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Father's day 2021: things to do and gift ideas
Updated On 3rd May, 2021
Father’s Day is around the corner and it is time to get you inspired and ready to show the Father figure in your life, exactly how much you appreciate him.
Summer is well and truly on the way now and that can only mean a few things: more sunshine, longer days, more adventures, and of course, Father’s Day.
Father’s Day is one of the best times to have fun and celebrate all the dads, granddads, stepdads, fathers-in-law, and other father figures in your life. In this blog post, I’m going to go through all the best things to do for Father’s Day 2021, whether you want to go out and celebrate or stay in and celebrate Father’s Day at home.
When is Father’s Day?
When is Father’s Day 2021 I hear you ask? If you’ve found this post by searching when is fathers day uk / what date is fathers day then this post is for you… and the answer?
Most of the world, including the UK, celebrate Father’s Day on the 3rd Sunday of June.
In the UK Father’s Day 2021 falls on Sunday 20th June.
As lockdown restrictions are slowly being relaxed across the UK, Father’s Day 2021 should be a little easier to celebrate than Mother’s Day was! Hopefully we will able to see our families more easily, give them a hug, and celebrate Father’s Day both indoors and outdoors. Time will tell how the easing of the restrictions goes, but in the meantime it’s time to start planning some Father’s Day gift ideas and things to do!
See my top tips for staying positive during lockdown here.
Whatever happens, there are still plenty of fun ways to celebrate Father’s Day 2021 and this blog post is filled with ideas to inspire you. From steam trains to cooking classes, big hikes to pub grub, there are lots of ideas for things to do on Father’s Day in this post. I guarantee you’ll be filled with Father’s Day ideas that will fill your dad with an abundance of joy, happiness and love: something we are all in need of right now.
See more ways to show your loved ones that you care about them here.
Even if you’re looking for DIY or cheap Father’s Day ideas, keep reading. Although you might think that it might not be as fun or as thoughtful, that certainly doesn’t have to be the case. I actually think there’s a beautiful silver lining in a cheap Father’s Day, where you don’t get sucked into the commercial pull (expensive restaurants, presents and jewellery), it encourages you to be a little more thoughtful and to think a little outside the box.
If you’re looking for some Father’s Day inspiration, consider getting crafty and creative. Diving into some of these Father’s Day 2021 at home ideas is a great way to fill your time (and impress your dad!). See more things to do at home when you’re bored here.
Some of these ideas work perfectly for or are easily adapted for long-distance father-child relationships too. If you can’t get home for Father’s Day this year, bring the ideas to life by sending packages with activities for you to do together over Zoom, and more. Now that we’ve all become accustomed to the online world, even if it’s not the same, most face-to-face Father’s Day ideas can become online Father’s Day ideas. See more ideas for long-distance relationships here.
No excuses! Let there be love and lots of it.
21 best things to do for Father's Day 2021:
Looking for the best things to do on Father’s Day and Father’s Day gift ideas? Combine the gift you give him with quality time together with these 21 Father’s Day 2021 ideas:
When is Father's Day? Father's Day 2021 dates:
Father's Day in the UK & Ireland & most of the world is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of June: 20th June 2021
1. Bring your Dad breakfast in bed.
Let your dad have that well-deserved lie in and bring him breakfast in bed! Show that you care, listen to and appreciate your dad on Father’s Day 2021 by preparing his favourite breakfast or something that he wouldn’t normally have time to make, and take it upstairs so they can continue to stay cosy and start off the day on a really good foot!
2. Have a brunch date together.
Another breakfast or brunch option is to invite your Dad on a brunch date! You could go out to a local cafe, or you could do it at home and invite them downstairs to experience breakfast at your home cafe.
Leave them to have a lie-in, deliver their book to them with a cup of tea (and a biscuit if they are hungry already) and then have them come downstairs to a gorgeous Father’s Day breakfast. Whether it’s a full English breakfast, avocado and smoked salmon on toast, fresh croissants or pastries, or a stack of delectable pancakes, get preparing your dad’s favourite brunch dishes for a wonderful Father’s Day morning at home. If you and your dad enjoy a cocktail, you could even make your brunch bottomless and get some bellinis, mimosas or prosecco on the go!
