There is almost no escaping a rainy day in London. But honestly, if you visit London and don’t see a speck of rain, did you really visit at all? Walking through the rain here feels like a rite of passage. Unlike in other cities, where wet weather can dampen both your spirits and your plans, London is a city prepared for rainy days, and there is no shortage of indoor activities to keep you entertained and dry.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to make the most of a rainy day in London, from museums to markets and everything in between. This itinerary is for those who love art, history and architecture: a hidden underground café, a townhouse full of masterpieces, a deconsecrated church turned food hall and a few cozy corners where the past is still very much alive. If artsy travel isn’t your style, heck out our other themed rainy day London guides. Each itinerary is planned around specific neighbourhoods, so you won’t have to jump all over the city in the rain.
- Artsy Rainy Day London Itinerary
- Start Your Day with a Warm Cup of Coffee inside The Attendant
- Explore The Wallace Collection
- Warm Up with Market Comfort Food inside Mercato Mayfair
- Get Lost inside Daunt Books Marylebone
- Explore London's Most Artful Department Store: Liberty London
- Get Cozy inside Chiltern Firehouse
- Enjoy the Arthouse Cinema at Curzon Soho
- Get a Drink at the Fitzroy Tavern
Artsy Rainy Day London Itinerary
Start Your Day with a Warm Cup of Coffee inside The Attendant
On a rainy day, there’s nothing quite like a hot cup of coffee or tea to start your morning, and London has no shortage of cozy cafes where you can curl up with a warming breakfast. In the heart of Fitzrovia, on the corner of Foley and Great Titchfield streets, stands an old ironwork cage. Behind it, a stairwell leads down into one of the best-hidden gems in London. Below the surface, you step into a stunning slice of history inside Attendant.
This quaint coffee shop is housed in a former Victorian public toilet. Yes, you heard that right! After sitting dormant for more than 50 years, the space reopened as a café in 2013, and it now serves great coffee and delicious brunch options inside a beautifully restored Victorian interior. Enjoying your morning brew here, surrounded by the preserved Victorian fittings, is a special way to start your day, and one more hidden-away spot that doesn’t care about the rain.
Explore The Wallace Collection
After a filling breakfast, if the rain is still pounding the pavement outside, it’s time to escape to one of the city’s great museums. London is known for its world-class museums, and the Wallace Collection is a true gem among them, a hidden treasure for art lovers. Housed in Hertford House, a stunning townhouse in Marylebone that dates to the late 18th century, it boasts an array of paintings, sculptures, porcelain and furniture. Because it is displayed in the rooms of a former family home, it feels like a living, personal collection rather than a stuffy, curated gallery. Visitors can explore works by renowned artists such as Titian, Rembrandt and Fragonard. Admission is free, and the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The museum itself is a work of art, with lavish period rooms and elegant architecture. Stepping into the Wallace Collection feels like stepping back in time, and a visit lets you immerse yourself in a historical and artistic ambiance.
Unlike some of London’s larger, more crowded museums, the Wallace Collection offers an intimate and tranquil setting. Visitors can take their time to admire the art, reflect and connect with each piece on a deeper level. I love escaping the rain here, where the lavish, textured wallpaper wraps me in a warm blanket of awe!
Warm Up with Market Comfort Food inside Mercato Mayfair
After a morning of exploring the museum, you’ll likely be ready for a warm and comforting meal. London has no shortage of cozy restaurants where you can indulge in comfort food, but one of my favourite things to do on a rainy day is head to one of the city’s food halls. London stands out for its abundant indoor food halls and markets, catering to every appetite. Mercato Mayfair is an enchanting food hall housed in the Grade I-listed St Mark’s Church, built between 1825 and 1828 and deconsecrated in 1974. This exquisitely restored building retains much of its original beauty, including its stained glass windows and Greek Revival portico, creating a breathtaking backdrop for its new life as a vibrant food market.
The nave has been cleared of its old church pews and now serves as a modern, cafeteria-style dining room with shared seating and colourful tables, adding a modern pop of colour to the old Greek Revival church. Vibrant stalls beckon you in with food from all over the world, from Italian pasta and pizza to sushi, bao buns and more. It’s a true paradise for food lovers eager to explore a world of flavours in one place. Downstairs, a wine cellar and bar occupy the vaulted crypt, giving you and your friends another cozy spot to escape the rain over a glass of wine or a pint.
Get Lost inside Daunt Books Marylebone
After lunch, if the rain is still hitting the pavement, there’s no better place to escape than a cozy bookshop, and London is home to some of the world’s most iconic ones. A visit to Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street is a delightful journey for artsy book lovers. Built as a bookshop and completed in 1912, it exudes the dark academic aesthetic: long Edwardian oak galleries, a stained glass window, skylights, viridian green walls and inviting décor all give it that old literary feel.
