The best indoor activities in London for when it rains

From top-tier off-licences to under-the-radar vintage shops, specialised delis, plant havens and everything in between, we’ve shopped (and dropped) our way through the capital’s retail offering. You really can buy whatever you want in this city – you just need to know where to look. That’s why we’ve put together this definitive list of the capital’s 100 best shops for 2024. 

You won’t find massive famous ones like Liberty, Harrods and Hamleys here: everyone knows them. You won’t find obvious high street names or the big shopping centres either. But you will find a selection of excellent independent shops and some real quirky places you might have never known existed. Did someone say a butcher which turns into a listening bar? What about an expert collector of old-school tech? A bookshop which specialises in witchcraft? Or a boutique where you’ll find gorgeous retro furnishings for bargain prices? 

This is our ultimate guide to shopping in the capital. Just don’t blame us if you get a little carried away next payday. 

Staying indoors definitely isn’t boring in the bucolic surroundings of Hampstead’s famous neoclassical villa. Many an hour can be spent ogling its legendary art collection, which contains masterpieces by Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Gainsborough, among others, or marvelling at its interior, painted in baby blues and pastel pinks, making even the gloomiest of days a little brighter. Entry is free, but you need to book in advance.

Don’t get soaked in the rain, soak up knowledge in the Wellcome Collection’s beautiful reading room. This gallery-cum-library-cum-events space has more than a thousand books and a hundred objects to peruse, including contemporary sculptures, paintings, medical artefacts and manuscripts. Pick one of the many comfy sofas and hunker down with a book. You’ll instantly forget all about the dark clouds outside.

This city is absolutely rammed full of amazing art galleries and museums. Want to see a priceless Monet? A Rothko masterpiece? An installation of little crumpled bits of paper? A video piece about the evils of capitalism? London’s museums are all huge and amazing, and the city’s independents are tiny and fascinating, meaning there are always plenty of top exhibits to check out, and you won't get a drop of rain on you. 

Roam the city’s cobbled streets without getting wet by taking shelter under Leadenhall Market’s magnificent vaulted roof. Designed by Horace Jones in 1881, this covered market is a fine example of Victorian architecture and houses plenty of pubs, cafés and restaurants that you can try without the risk of a soaking. Be sure to pay a visit to the historic Lamb Tavern for a leisurely pint.

Stroll amid 1,500 species of tropical plants and trees at the Barbican’s conservatory oasis. It’s a taste of the tropics in the heart of London and rain-safe all year round. There are koi carp and terrapins that you can visit too. Booking essential.

Long before humans were eating chocolate, they were drinking it: the ancient Mayans were sipping on hot cocoa-based bevvies as early as 500BC (in between human sacrifices, that is). And you know what, they were on to something. Hot chocolate is rich, warming and entirely delicious, capable of lifting your spirits, getting those sweet endorphins flowing, and putting a smile back on your face after you've got caught in a downpour. 

While away the hours indoors by getting down to the ultimate rainy-day activity: a board game. At Draughts there are more than 1000 to choose from. The £7 entry fee allows you up to three hours play as well as the guidance of a ‘game guru’ who will tell you which game is best for your group and give you the lowdown on the rules. So cheaters, beware. There’s also a branch in Waterloo in the Leake Street Graffiti tunnel.

Get comfy in one of London’s oldest cinemas by watching a flick wrapped in a cashmere blanket in one of Electric Cinema’s luxurious leather armchairs. Nestle down on one of the front row’s six opulent, velvet-lined double beds for a sumptuously cosy few hours indoors.