If you’re doing breakfast at home, create a handwritten menu, decorate the ‘cafe’ with handmade decorations and flowers, and leave a note to tell him how much you appreciate him this Father’s Day. If you have siblings who can’t get home, they could join your breakfast cafe via Zoom (or another video calling option), and if you can’t be at home this Father’s Day, you could get breakfast delivered to your dad from a local cafe or make them a ‘voucher’ to go out for breakfast with their partner, your siblings, or alone!
3. Leave post it notes of all the things you love about your dad in all the places he will go in the house.
Everyone loves thoughtful but cheap Father’s Day gifts, like this idea. Buy a sharpie, a pack of post-its and go crazy. Write whatever comes to mind: memories, reasons you love them, things you are grateful for, things you appreciate. Leave them in places along their routine path e.g. on the bathroom mirror, on the toilet roll, in the wardrobe… You can even leave some with the breakfast or brunch you make them! Give them as many reasons as you can think of to light up with love.
See more ways to show someone you love them in this blog post.
Another easy way to show someone that you love them and a cheap but thoughtful Father’s Day idea is to buy a pack of cards and write 52 (or however many) things you love about them or want to remind them of. It’s up to you if you give this as a Father’s Day gift, or if you hide them round the house and turn it into a Father’s Day scavenger hunt. You could even leave little gifts with some of them as an added treat.
4. Get crafty with some DIY decorations.
Dads absolutely love homemade gifts (even when we are adults!). Decorate your living space with bunting, pictures and other homemade arts and crafts to show your dad you care. Pinterest is a great source of inspiration for decorations and most of them can be made relatively easily and inexpensively. See how I made my Mother’s Day bunting in this blog post – all you need to do is change the letters to get Father’s Day bunting!
5. Create a little scrapbook or montage of your favourite videos for a walk down memory lane.
Buy a scrapbook and begin a little memory book about you and your dad. Creating a scrapbook is something that takes time but I know my scrapbooks are the most precious thing I have (and one of the most precious gifts you can give someone is your time). If you’ve got time on your hands a scrapbook is a really special thing to bring to life.
- See my guide to creating a scrapbook of memories here.
- See my 30 things to do when you’re bored at home here.
If you’d rather get tecchy, then what about editing together a short video full of clips of memories you and your dad share together? It’s something that you can watch together on Father’s Day (either in real life or on Zoom) and that you can continue to watch when one of you is missing the other.
6. Create a hamper of your dad's favourite things.
You could buy a wicker basket or hamper and fill it with all your Dad’s favourite things: treats such as chocolates or whisky, things for him to do, make or read, teas or coffee, or little handmade gifts or notes from you. There are also plenty of pre-made hampers that you could get delivered to his door on Father’s Day!
7. Do some baking together.
Many of us have fond memories of baking with our dads when we were younger… so bring that back now that you are both adults! Either in your kitchen, or on Zoom, get the ingredients together (you could buy them for him if you’re baking separately) and have some fun in the kitchen together! Make sure you allow time to try your freshly baked treats together with a cup of tea.
If your dad doesn’t enjoy the process of baking as much as he does eating the delights you’ve made, you could pre-make the baking as a gift. You could make some biscuits and write little notes in icing on them, you could do brownie popsicles, you could do a rocky road cake in a heart silicone mould. Father’s day baking options are endless, just choose your father’s favourite treats and get decorating! If you don’t want to do the baking yourself, consider ordering some treats in!
8. Try an outdoors adventure together: a walk, hike or bike ride, or even something more active!
Father’s Day in the UK is in June, so it’s the perfect time to get outdoors and soak up some of that summer sun! Depending on where you’re doing your Father’s Day 2021, this is a great way to get outside and change up the scenery whilst doing something for Father’s Day. Take a coffee on a morning walk with your dad, or if your local restrictions allow you to do so, get active in the fresh air with a day hike or a bike ride.
