do and the aquarium even has a glass bottom boat, which is located in their historic dolphinarium.

Brighton Toy Museum.

Underneath Brighton station, the toy museum is a lovely, albeit cozy, place to have a look at old toys and models dating back hundreds of years. There’s also a working model railway in operation as well as a selection of construction toys on display.

Entry is FREE for under 4’s and there’s even a shop on site selling second hand toys.

So there’s my selection of things to do – what’s your excuse? Get out and about! Have you been to any of these? What do you do on a rainy day in Brighton?