After the drought, the deluge? Our record-breaking spell of hot, dry weather seems set to come to an end over the next few days.
And while that will be welcome news for many, the change in the weather may well scupper any plans for days out over the bank holiday weekend.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain and thunderstorms for today and Thursday, as warm and humid conditions give way to intense, heavy showers.
Deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone warned: ‘As some of these showers could be intense, there is a chance of some surface water flooding as the rain falls on very dry and hard ground.
‘While some of these will be heavy, some areas will miss them altogether.’
The unsettled conditions are set to continue through Friday and the weekend – so any plans for a bank holiday picnic, or afternoon in a beer garden, might need to be canned.
If you are unlucky enough to be hit by bad weather, here are some of the best indoor spots across the UK to escape from wet weather.
York Castle Museum offers the chance to learn about 400 years of the city's history
Looking for an escape from downpours that will be both educational and fun? York Castle Museum could be the perfect place to head to.
Located on Tower Street, in the centre of the city, visitors to the museum can delve into 400 years of York's history and even walk through a recreated Victorian street that brings the past back to life.
And if you needed another reason to go – once you've paid for one ticket you can return for free all year, meaning future rainy days are covered too.
Adults are charged £18 each and children under 16 £10.80.
The Snow Centre, Manchester
Want to cool off completely from the hot weather and pretend we're already in the depths of winter? Head to The Snow Centre in Manchester.
Suitable for all abilities, with a range of courses available, from beginner to more intensive, The Snow Centre offers the chance to plough back into your favourite slopes – on skis or a snowboard – or find your 'snow legs' for the very first time.
Indeed, get ahead of the game now and find yourself a pro by the time winter does eventually roll around.
A two-hour adult ski lesson stage one is priced from £34.50 per person.
Head inside a tropical rainforest at the Eden Project in St Austell, Cornwall
Forgetting grey skies is made easy by sites such as the Eden Project, in Cornwall, home to the largest indoor rainforest in the world.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, you can also learn about how this clay pit was transformed into one of the world's most beloved botanical attractions, at the ongoing exhibition: 'From Pit to Paradise'.
More than 1,000 varieties of plants live inside the dome and guests are recommended to wear clothing suitable for hot weather, as temperatures inside range from 18 to 35 degrees.
Until September 1, tickets are from £31.06 for adults when booked in advance online. From September 2, prices increase to £35.50 online.
The Deep, Kingston upon Hull
The Deep, in Hull, is an award-winning aquarium perfect for escaping rainy days
Escape any showers in Hull by heading to The Deep, an award-winning aquarium open daily from 10am to 6pm.
There are several educational daily talks to attend, from one that focuses on penguins to another discussing sharks.
The aquarium is home to a living reef teeming with different species as well as an Endless Ocean exhibit and an underwater habitat modelled after the USS Kittiwake shipwreck.
Adult summer saver tickets are priced from £21.50 and children aged three to 15 from £15.75. Each standard ticket includes unlimited free returns for a year.
Sandcastle Waterpark, in Blackpool, is the UK's largest indoor waterpark
Blackpool is home to the UK's largest indoor waterpark: Sandcastle Waterpark.
Perfect for those seeking a thrill whilst they escape from the rain, the attraction is kept at a constant tropical climate so you won't even notice the bad weather outside.
There are 18 different water slides and attractions to choose from as well as a café and restaurant to fuel up after all the fun.
While children under three go free, online tickets for those aged three to seven are £15.71, and £22.31 for those aged 12 and above. Expect to pay more on the door.
The UK's best restaurant: Wilsons, Bristol
Wilsons restaurant was crowned the best in the UK in SquareMeal's 2026 guide
Watching the rain patter down as you tuck into a delicious meal from the comfort of a warm, cosy restaurant is the perfect way to spend a wet afternoon.
And where better to go than the very best? Wilsons, in Bristol, was named the top restaurant in the UK in SquareMeal's 2026 guide, released earlier this year.
The impressive eatery was praised for its 'exceptional' dishes, as well as low food waste.
According to the judges, the establishment has 'frankly astonishing prices' and boasts a Michelin star as well as a Green star – one of only a handful of UK restaurants to hold both.
There is a long set menu available for £78 from Wednesday to Friday, or a shorter lunchtime offering for £39.
Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, Devon
Explore prehistoric caves out of the rain in Kents Cavern in Torquay
Another way to remedy intense showers is an exploration of prehistoric caves in Torquay, Devon, instead.
An extensive labyrinth of caverns, this is one of the best Stone Age sites in the country.
Enclosed in 400million-year-old rocks, any rain will feel miles away as you take in the impressive site.
As well as guided cave tours, visitors are also invited to attend screenings of cult classics at Cave Cinema evenings, or dine at the onsite Firestone Kitchen, where delicious full English breakfasts, hearty lunches and afternoon teas are on offer.
Adult tickets are from £18.95, children £15.95.
The Natural History Museum is the UK's top tourist attraction for 2025
As rain finally descends on the capital, why not check out the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, which was named UK's top tourist attraction for 2025.
Last year, 7.1million visitors explored its vast range of exhibits – a record-breaking number for any museum or gallery in a year.