- Check out the best walks and hikes in England here.
- Get inspired by some of the best walks in the UK here.
- See the best walks and hikes in Wales here.
- Check out the best walks and hikes in Scotland here.
- Wondering what to do in your local National Park? Check out my guide to the UK National Parks here.
- If you and your dad haven’t been hiking before, check out my hiking beginner’s guide or my top tips for your first hike.
Outdoor adventure alternatives include surfing in Devon, wild swimming in Cornwall, kayaking on the Thames, or trying something more adventurous such as skydiving or white water rafting, get outside and enjoy nature!
9. Go for a picnic in a park, by a river or lake, or in the garden.
Another way to get some fresh air on Father’s Day is a brunch or lunch picnic (if the weather and your restrictions allow it!). Put together a hamper with all your dad’s favourite snacks and head to your local park, or even your back garden, to enjoy the sunshine and each other’s company as you eat.
Other ideas for Father’s Day at the park include flying kites, playing ball games, rounders and riding bikes, or even having a barbecue!
10. Do your dad's favourite hobbies together.
Let your dad decide what you do for the day, and let him plan (or if you know him well, you could plan) a day full of activities just for him. From going on a run together, reading together, listening to a podcast, doing some gardening together, going fishing on Father’s Day or more, it can be a Father’s Day full of things he loves. Play is really important for our mental health, so make time for it this Father’s Day!
11. Do the chores for him.
If there are any day-to-day jobs or chores that your dad does that he doesn’t particularly enjoy, whether it be cleaning, shopping, DIY, dog-walking, washing or anything else, let him have the day off and some time to himself and get those done for him. On Father’s Day it may be easy for him to slip into his normal routine, but make sure he gets the R&R he deserves and lighten the load for him.
12. Have afternoon tea.
Whether you decide to treat your dad to a fancy or unique afternoon tea in London, or make high tea at home, it’s another idea for celebrating Father’s Day 2021. If you’re doing it at home, make (or buy) some scones, mini cakes and sandwiches, get a collection of your favourite teas together and enjoy an afternoon of treats with your dad.
See all the best places to go for afternoon tea in London here.
13. Enjoy a day trip together!
Quality time is the best gift, and while you might not be able to stay overnight somewhere, going on a day trip with your Dad is one of the best things to do on Father’s Day. Whether you take the steam train from London to Windsor, explore London for the day, wander around the lanes in Brighton or choose somewhere special in your local area, make it a day to remember. You could take a picnic lunch or choose somewhere nice to go out to eat, include some fun activities and/or learn about the history of your local area by visiting a museum or taking a walking tour.
14. Get competitive in a games night.
If you and your dad enjoy playing games, then spending some quality time and getting competitive makes for the perfect Father’s Day at home! Whether you enjoy board games such as Monopoly or card games such as UNO and DOS, there are loads of games to choose from and many of them can be played online too!
15. Cook together.
One way to show your love on Father’s Day is to spend time by doing something together. You could get all the stuff to make homemade pizzas together, you could do a course each and make a Mexican feast.
If you’re celebrating Father’s Day from a distance, you could cook the same thing over Zoom, sharing recipe tips and then eat together. If you don’t fancy cooking but want to share dinner tonight, why not get the same takeout and enjoy it while you chat on a video call.
Another alternative is a cooking class! Find something that you’ve always wanted to cook with the help of an expert or your dad’s favourite cuisine and book onto a virtual cooking class for Father’s Day.
Whatever you do, do it with love.
16. Bring travel to your home and create a themed cocktail evening
Even though travel restrictions are loosening up in many places, your local restrictions, work commitments or feelings about travelling during the pandemic may prevent you from going on an epic weekend away for Father’s Day.
