Devon is glorious in the sunshine, but anyone who lives here knows the forecast can turn on a sixpence. A grey morning in Ilfracombe or a drizzly afternoon in Exeter does not have to mean bored children and a squabbling afternoon in front of the television. The trick is to have a small mental list of indoor options ready before the rain arrives — and to book ahead, because every other family in the county has the same idea when the clouds roll in.

Museums and Indoor Heritage Trails

Devon punches well above its weight for family-friendly museums, and most of the larger ones run free or low-cost activity trails aimed squarely at children. Exeter's city museum, Plymouth's main museum and the North Devon museum in Barnstaple all offer clipboards, pencil trails and dressing-up corners that keep primary-aged children moving through the galleries rather than racing past them.

A few things worth knowing before you set off:

• Many museums are free to enter, with a small charge (usually £1–£3) for the activity trail — cash is still useful in some smaller sites.
• Weekday mornings during term time are blissfully quiet; Saturday afternoons in February half-term are not.
• Look for the smaller, independent museums in towns such as Tiverton, Bideford and Newton Abbot, which often have hands-on rooms and far fewer visitors.
• Check opening days carefully — smaller museums frequently close on Mondays and out of season.

If you have train-mad children, an indoor steam or railway heritage centre makes an excellent wet-weather fallback, with covered viewing areas and café seating where you can linger over a coffee.

Swimming Pools and Leisure Centres

Nothing burns off a rainy afternoon quite like an hour in the water. Devon's leisure centres in Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay, Barnstaple and Exeter's surrounding towns all run family swim sessions, and several have flumes, splash zones and small learner pools with warm water for babies and toddlers.

Practical points that save a lot of stress:

• Book online in advance, especially at weekends and in school holidays — popular slots sell out by mid-morning.
• Family changing rooms are limited; arrive ten minutes early and bring a large towel per child plus a spare carrier bag for wet costumes.
• Bring a padlock or a couple of pound coins for lockers, and check whether the centre requires swimming hats.
• Look for "quiet swim" or "splash time" sessions, which are often aimed at under-fives and are far calmer than general family swims.

If your child is nervous in water, a warm small pool at a quieter session will do far more good than a big, echoing main pool on a busy Saturday.

Soft Play, Trampolining and Indoor Climbing

Soft play centres are dotted across the county, from the outskirts of Exeter to the coastal towns, and they are a reliable way to let children run wild somewhere warm and dry. Most charge per child with adults going free, and many offer a reduced-price toddler session first thing in the morning.

Older children who have outgrown ball pools tend to gravitate towards trampoline parks and indoor climbing walls, both of which now operate in most of Devon's larger towns. Sessions are usually sold in one-hour slots, and you will need to complete a waiver before your first visit — do this online at home rather than at the desk with three impatient children in tow. Grip socks are often compulsory, so check before you travel.

Craft Sessions, Libraries and Making Things

Devon's library network is one of the county's quietest rainy-day treasures. Branches in Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Barnstaple and market towns such as South Molton and Okehampton run free storytimes, rhyme sessions, craft afternoons and coding clubs for children. You usually do not need to be a member to walk in and read, and membership is free if you want to borrow.

Beyond libraries, look out for drop-in craft mornings at community halls, church rooms and galleries — pottery painting, badge making and seasonal workshops are common in the run-up to Easter, half-term and Christmas. These are often advertised on parish noticeboards and in local what's-on listings rather than on big websites, so it pays to keep an eye out when you are out and about.

For a simple home-based option, keep a box of glue, scrap paper, old magazines and sticky tape ready. A rainy afternoon feels far shorter when there is something to make.

Cinemas, Theatres and Indoor Wildlife

When the weather really sets in, a family film at a local cinema or a children's theatre matinee is hard to beat. Smaller venues in Exeter, Plymouth and Torquay often run cheap weekend family screenings, and panto season fills the winter months.

Indoor wildlife attractions — aquariums, butterfly houses and small animal parks with covered areas — also work well, as they combine something genuinely interesting with a guaranteed dry spell. Pair one with a warming lunch and you have filled a whole wet day without once checking the weather app.

Practical Kit and Planning Tips

Whatever you choose, a little preparation makes the difference between a lovely afternoon and a soggy meltdown.

• Pack spare socks and trousers in the car for younger children — puddles are irresistible.
• Ring ahead or check social media for last-minute closures, especially at smaller attractions.
• Consider an annual pass at a museum, leisure centre or attraction you visit often; it usually pays for itself within three or four wet days.
• Have a plan B nearby — a café, a library or a soft play centre within ten minutes of your main destination.
• Go early. Car parks and cafés fill quickly once the rain starts, and the first hour is always the calmest.

Devon's wet days are simply part of living here. Treat them as an excuse to explore the county's indoor side, and you will find there is far more to do than you ever expected.