Daunt Books is renowned for specializing in travel literature, with guides, travel writing, history and fiction shelved by country. For anyone interested in art, these travel books offer so many exciting insights into art from around the world. Pick up any book on the shelves, and you’ll be transported to far-off lands, all from the dry comfort of the Daunt library. Alongside the books, you’ll find gifts such as travel-themed wrapping paper and the shop’s well-known tote bags, making it a one-stop destination for creative and artistic souls.
Explore London’s Most Artful Department Store: Liberty London
When you can’t go out and enjoy the sights on a rainy day, it’s the perfect time to hit the shops! London is known for its incredible shopping, and there are plenty of indoor destinations where you can stay dry. If you want to explore one of London’s most fantastic department stores, one with a deep connection to art and design, you must check out Liberty London. Liberty is an iconic department store on Great Marlborough Street, just off Regent Street, known for its stunning architecture. The building itself is a work of art. Walking up to it, you’re immediately struck by its intricate Tudor Revival timber façade, built between 1922 and 1924 using timbers from two old Royal Navy ships, HMS Hindustan and HMS Impregnable.
But inside is where the real magic happens… Liberty has a carefully curated selection of home décor, fashion and textiles. The store has a long history of collaborating with artists and designers, from William Morris in the 19th century to Vivienne Westwood in the 20th. If you’re interested in wearable arty items, you’ll find clothing and accessories that reflect the creativity of leading designers. Liberty’s commitment to quality, craftsmanship and artistic design makes it a must-visit destination for art lovers. And on a rainy day in London, the fantastical interior of this Grade II*-listed department store makes it an even more unique experience.
Get Cozy inside Chiltern Firehouse
London’s dining scene is diverse, with a range of cozy spots perfect for grey, rainy evenings. When you want somewhere to dine on a chilly, rainy night, you’re looking for comfort, warmth and delightful cuisine, and we’ve got you covered. Chiltern Firehouse merges historic elegance with a modern twist, making it a standout stop on an artsy London itinerary. Part of a boutique hotel in Marylebone, this former Victorian fire station, built in 1889 in the Victorian Gothic style and now Grade II listed, charms with a vibrant yet intimate ambiance and offers a glimpse into a stylishly reimagined past.
The interior is a visual delight: original glazed wall tiles, fire doors and firemen’s poles sit alongside antique pendant lighting and plush leather banquettes. The blend of industrial heritage and opulent design creates an eclectic and visually stimulating setting, ideal for those who appreciate art and architecture.
The culinary experience at Chiltern Firehouse is as memorable as its surroundings. The ingredient-led menu offers contemporary interpretations of classic dishes. Each plate is a work of art, marrying bold flavours with artistic presentation and reflecting the creativity of the kitchen.
Enjoy the Arthouse Cinema at Curzon Soho
After a full day exploring London’s rain-proof interiors, there’s nothing like settling in for a good movie. Curzon Soho, on Shaftesbury Avenue, is an arthouse cinema that screens a diverse range of independent, foreign and arthouse films, and it caters to film enthusiasts looking for unique and thought-provoking cinema experiences. The cinema opened in 1959 as the Columbia, became the Curzon West End in 1985, and was renovated in 1998 into the three-screen Curzon Soho you’ll find today, with a glass-walled café at street level and an atmospheric bar downstairs. If you’re looking for one of the most popular alternative movie-going experiences in the city, this is the spot!
Get a Drink at the Fitzroy Tavern
After your evening’s entertainment, if you’ve still got the energy, the best place to wind down on a rainy night is inside a cozy pub. The Fitzroy Tavern on Charlotte Street is a historic pub with roots in the 1880s: the building began life as a coffee house in 1883 and became a pub in 1887. From the 1920s until the mid-1950s, it was a gathering place for bohemian artists, writers and intellectuals, with regulars including George Orwell, Dylan Thomas and the painter Augustus John. The pub is often credited with giving Fitzrovia its name. The artistic history of this pub makes it the perfect spot for art lovers to hide away from the rain while enjoying a hearty pint of ale.
As our journey through London’s rainy-day wonders comes to an end, we hope you feel inspired and ready to embrace those grey skies with a newfound sense of adventure. A day that began in a Victorian public toilet and ends in a bohemian pub has shown that, for lovers of art, history and architecture, the rain is never really a problem. Remember, a drizzle in London is simply nature’s way of adding a little extra sparkle to the city’s magnificence. So grab your umbrella and step out with a smile. Whether you’re wandering through historic galleries or browsing the stalls of a food hall, there’s always something uniquely delightful to discover in this city, rain or shine.
Happy Travels, Adventurers
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