Let’s be honest, our weather here in the UK has a reputation for being a bit unpredictable. Glorious sunshine one minute and torrential downpour the next — it’s all just part of the charm of a British summer.

If you’ve found yourself running out of things to do on those days when the heavens open, never fear: Big Potato has got you covered. Check out our weather-proof suggestions for fun things to do on a rainy day for adults below.

Tasting Banquet

Go on a worldwide culinary journey from the comfort of your sofa.

If you’ve ever wanted to try out some new foods, a rainy afternoon gives you the perfect excuse. Always liked the look of Swedish meatballs, Sushi, or Paella? Order some international cuisine for delivery and have yourself a feast.

On a completely unrelated note, we may have become a little obsessed with Mochi ice cream recently. No, seriously, does anyone have an extra freezer we can use? Ours is full. 

Give Something a New Lease of Life

Freshen up those unloved bits of furniture.

Upcycling is the new big thing. If you’re looking for rainy day things to do, why not give an old chair or dresser a bit of TLC? A fresh coat of paint brightens up an overlooked chest of drawers in next to no time.

Remember to protect your floors though; duck-egg blue might look great on your kitchen cabinets but not so much on your kitchen floor. Don’t ask us how we know this...

Box Set Marathon

We can watch all of Game of Thrones in one sitting, right?

Prepare yourselves for the ultimate box set Marathon. We all know the rain can last for days, so stock up on snacks and revisit your favourite shows from under a cosy blanket.

Did you know it would take over ten days to watch the entire catalogue of the Stargate series? Naturally, we accept this challenge - for the purposes of research, of course.

Muffin Time

What time is it? Muffin time!

Rainy days can always be improved with the addition of board games (and also muffins). All the cards in Muffin Time have consequences, so be careful not to get caught out as you try to collect yours quickest.

This is a fun, fast, hilarious game based on the ASDFmovie series on YouTube. Check it out; you’ll laugh your socks off. Seriously though, where are our muffins?

Take an Online Class

Because the internet isn’t just for cat memes.

Has the weather taken a turn for the worse? Use this time as the perfect excuse to learn that skill you’ve always wanted to have. You may not master a foreign language in one afternoon, but you could learn how to do some awesome origami.

There are lots of unusual one-day online classes available. We found one that teaches you how to yodel. Funnily enough, our neighbours aren’t speaking to us anymore. It’s probably unrelated.

Clear Out Your Closet

Time to toss out those old trainers from 2012...

Remember that episode of Friends where Chandler and Joey find Monica’s secret junk closet and are convinced she’s hiding her ex-boyfriend Richard in there? Well, we’ve all got one of those closets.

Yours might not be full of exes, but a good clear out of unwanted junk is still a productive way to spend a rainy day. What do you mean you’re saving that old jacket with the shoulder pads for a special occasion?

Karaoke in your Living Room

Woah, we’re halfway there, Woah-oh, living on a prayer.

Fancy yourself a Freddie Mercury wannabe? Can you blast it out like Beyonce? You can’t beat a bit of classic Bon Jovi — and living room karaoke is one of the most fun things you can do on a rainy day.

Try downloading a karaoke app on your phone, and join with other singers around the world. After all, who says you need a stage and a microphone to be a rock star?

Volunteer From Home

You don’t have to go far to make a big difference.

Making a difference to someone doesn’t need to take a long time or even involve leaving the house. If you have a few hours to spare on a rainy afternoon, you could use them to volunteer online. You could help out a foreign language student or post social media for a charity.

Alternatively, why not give an elderly neighbour or family member a call for a chat? Oh, that reminds us, we need to check in on the Big Potato legion of Grandmas (that’s what we call them).

Write a Book

You could be the next Stephen King.

They say everyone has a story in them, so why not have a go at writing one yourself? We’re not suggesting you try writing a whole novel — even we couldn’t do that in a day (no matter how fast we scribbled).

But you could try your hand at haikus, write a short story or put together some fan-fiction. Today, your home laptop, tomorrow, the NYT bestsellers list?

Meditate

Rain against the rooftops makes for a perfect relaxation soundtrack.

Indulge in some ‘me time’ with an afternoon of relaxation. Start out with a meditation practise and follow up with a light yoga session. You can find plenty of instructional videos on YouTube, and all you need is a quiet space with room to stretch (without knocking anything over).

If you live with a partner, this can be a great activity to do together. We recommend following it up with some home manicures and a cold glass of something bubbly.

Puzzles, movies, and music

They go together like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong.

Yes, those are the lyrics, and no, we didn’t have to Google them – we’re advanced-level movie experts you know (that’s what we tell ourselves). Classic movies lend themselves perfectly to rainy days at home. Choose something with an upbeat soundtrack to cheer up a dreary day.

We paired Grease with a Night at the Movies puzzle and spent the whole afternoon perfecting our sing-a-long harmonies. All together now – Go Greased lightning...

While you can’t guarantee the weather, there are plenty of ways to cancel out the grey skies. Take the rain as a sign that it’s time to get those little things done around the house you keep putting off. Cleaning out the cupboards might not be the most glamorous activity - but you can always reward yourself with something fun afterward. So far, it’s worked for us every time.