Swansea is best experienced when the sun is shining, but that’s not something we can always rely on here in Wales.
Luckily, the waterfront city is well-equipped for downpours, with lots of indoor activities so that the fun can continue even when the skies are grey.
In this guide, I’ll share some of my favourite things to do in Swansea when it’s raining, from museums and galleries to indoor rainforests and waterparks.
1. Explore Wales’ maritime history at the National Waterfront Museum
The National Waterfront Museum is the biggest and best museum in Swansea with over 15,000 artefacts showcasing Wales’ industrial and maritime history. With it being entirely indoors, it’s ideal for the rainy days.
The exhibits on the lower floor focus on the evolution of transport in Wales. This was my favourite section, full of old planes, coal wagons, and Richard Trevithick’s steam locomotive which was at the forefront of early railway technology.
Upstairs, there are several other exhibitions including one that shares the evolution of household items in Wales since the 1930s and another about Swansea’s maritime history with replica models of some of the most important ships.
Kids will love the museum just as much as adults thanks to the huge vehicles and interactive exhibits. I spent around 45 minutes at the museum but you could easily spend double this if you have the time.
2. Hit the indoor waterpark at the LC
The Swansea Leisure Complex (more commonly known as the LC) is a huge indoor water park featuring slides, wave machines, a lazy river, and more. It’s a great way to avoid the rain, but not such a good way to avoid getting wet.
As well as the waterpark, there’s a climbing wall and an onsite spa for those looking to have a more relaxing time. For any family members just hoping to spectate, there’s a Costa Coffee at the LC café.
It’s best to book a slot online but you can just turn up when it’s not busy. Check the prices and opening times on their official website. For the best experience, visit during a full feature session when the lazy river, wave machine, and slides are all open. Each session is 1hr 45minutes with 15 minutes to get changed.
3. Enjoy the ever-changing exhibitions at the Glyn Vivian Art Gallery
The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is an art gallery in Swansea city centre that’s mostly filled with temporary exhibitions so there’ll be something new every time. This is one of the best art galleries I’ve visited in Wales so I can highly recommend it.
During my visit, the downstairs rooms were filled with a collection showing the costumes, props, and visual effects from His Dark Materials, a TV show filmed in Wales.
Upstairs, there were entries from an open competition where local amateur artists could submit work and those visiting the gallery could vote for their favourites. I loved that this got the public involved with judging and I saw many people taking part when I visited.
Best of all, the gallery is one of Swansea's top free attractions so you don't need to spend a penny to visit, although you can make a donation to support the gallery if you like. It's open 10am-5pm every day except Mondays, with last entry at 4.30pm.
4. Take on the obstacle course at Ninja Warrior Swansea
If you’ve watched Ninja Warrior on ITV, then you’ll know exactly what to expect from the Ninja Warrior Swansea indoor adventure park.
It’s essentially a huge obstacle course with climbing walls, balance beams, swinging balls, and more, all designed to test your ninja abilities – just like the TV show.
Located at Parc Tawe Retail Park (about 5 minutes' drive from the city centre), the obstacle course is suitable for anyone over the age of 4 and over, including adults.
Remember to bring socks with you as these are essential for the inflatable parts of the course.
5. Follow the life of Wales’ most famous poet at the Dylan Thomas Centre
Dylan Thomas is Wales’ most famous poet. He was born right here in Swansea so you won’t be surprised to find several attractions where you can learn about his life.
My favourite is the Dylan Thomas Centre, located in the Maritime Quarter. This museum tells his story in chronological order, from his upbringing right until his death.
Former US President Jimmy Carter opened the venue in 1995, and it has been a destination for literature lovers worldwide ever since. The centre is open 10am – 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday and it’s free of charge.
I already knew a little about Dylan Thomas but the museum really gave me a better understanding of his rise to fame. As well as information boards, his talent is showcased through notebooks, letters, photographs, and interactive displays.
The highlight of the museum for me was the audio recordings where you can listen to some of his works and readings on the radio. Hearing his actual voice made the experience much more personal so don’t miss this part.
If you’re looking for other Dylan Thomas attractions, consider a trip to his birthplace too.
6. Learn about the city’s past at the Swansea Museum
As you may be able to tell already, one of my favourite things to do when it’s raining is visiting museums which is why I’m featuring yet another one. The Swansea Museum is the oldest surviving museum in Wales and tells the story of the waterfront city.
The museum has a huge variety of exhibits, covering all aspects of the history of Swansea from a natural history collection full of animal taxidermies (I found this creepy but the kids around seemed to really enjoy it) to an archaeology display, and right up to modern-day Swansea.
