Things to do in St Bees on a rainy day…

A coastal village on a rainy day may sound like a bad idea, but there are actually many fun, indoor activities to enjoy in and around St Bees for the days when the weather is looking a bit grim… 

  • Look inside St Bees Priory 

Take shelter from the rain inside the ancient walls of St Bees Priory; is the parish church of the village, which dates back to 1130.  You can spend all day marvelling at the 12th century relics, stunning stained glass windows and learning about the Norman history of the priory and its connection to St Bega and the extraordinary ‘St Bees Man.’ During an archaeological dig of the 14th century chapel in 1981, remains of a man were found, believing to date back to 1368, whose body was in a remarkable state of preservation. The priory’s display includes information on the find as well as presenting the shroud in which he as wrapped. 

  • The Beacon Museum

Take a train ride over to Whitehaven town and visit the indoor Beacon Museum, which is situated on the Marina. The newly refurbished Beacon offers an interactive learning experience for the whole family and illustrates the history and development of the Copeland Region through interactive displays, artefacts, maps, galleries and more. Once you’ve explored the museum, you can enjoy a bite to eat in the café and take a look around the gift shop. 

  • Gaiety Cinema 

For a cosy, rainy day film afternoon, hop on the train to Whitehaven and pay a visit to the Gaiety Cinema to catch the latest film releases or to explore some lesser known independent titles. The original picture house opened in 1922 and is now the only surviving cinema in the area. The cinema is a small, single screen picture house using state of the art digital sound and projection to provide a professional viewing experience. Some of the buildings original features from the early 1900’s remain such as the interiors plasterwork. 

  • The Rum Story

Visiting the Rum Story in Whitehaven on a dark, rainy day adds to the spooky experience and is fitting for a day filled with stories of smugglers, pirates and the dark history of the slave trade associated with Whitehaven’s Jefferson family, all brought to life through models and artistic set ups. The exhibition is set in the original cellars and warehouses of the Jefferson’s former home dating back to 1785. In the ‘haunted’ cellars you will hear tales of Blackbeard and piracy on the high seas, smugglers, and Nelsons Navy, see Elliot Ness's office in the gangster days of the Jazz Age and discover the story of Whitehaven's maritime fortunes and the Jefferson's family's trading past.