We have all been there. You plan a great day out and it starts to pour with rain. Where to go, what to do? 

So, welcome to a new series of blogs about indoor entertainment and things to do when the skies turn grey and the rain comes down. Living in the North East we might be used to colder weather, but sometimes you need to enjoy a cosy afternoon inside instead of battling the elements. 

Eldon Square has a huge variety of shops, with everything from OFFICE for your footwear essentials to Hollister for your American apparel style clothing, high street favourites like River Island and Monsoon, and department stores like John Lewis. In addition to the all the shopping there is a fantastic selection of dining options like Ask Italian and Chiquito’s to name two, plus popular venues like The Alchemist and Chaophraya.

What you might not know about Eldon Square is that there a full leisure centre above which is known as Eldon Leisure. You can access it near Smash Burger in Grey’s Quarter taking the escalator up

Eldon Leisure is the only soft play operating in the city centre, making it more accessible than other venues. There is also an 8 lane bowling alley which is great for kids of all ages! You can also enjoy American pool tables, table tennis and darts too. Plus there is a great selection of arcade games with everything from car racing to air hockey. You can also enjoy a sports bar showing all kinds of live sport to enjoy.

That’s not all, you can also flex your muscles in a large gym with the latest equipment with traditional treadmills and bikes and CrossFit style blocks for fitness fanatics. If spinning is your thing there is dedicated fitness classes and spin classes with a wide range of activities from yoga to Zumba on regularly. There is also a sauna to relax in and squash courts and huge sports hall for 5 a side if you’re wanting to get some football practice in. 

And that's not all - a huge multi-faced climbing wall is on offer for adults and children, with bouldering options and 12 other climbing tours to choose from. Sure to fill anyone with excitement and adrenaline, it really is an expansive place to have fun or relax. And you probably didn’t know it existed right above you when wandering along the malls of Eldon Square.

For more information about Eldon Leisure go to their website, don’t forget up to three kids aged 11 and under go free with a fare paying adult on Metro. It’s best to use Monument Metro Station for access to Eldon Leisure.