Upstairs, there’s an exhibition about Swansea in the nineteenth century with a mock-up of an old kitchen and a Victorian bathroom.
Look out for my favourite exhibit, the Swansea Devil, also known as Old Nick. You can see him in the photo with me above and there’s a really interesting story to go with it which you can also read here.
The museum is free to visit and open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-4.30pm (doors close at 4pm).
7. Enjoy street food and shopping at Swansea’s Indoor Market
Swansea is well-equipped for the rain which is why its main market is entirely indoors. In fact, it’s the largest indoor market in Wales and can be found right at the heart of the city centre, next to the Quadrant Shopping Centre.
It’s open 6 days per week (excluding Sunday) and has more than 100 market stalls selling everything from clothing to gifts and books.
There’s also a lot of street food from across the globe available in the market including falafel, doughnuts, and even Thai curries.
At the centre of the market is the Market Garden, an indoor garden with over 170 plants. There’s also plenty of room to sit and watch the world go by as you enjoy a coffee from one of the market’s cafes.
8. Venture through an indoor rainforest at the Plantasia Tropical Zoo
Visiting a rainforest might not sound like a great rainy day activity, but at Plantasia Tropical Zoo in Swansea, the rainforest is indoors so it's perfect!
At Plantasisa, you’ll find a huge greenhouse which helps protect and conserve some of the world’s most endangered tropical animals and plants.
It provides a fascinating insight into the dynamics of a tropical climate. Featuring over 5000 plant species, some of which are only found north and south of the equator.
With around 40 species of animals, from Piranhas and Pythons to Crocodiles and Tarantulas, it’ll feel like stepping into a different world full of fascinating secrets.
Swansea’s Plantasia is home to the closest things to a tropical rainforest you’ll find in Wales. Open for all, seven days a week, between 10am and 5pm, free for toddlers and £3-8 for adult adventurists.
9. Catch a show at one of Swansea’s top venues
If you’re looking for something to do on a wet evening in Swansea, there’s always some sort of live show or event going on.
These are always changing but below are a few of my favourite venues with details on how to check upcoming listings:
- The Grand Theatre – Swansea’s oldest performance venue in Swansea, welcoming comedians, singers, musicals, pantomimes and other shows to its stage since 1897 (check listings).
ㅤ - Swansea Arena (pictured above) – With a capacity of 3,500, Swansea Arena in Copr Bay is the largest indoor venue in Swansea. It’s known for hosting the biggest names from across music, comedy, theatre and e-sports (check listings).
ㅤ - Hangar 18 – This is a new, intimate live music venue and nightclub. They tend to have a lot of rock bands and cover bands (check listings).
ㅤ - The Bunkhouse – This is another small music venue in Swansea. It specialises in up-and-coming artists, having put on everything from jazz nights to DJ sets (check listings).
ㅤ - The Dylan Thomas Theatre – This is a tiny theatre, home to the Swansea Little Theatre company. The theatre hosts local dance groups, music festivals, and professional touring companies, as well as cabaret acts and stand-up comedy (check listings).
10. Escape from Breakout Swansea
I’ve always done escape rooms in the evening, but actually, many of them, including Breakout Swansea, offer booking slots any time of day which is perfect for when it’s raining outside.
If you’ve never tried an escape room before, you’ll enter and room and the only way you can escape f by solving puzzles and uncovering clues. There are two themed rooms at Breakout Swansea, prison-themed which involves a little more physical activity and murder mystery which is more logical.
The rooms are suitable for between 2-7 people and you’ll have 60 minutes to escape and win. Of course, some clues can be provided if you’re getting stuck.
11. See memorabilia from the world’s first passenger train at The Tramshed
My final indoor activity in Swansea may require a little pre-planning as the opening hours vary, so it might not be ideal when there is a last-minute pour-down.
The Swansea Museum Tramway Centre (also known as The Tramshed) is a museum dedicated to sharing information and memorabilia from Swansea’s old trams and the Swansea and Mumbles Railway.
The Swansea and Mumbles Railway was considered to be the world’s first passenger train but closed in 1960 in favour of buses. Originally intended only to transport limestone from the Mumbles quarries to Swansea, a later agreement saw it carry paying passengers from 1807.
Inside, you’ll find a reconstruction of the horse-drawn trains once used on this service as well as surviving parts from one of the later electric trams.
This museum is staffed by volunteers so opening times can vary considerably. You can check the signs on the door or call ahead on 01792 653763.
Published: 7 September 2023 · Last updated: 14 September 2023