Father's Day: How to spoil dad on a budget from great gifts to fun days out

Father’s Day is on June 15 this year, so there’s still time to get your father figure a gift they’ll love! Whether you want to get a classic foodie gift or something a little more unusual, check out our handpicked gifts and days out ideas for something he’ll love.

Spending time with your dad or father figure is the most valuable gift you can give them. Consider getting nostalgic with fun toys. The Build Your Own Pinball Kit is easy to build, providing ongoing fun for adults and kids alike for a great value £22.99. Or, build a LEGO kit, with prices ranging from £22.99 you’ll find a fun kit to do together whatever your budget.

If you’ve got young children or grandchildren, spend the day with dad at a RaverTots day for a fun, safe, family-friendly festival style event. For older children, check out the Skiddle website for a wide range of days out with your dad.

Or, you could treat your dad or father figure to a little bit of luxury with an afternoon tea. Book at Mariage Frères in Covent Garden for a luxury tea experience before picking up some loose leaf tea to take home and continue the memories every time he takes a sip.

Got a sports-mad Dad? Whether you’re already into sailing, or you want to go to a dynamic new event together, the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix is a huge event (with Pete Tong and Tom Grennan headlining the Après-Sail) that is guaranteed to make memories together that last forever.

If your dad loves to sneak a sweet treat, why not treat him to some Divine Chocolate from just £9.99 for a gift bundle. Ethical chocolate that tastes delicious? Everyone wins! For something a little unusual but still chocolatey, try the Fatso Home Run Chocolate Bundle instead, a selection made with single-origin Colombian dark chocolate.

For those with a hot tooth rather than a sweet one, try a hot sauce set like Chilli No. 5, or for the home chef treat them to luxury Oro Balien Olive Oil. You could even put together a hamper of their favourite things, like PapaLife Peanut Butter, some delicious jams and chutneys, and of course the 1.3kg Ultimate Sausage Roll baked in Malton by The Original Baker for Prestige Hampers. If you’re not sure what to put into a hamper for Father’s Day, check out Bloom and Wild’s Luxe Father’s Day hamper filled with yummy treats.

If your father figure loves to spend time in the kitchen cooking for the ones he loves, treat him to a delivery from Clonakilty (or cook him a delicious breakfast yourself!). You could also consider a set of new knives like the Stellar James Martin Knife Block. If he prefers outdoor cooking, check out the Jamie Oliver Pizza Oven which can be used indoors and outdoors, or treat him to a BBQ Tool Set from Rex London to help him make delicious barbeque dishes all summer long.

Try something a little different than a six-pack of their favourite beer or a bottle of Jack Daniels – opt for one of the growing trend of non-alcoholic spirits instead. The Pathfinder is a hemp-based drink that tastes like many traditional alcoholic beverages without the percentage – it’s perfect for making summer cocktails with a twist!

For the hot drink lover, treat your father figure to some luxury Tambia coffee and throw in some delicious truffles or biscuits to make it a truly enjoyable moment. For those who like to be adventurous with their tea, Bird and Blend have a number of flavours your dad might enjoy, such as ‘Whisktea’, a malty-tasting rooibos based-tea with vanilla and burnt caramel notes.

For those that prefer to make their own barista-level drinks at home, consider an eco- and wallet-friendly Tassimo Finesse coffee pod machine (currently on sale for just £39.99).

If your dad likes to wind down with his PS5 or Xbox after a long day at the desk for work, his eyes might need a little helping hand. Gift him the TheraTears Screen Eyes to help reduce eye strain, and consider giving along with a cooling gel eye mask to make sure he looks after his vision and reduces tension headaches. If he needs a bigger screen for his gaming activity, or likes to wind down with a movie on the sofa in the evening after a long day, treat him to a 43” Sharp UHD TiVo Smart TV (currently on sale at £199). Or you can go even bigger with the Dangbei Freedo portable projector, which can give a viewing screen up to a whopping 4.5m (15 feet), perfect for family film nights together.

For the father who loves music or is obsessed with audiobooks, try some headphones so he can listen in comfort. For all-day listening, Panasonic’s Technics AZ100 deliver a long-lasting battery with comfortable earbuds, while OpenRock X’s bone conduction headphones are perfect for active dads who like to listen while they work out. For a budget option that still lasts and looks great, Flying Tiger’s earbuds are just £20.

For the low-tech dad who likes some time to himself, why not get him the gift of a digital subscription? You could choose something you know he already uses, or a new service to get him to try a new hobby. Avid readers would enjoy a gift card to Readly (make sure to sign him up to the free trial to get two free months first!), Kindle Unlimited, or Kobo Plus. Those who prefer audiobooks would enjoy a BookBeat or Audible subscription or gift card, while the music lovers will always appreciate a Spotify gift card.

You could also opt for a recurring delivery subscription, such as a local groceries box or Oato subscription, a beer box, or even a meat hamper. If food and drink doesn’t quite fit, what about regular deliveries of pants and socks? There are so many subscription services around, have a good search for one you know your dad would love!

Whether he is an active person or just likes to wear the kit, Castore has a wide range of fitness and athleisure wear including an entire range for golfing outfits, with items starting from £20 for accessories. For the adventurous, Helly Hanson is always a good bet. Choose from specific adventure gear, merino-base t-shirts, or the perfect everywhere windproof overhead jacket for the typical British summer wherever he is! If he’s into wild swimming, surfing, or camping, a Vivida All Weather Changing Robe will keep him warm and dry (and provide modesty for getting changed in public).

If he needs a bag for activities like hiking, try the Highlander Ben Nevis 52L backpack. But if he just needs to have somewhere to store his essentials on a quick trip to the gym, try a one-two combo with Gomatic’s sling bag and phone wallet, both slimline and convenient.

For the dads who like to look sporty wherever they go, opt for a timepiece like the Grant Watch from Fossil or – if your budget can stretch – a smartwatch like an Apple or Galaxy watch to keep track of his fitness every day.

If your dad’s a bit of a home bod, get him something that’ll make him super comfy and enjoy his favourite space even more. Whether that’s a Simba hybrid duvet, or a fun personalised cushion from Etsy, find something that will help him relax in his chill-out space at home. If he can’t sleep without a cooling fan, try the silent tower fan from Levoit – or the portable Morphy Richards 6” travel fan if he gets overheated on the go.

Candles are always a good bet – and you can rely on Yankee Candle to last a long time and smell great. Bayside Cedar is a refreshing yet masculine scent while Midnight Jasmine is light and summery, proving there’s a scent for every kind of dad.

For new dads facing their first Father’s Day, consider getting something that is useful for the baby as a way to show your appreciation for the hard work a newborn can be. Opt for practical items, like the Avery Wildflower Large Quilted Basket or a cute hooded towel, or a gift card to Blade & Rose for him to pick outfits out for the little one.

For the green-fingered father, choose some new gardening tools like a pruning knife for bushes, a folding knife for larger branches, or give him a One4All Home and Garden Favourites gift card to let him choose what he needs. If your dad likes to sit in his garden more than work in it, encourage some birdwatching with the PeckPerk smart bird feeder camera – which automatically identifies the type of bird visiting the feeder.

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