Dads can be notoriously difficult to buy gifts for, but it’s Father’s Day this weekend, so you’ll need to get something for your old man. If they’ve accumulated everything physical they could possibly need, then there’s nothing better to gift them than the gift of an experience out in London. Whether it’s a day of culture, of cakes, or of crate of beer, this Sunday (June 16) will be a jubilant time to celebrate the Dads out there – and here are a few suggestions from us!
1. Head to one of London’s fantastic museums
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that all dads have some kind of weird history-based obsession that they know everything about. So why not treat them to a related museum trip? London is filled to the brim with essential museums, and even if you’ve been to them all, a trip to one with the family is dead-cert hit for Father’s Day. Check out our list of fab and free museums in London.
2. Give the gift of travel (kind of)
While a round-the-world trip might be a bit out of budget this Father’s Day, a ticket to a travel photography exhibition in London may well satisfy any wanderlust. Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, located in South Kensington, brings together images that are…well… accidentally Wes Anderson. The photographs span images from all around the world.
From June 10-17, you can bag 20% off tickets using the code AWAFD20 and give your dad a day to remember.
3. Head to an outdoor film screening
While the weather might not be quite giving summer yet, it should just about do for an outdoor cinema screening in the city. There’s nothing quite like loading up your favourite flick on a giant projector with a deckchair and breeze for company. And, you can treat your Dad to a screening of one of his favourites at various spots around the city. From London Bridge to Hyde Park to Hammersmith, there are plenty of spots to catch a screening this summer, and you can choose your favourite using our handy guide to outdoor cinema spots across the city!
4. Survive a Martian invasion together
Surviving a Martian invasion together sounds like the ultimate bonding experience, no? Well, you can do just that at Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience. This action-packed immersive experience in The City of London has been hailed as magnificent by previous visitors – it combines talented character actors, heart-stopping special effects, and mesmerising virtual reality to create an adrenaline-pumping activity. The experience is all set to Jeff Wayne’s iconic score from his multi-platinum 1978 double album.
5. Enjoy some free pints at a lovely London market
Why have one pint when the one after comes for free? Enjoy a free pint alongside your pint when you attend Market Place in Vauxhall, Peckham, or Harrow on Father’s Day. It really is that easy (and cheap, this time) to share a pint with your old man. Plus, you’ll obviously be surrounded by the usual array of food vendors that taste extra good after a pint. And then a free pint. Tuck into a Yorkshire Burrito or Sweet Dee’s Jerk Shack before getting the beers in for the Euros football screenings on during the day. Find out more about Market Place here.
6. Enjoy a special Father’s Day roast and watch England vs Serbia on a giant outdoor screen
We’ve mentioned football, we’ve mentioned giant cinema screenings… so why not mash them together? At the Duke Of Greenwich pub you can kick back in front of their 3x3m screen to catch England’s opener at Euro 2024 on Father’s Day alongside a special roast. Perfect view to catch Bukayo Saka bending one into the top corner with the smell of sizzling food all around you. Read more about the Duke Of Greenwich here.
7. Relive the magic of Disney
It’s the last chance for all Disney-loving dads to head to Disney100: The Exhibition, soon closing at the London ExCeL centre. Here, kids and kids at heart can wander the 10 themed galleries dedicated to 100 years of iconic storytelling. If your dad is anything like mine, he’ll revel in later recounting the little-known facts and behind-the-scenes intel you’re privy to at this exhibition.
8. Get an even bigger portion of seafood at the decadent Shrimp Shack restaurant
If Father’s Day means an excuse to stuff your face until you can no longer move, then Shrimp Shack is your place… even before you take advantage of their Father’s Day offer! On the 16th, you’ll be able to upgrade to the ‘combo’ meal, when you order their ‘original’ or ‘saucy’ platter, which gets you six extra prince shrimps or three extra Queen shrimps on the house. Read more about Shrimp Shack here.
9. Treat your Dad to a delightful themed cake
Hummingbird Bakery’s Father’s Day collection is back and better than either, with the ultimate treats to gift a Dad with the sweetest of sweet tooths. You can go for a giant cake with ‘DAD’ sprawled across it, or opt for one of their boxes of cupcakes OR their giant biscuit bar. The options are not quite endless, but there’s a treasure trove to shift through, and they’re all sure to light up the days of a many a father out there. Sift through the collection here.
10. Experience the Tower of London in a unique way
If your dad is a history fan, a visit to Gunpowder Plot: The Immersive Experience in Central London is a great gift this Father’s Day. He’ll be able to step into the pages of our history books; the experience combines virtual reality, live actors, and visitor participation for maximum impact. The experience also includes a range of cocktails, some with names that’ll out-pun your dad’s fave Dad joke.
11. Fly like a bird on this daring day out
Got a dad who loves adrenaline-fuelled activities and adventure? Then you’ll definitely want to treat him to iFly’s indoor skydiving experience. You (and your dad, obviously) can experience the thrill of flying – without even the need for a parachute. And for Father’s Day, they’re offering as much as a whopping 50% off for bookings. Head to their website to snap up the deal!
12. Get a free beer just for Dad Dancing
We all know what a Dad Dance looks like. You’ve either done one because you’re Dad, or seen a Dad in your life do one. Well, the folks at Thai restaurant Giggling Squid are offering Dads a free beer or soft drink if they do their very best rendition of the Dad Dance on Father’s Day before tucking into their meal. Seems like fair trade-off to us! Find out more about Giggling Squid here.
13. Escape the mundane and head to a new world
Young families, with children aged 6–13, are invited to escape Earth this Father’s Day and head to the new world of Avora. At the multi-sensory Avora: Family Immersive Adventure in Hoxton, you’ll follow a storyline that’ll take you to the lush world, where you can sip on two unique drinks (non-alcoholic, obviously), engage with native ‘Avorians’, and create some unforgettable memories, all in a rather fetching spacesuit. Cheers to you, Dad!
14. Go to a whiskey-tasting event with your Dad
If being a total whiskey connoisseur runs in the family, then this event at TT with should be right up your street. The good people of Bushmills Irish Whiskey will be taking over the orangery at TT, and guests will get a welcome cocktail on arrival before being taken through four different Bushmill tastes; with whiskey expressions that are up to 21 years old! Find out more and book your spot for the session at TT on Father’s Day here.
15. Sip on a beer while getting the Barbershop treatment
Anyone booking to go to a Ruffians branch for a tidy-up between now and June 16 will receive a free beer from The Gentleman’s Brewing Co. to enjoy alongside their shave or haircut. If your old man is overdue a beard tidy, cut-throat razor shave or a simple clean up of their barnet, you can lure them into the chair with beer. Works like a charm every time. Find out more about Ruffians here.
16. Embrace your inner child and put a smile on Dad’s face
One for the big kids (and little kids) this Father’s Day: Dopamine Land in South Kensington. Having earned the reputation of the happiest museum in London, Dopamine Land brings together an array of multi-sensory rooms that are designed to see what makes your happiness hormone flow. Whether three, thirty, or sixty, the joy of playing in a ball pit, or creating silly shadow puppets, will never leave. Or if capturing memories is more your family’s style, the visually pleasing forest room and the mirrored infinity room make for great selfie spots!