Nine of our top winter day trips that are great even in rain and snow… from kid-friendly museums to seafront shows

AS the cold snap continues across the UK, you might be tempted to stay indoors.

But the Sun's travel team have picked our favourite places for a winter day trip - from from cosy villages to trendy cities - that are just as amazing even in bad weather.

Stratford Upon Avon - Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter

AS both a Brummie and an avid bookworm, I spend a lot of time visiting Stratford Upon Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

The picturesque medieval market can get very busy in the height of the summer, but there are still plenty of rainy day activities to keep day-trippers both amused and dry.

Located in the heart of Stratford Upon Avon, Shakespeare’s Birthplace tells the story of the English playwright's childhood.

Nearby, there's also Shakespeare's New Place, reopening later this year; it's where the famous writer lived until he died in the late 16th century.

Fans of the British playwright can even see Shakespeare's grave inside Holy Trinity Church.

A visit to Stratford Upon Avon isn't complete without taking in a show at the Royal Shakespeare Company where celebrities like David Tennant, Christopher Eccleston and Patrick Stewart have all performed.

If you really want to splash the cash, dine in the rooftop restaurant beforehand for sweeping countryside views on a clear day.

Stay at The Arden Hotel; if you're taking in a late show at the theatre, it's a short stumble from the Dirty Duck, where actors often head for a drink.

North Wales - Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

PARTS of North Wales are so untouched and rural that they almost feel foreign.

If you’re a keen rambler, this is the place for you.

Expect giant lakes where the waters are so still they reflect a perfect image of the snowy mountain tops behind, as well as cosy pubs wedged into cliffsides overlooking deep, grassy valleys.

No matter which direction you walk in, one thing is guaranteed – and that’s excellent views.

Little ones will love spying the animals from shaggy-furred sheep to fluffy cows grazing in the fields or you can swing by one of the many family-friendly farms which open their doors to visitors, with onsite cafes and petting areas.

There are three national parks in Wales alone, including Snowdonia, and each of these looks even more beautiful in the winter months, when grassy hills are covered in a layer of frost and icicles form on rocks which line the many rivers.

If you love a pub, you won’t be short of choice. If you’re near Corwen, head to The Berwyn Arms, a 17th century gastro pub serving excellent local ales and with a roaring fireplace that will keep you toasty after a brisk hike.

Cambridge - Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

DURING wet weather it’s best to avoid punting along the River Cam, but there’s still plenty to do in Cambridge that makes it the best city for a day trip.

If history is one of your interests (or even if it’s not), then take a walking tour of the colleges, where the likes of Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking studied. 

The tours are guided by local students, so they really know their stuff, and will tell you all you need to know.

The Eagle pub on Bene't Street, has been pouring pints since 1667 and is the perfect place for a pit stop.

It was also once the drinking hole of Watson and Crick, the regulars who discovered DNA. More importantly, they do a fantastic Sunday roast.

If, like me, you’re a fan of theatre, there’s always something going on at Cambridge Arts from live music, to touring theatre productions and comedy.

Manchester - Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

TO me, one of the best places for a rainy day outing is a city, as you can easily nip in and out of all the museums, attractions and restaurants on offer.

And Manchester has long been my favourite place to visit.

For indoor museums, there is the amazing Science and Industry for kids, which was once the oldest train station in the UK.

Personally, I love the Paradise Skate World roller rink, which opens in the evenings.

It even has some internationally acclaimed spots with Schofield's named one of the world's best bars.

Hull - Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter

LOCATED in East Yorkshire, it takes just two hours and 45 minutes to reach Hull on a direct train from London Kings Cross, and it's even closer to Sheffield and Birmingham.

In recent years, Hull has enjoyed a taste of the showbiz lifestyle with the Old Town being used as a backdrop for blockbusters and hit Netflix TV shows like The Crown and Bodies.

Day-trippers can follow the It Must Be Hullywood walking trail to walk past the city's most well-known filming locations.

The route isn't too long, so it's still doable in the colder months.

If you want to have something in common with iconic TV star Timmy Mallett, then climb Hull Ministers 170 steps to its roof.

While Timmy Mallett treated locals to a rendition of the hit song, ‘Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ on the church bells, I simply enjoyed its panoramic views for just £7.50. 

Families will want to make the most of the city's museums like the, the William Wilberforce House Museum and the Hull & East Riding Museum of Archaeology, all of which are free to enter. 

I visited the , which does a fantastic job of engaging children - and journalists - with the wonders of archaeology.