Guests to the Natural History Museum can gaze at the impressive 25-metre blue whale skeleton named Hope which is suspended in the central hall.
Entry is free.
The City of Caves, Nottingham
The City of Caves in Nottingham is a large network of underground caves - perfect for avoiding any rain
Take shelter from thundery showers in the UK's largest network of caves, located beneath the streets in Nottingham.
Visitors here can explore winding pathways surrounded by rock, and explore hidden sites including the Second World War air raid shelters and a medieval tannery.
Adults enter for £12, children £9.50. Tickets cover unlimited entry for a year.
Located in Leicester, the National Space Centre is home to the largest planetarium in the UK
Spend the day exploring the solar system out of the rain at the National Space Centre, in Leicester.
It boasts the UK's largest planetarium, and guests are treated to a free 360-degree show underneath the 18-metre dome on their first visit.
Adults enter from £19.72 online, children £17.93.
There are more than 30 rides and attractions on offer at Waterworld in Stoke-on-Trent
Located in Stoke-on-Trent, Waterworld describes itself as the UK's number one tropical indoor aqua park.
With a selection of more than 30 rides and attractions, it will be easy to forget about any showers or thunder.
Prices start from £17.50 per person.
The best pub in the UK: The Highland Laddie, Leeds
The Highland Laddie, a beautiful historic establishment, was named the best pub in the UK
Nothing beats sipping a pint inside a cosy pub watching the rest of the outside world battle a downpour.
The Highland Laddie, in Leeds, is a century-old pub that was named the best in the UK by the Good Food Guide.
Quaint and cosy, the tavern prides itself on offering four local cask ales on draught, as well as popular drinks such as Guinness.
The best pub in Scotland: The Kinneuchar Inn, Fife
The Kinneuchar Inn, in Fife, is another great spot if you're caught in rain in Scotland
The Kinneuchar Inn, in Fife, made the Good Food Guide's ratings and was named Scotland's Best Local Restaurant in 2023.
The 17th-century pub and restaurant offers a beautiful intimate setting to escape any bad weather.
Its renowned for its tasty Sunday roasts and offers a family-friendly atmosphere.
The pub of the year: The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman's Rest, Northumberland
The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman's Rest was awarded gold by VisitEngland in the Pub of the Year category for 2026, making it a top-quality spot to avoid any bad weather.
Located in the Northumberland moorlands, the pub serves up seasonal food made with local produce.
Sunday lunch – roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese, seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes and gravy – is priced at £28.
Blacksmithing experience, Herefordshire
Go back in time at Backsmithing Experience Days at Oldfield Forge in Herefordshire
This year, VisitEngland awarded the attraction gold in the Experience of the Year category for its Blacksmithing Experience Days.
A range of packages are available to book, from knife making and handling currently reduced from £290 to £232, to the five-hour couples day date reduced from £210 to £168.
The British Museum, London
The top rainy day activity to do in England is a trip to the British Museum, according to Tripadvisor
Located in London, the British Museum ranks as the top rainy day activity in England on Tripadvisor.
And it's no wonder: a treasure trove of intrigue, the public museum features over eight million works and is dedicated to two million years of history.
Plus, entry to the permanent exhibitions is free – though some exhibitions require a paid-for ticket.
The Real Mary King's Close, Edinburgh
The Real Mary King's Close, in Edinburgh, is the top rainy day activity in Scotland
Tripadvisor ranks The Real Mary King's Close as the top activity for a rainy day in Scotland.
With a whopping 26,000 reviews and average rating of 4.5 out of five, the Edinburgh-based attraction shouldn't disappoint.
The historical landmark is the city's only preserved 17th-century underground street, and is open for visitors throughout the year.
Tourists call it a 'must-do' in reviews on Tripadvisor, as one raved: 'Was worth it and great way to learn a bit about the history of Edinburgh.'
Prices start from £24.95 for adults and £18.25 for children.
Ffestiniog and the Welsh Highland Railways, Wales
Ffestiniog and the Welsh Highland Railways is named the top rainy day activity in Wales
Over in Wales, Tripadvisor deems Ffestiniog and the Welsh Highland Railways the best activity for a rainy day.
Take shelter on a historic steam train and watch the rain pour as you trundle across the Welsh countryside.
Prices vary depending on the journey.
Titanic Belfast allows you to explore over 100 years of maritime history
In Northern Ireland, the number one rainy attraction to go for is a visit to Titanic Belfast, according to Tripadvisor.
Visitors can explore more than 100 years of maritime history and learn all about the Titanic through a self-guided tour across ten interactive galleries.
Entry is priced from £24.95 for adults and £11 for children online.
The most popular coffee shop in the UK: Neighbourhood Cafe, Belfast
Neighbourhood Cafe in Belfast is the most popular independent coffee shop in the UK
Avoid any showers by settling into an afternoon at Neighbourhood Cafe, in Belfast, which has been named the most popular independent coffee shop in the UK by Capital on Tap.
Customers have described the cafe as a 'must-visit' in Belfast, remarking on its relaxed atmosphere, standout breakfast menu and speciality drinks.
Enjoy brunch and warm hospitality as you watch the rain pour outside.