Is there somewhere you and your dad have always wanted to travel to? Bring a themed night to your place for Father’s Day evening…
- Choose the country / location
- Research a popular cocktail there (e.g. piña colada for Puerto Rico, Sangria for Spain)
- Dress up the room with themed decor
- Get outfits for the both of you
- Play music from that country
- Think of a game to play and a meal you can tuck into to bring the country to life!
17. Have a cheese and wine night or go wine or whiskey tasting.
Create your own cheese platter, grab your favourite bottle of wine and spend the evening enjoying the flavours and reminiscing on you childhood memories and the journey that you and your dad have been on.
If you’re the one planning it, you could start off with some cheeeeesy jokes! What type of music does a cheesemonger listen to? R & Brie. Haha!
Another alternative for a Father’s Day could be a wine tasting night. Get some mini bottles of wine from the supermarket and taste and rate them, making a note of your favourite bottle so you can buy a bigger one and share it at a later date. You could also do this for your dad’s favourite tipple, maybe it’s whiskey, scotch, beers or another drink! With restrictions loosening up, you may even be able to book and do this in person!
18. Wrap up warm, get hot chocolate goodies and have a fire pit session.
There’s nothing cosier than a touch of cold air and an excuse to snuggle up to your nearest and dearest.
We missed out on firework displays this year but it doesn’t mean you can’t take the energy and create it in your garden.
Wrap up warm, make your favourite drinks, get a fire pit and some marshmallows to toast, perhaps some fireworks too and snuggle up with your dad beneath the night sky. This is where my favourite conversations happen: from reminiscing on childhood memories, to putting the world to rights and planning more future adventures together.
19. Build a blanket fort and have a movie night.
Put on some snuggly PJs, make the living room all cosy – you could even make a den! – and snuggle up with your favourite movie. You could watch on a laptop, on the TV, or on a projector.
Having a projector at home is a game-changer for movie night. I have this portable Apeman one which I use in my van too. Invest in one, not only for Father’s Day but for year-round movie nights. All you then need is to connect to your phone / laptop, bring up Netflix or a streaming platform of your choice and then buy your Dad’s favourite treats. Go to town and buy some cute popcorn holders too!
If you don’t fancy a movie, then one of the benefits of lockdown has been the amount of theatre productions and comedy shows that we are able to watch (live or not) now too! If you’re celebrating Father’s Day at home, you can watch one, laughing and commenting together or quoting the same lines from your favourite film as you watch.
20. Make coupons for things to do together (or for your dad to do alone) during the year.
One Father’s Day gift idea could be to make coupons or vouchers for their favourite things. Whether it’s coffee at your Dad’s favourite cafe, dinner at his favourite restaurant, a massage at the local spa, tickets to the cinema, a day at the golf course, a coupon for a big day out… give him something to look forward to and another reason to stay positive during restrictions.
21. Plan a weekend trip together, or plan a surprise trip.
We are all itching to travel at the moment (see my tips for travelling during the coronavirus pandemic when it’s safe to do so here). Rather than feeling sad about the fact that we can’t travel at the moment, use this opportunity to plan the trip of a lifetime for you and your dad! Choose somewhere that he really wants to go and get researching!
My brother and I took Dad to Krakow for a birthday weekend. None of us had been to Poland and so it was really exciting to explore somewhere new together! See what we got up to on our weekend in Poland here. If you don’t want to go abroad, there are plenty of places to visit in the UK and you could explore more locally, staying in a hotel or an AirBnB. Check out the best places to stay in the UK here.
Other trips that you and your dad might love…
What other Father's Day ideas have you got?
How do you make your cheap Father’s day ideas thoughtful? What are you planning for this Father’s Day 2021?
Love as always and happy adventuring,
Mollie.
Passionate about adventure and creativity. Currently enjoying the sunshine while teaching English in southern Italy.
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IT’S LOVELY TO MEET YOU
I’M MOLLIE AND I STARTED THIS BLOG BACK IN 2013 WHEN I HEADED OUT ON MY FIRST BACKPACKING ADVENTURE.
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