From a tour of ancient underground caves to decadent artisan hot chocolate – here are five of the best things to do in south east London on a rainy day.
If there’s one thing we get a lot of here in the UK, it's rain, no matter what season you’re in.
Luckily, south east London has plenty of fun indoor things to see and do, if you’re looking for a day out that will keep you sheltered from the rain.
We’ve rounded up five of the best things we think you should do in south east London on the next rainy day:
Visit Chislehurst Caves
Located 30 metres underground, Chislehurst Caves is a great place to visit if you’re interested in local history or fancy hearing a chilling ghost story or two.
Chislehurst Caves has a long history dating back hundreds of years and was previously used by the Romans and the Saxons.
Spanning over 22 miles, the caves also played a huge part in World War II, when they were used as large bomb shelters during the Blitz.
During your tour you will see the caves as they would have been during the war when it was an active bomb shelter, along with a hospital, cinema and a stage area where acts like The Who and Jimmy Hendrix performed.
You will also see more ancient parts of the cave and explore places that were once used by the Druids, and hear ghost stories from your guide about the paranormal sightings in the caves over the years.
Tickets cost £8 for an adult, £6 for children and seniors, and under 3’s for 1p, for a tour lasting around 50 minutes.
Explore the history at a local museum
South east London is home to a number of museums, all offering both free and ticketed exhibits to pass the time on a rainy day.
If maritime history or astronomy is your thing, head over to Greenwich and explore its National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory, where you’ll learn about the role Greenwich played in Britain’s maritime history and exploration into space.
Or why not check out the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill, which has three floors of exhibits to explore, with natural history, musical instruments and historical artefacts from around the world.
Take a tour of Crossness Pumping Station
You may not think that touring a former Victorian sewage pumping station would make this list, but this incredible example of Victorian ironwork architecture is a must-see attraction.
Located in Abbey Wood, Crossness Pumping Station is an ornate iron structure which was formerly used to pump out London’s sewage.
The pumping station was originally built between 1860 and 1865 by William Webster, in a bid to deal with “The Great Stink” and to more effectively dispose of London’s waste.
Today you can still see the ironwork structure, which resembles something more of a cathedral or ornate building than a sewage station.
Visitors can purchase a ticket for a non-steaming day for £12 for an adult and £4 for a child between 5 and 15 years.
Or if you want to see it in action, visit on a steaming day, where you’ll have a chance to see the Prince Consort Engine in action for £18 for an adult and £4 for a child.
Alongside the pumping station there is also an open café, exhibition, boiler rooms and a miniature railway to explore.
Try your hand at pottery painting
One way to pass the time on a rainy day is to get creative and what better way than to try out some pottery painting.
The Pottery Painting Studio at the Find Store in Lee is a gift shop, café and pottery painting space, where guests can choose from a range of items to paint from mugs to ornaments, with prices starting at £6.
An additional fee of £5 will also be charged on top of the cost of items painted, which covers the cost to glaze and finish the item before you take it home.
Cosy up with a decadent artisan hot chocolate in Peckham
Located in Maxted Road in Peckham, Melange Chocolate offers artisan chocolate to customers, along with its range of chocolate workshops and chocolate tasting sessions.
You can also drink cocktails and decadent artisan hot chocolate made from a “secretly guarded recipe”, which has been highly recommended by customers on Google reviews, with the hot chocolate receiving 40 reviews alone.
The café is open between Thursday and Friday from 12:30pm – 6pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am – 6pm.
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