This year Father’s Day is on Sunday 18th June 2023 and I know it’s something that people start planning and thinking about weeks before. Whether you want to buy your dad the perfect gift or organise a day out to spoil him, it’s bound to be an important day on your calendar.
I thought it would be helpful to put together options of things to do for the Father’s Day weekend in case you’re stuck for inspiration. From the cheap and cheerful to the extravagant, here’s a whole host of ideas for you including any special Fathers Day events across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight too.
Things to do for Father’s Day in Hampshire
National Trust
A day out at a National Trust property is always a great choice that everyone from young children to grandparents will enjoy. There are so many National Trust properties in Hampshire, many of which have trails to enjoy, play areas and beautiful walks too.
Hampshire Walks
It’s always nice to just go out and get some fresh air and so a walk could be a lovely way to spend a chunk of Fathers Day. Hogmoor Inclosure and the New Forest National Park are two of our favourite places to walk and you can find more inspiration for family walks in Hampshire here.
Days Out in Hampshire
If you’re looking for more than just a walk, a full day out could be just the thing. Wellington Country Park, Hurst Castle and Beaulieu Motor Museum are all great choices with tea rooms and plenty to see and do.
You can see more inspiration for days out in Hampshire here.
Art & Culture
You might prefer to spend the day wandering around a museum, taking in an art gallery or simply immersing yourself in the art and culture that Hampshire has to offer. There’s so much to see and do in Hampshire, and here are our favourites:
- The Arc – Winchester
- Milestones Museum – Basingstoke
- Sea City Southampton
- Gosport Museum and Art Gallery
Theatre Shows and Live Music in Hampshire
Theatre show are a fantastic way to celebrate any occasion or your dad might be more partial to live music. There are so many options in Hampshire this year and here are just a few suggestions.
- The Wall of Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon – 30th June 2023 – New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth
- The 80’s Show – 17th June 2023 – The Anvil, Basingstoke
- The King and I – 13th to 17th June 2023 – Mayflower Theatre Southampton
- Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story – 20th to 24th June 2023 – Mayflower Theatre Southampton
- The McCartney Songbook – 18th June 2023 – Kings Theatre Portsmouth
Cinemas in Hampshire
Going to a cinema could be another nice option and a really relaxed way to spend Father’s Day. There are new films being released all the time and our top pick for Fathers Day this year would be Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts or Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Fathers Day Lunch in Hampshire
No Father’s Day is complete without a lovely meal to celebrate and there are so many great options in Hampshire. You could choose a nice hotel or gastro pub and here are a couple of suggestions of places with Father’s Day menus:
- Tylney Hall – Hook
- The Cowherds – Southampton
A chef at home experience could be a great alternative to eating out too. You save money as can provide your own alcohol but the chef saves you having to cook so you can simply enjoy time with your family. Here are a couple of options:
- Dining In is the new Dining Out with DineIndulge
- A Chef at Home Experience with La Belle Assiette
- Our yhangry Review – A Chef at Home Experience
Afternoon Tea in Hampshire
Instead of a formal meal, traditional afternoon teas can be a great option to indulge the dad in your life. With finger sandwiches, cake, scones with clotted cream and so many teas to choose from, afternoon tea always goes down well. We love popping to Bills or Cafe Rouge for an informal afternoon tea any time or you might prefer the more fancy surroundings of a nice hotel like the Oakley Hall Hotel or the Four Seasons Hotel.
You can see get more afternoon tea inspiration in these posts too:
- The Best Places to Have Afternoon Tea in Hampshire
- 14 Options for Children’s Afternoon Tea in Hampshire
Plus, you could always get Fathers Day afternoon tea delivered as well. Here are some of our favourite afternoon tea delivery and collection services in Hampshire:
- The Tea Party
- The Cup and Saucer
- Afternoon Tea From Fi
- Sophie Martin Catering
- The Trough
- Brew and Bakes
Workshops in Hampshire
If you’re looking for something creative to do for Fathers day then a class or workshop could be a great choice. Whether it’s a woodworking class, gardening course, chocolate making session or a cookery school class there’s bound to be something for every dad.
Pampering in Hampshire
Spa days are something typically reserved for Mother’s Day but there’s no doubt that a lot of dads would enjoy a nice massage or getting a proper shave for Father’s Day. Here are some suggestions across Hampshire:
- A massage at The Massage Company – Read our review here
- A traditional shave at Ben & Fis
- Men’s Spa Package at The Wellness Garden
- Time Out For Men Spa Package at Pure Spa
Outdoor Pursuits in Hampshire
Many dads love the great outdoors but if you’re looking for more than just a walk or forest ramble, there’s so much more that you can do in Hampshire this Father’s Day. Why not take your dad on a GoApe Adventure? Or have a round of golf at
You could go orienteering, take the whole family on a Treasure Trail, go on a themed tour or even start geocaching – a fantastic activity that so many people love. But, if you’d like something a little more adventurous how about an assault course, going clay pigeon shooting or rock climbing?
For something a bit more extravagant, you could organise a flying lesson, a circus skills class, skiing lessons or a go karting session for the extended family. There are so many great options across Hampshire.
Water Activities in Hampshire
If your dad loves the water then it might be nice to go on a boat tour or hire a row boat or pedalo and have some time on the Basingstoke Canal. You could hire an electric GoBoat in Kingston or maybe go paddleboarding or visit an Aqua Park. There are so many stretches of water in Hampshire that have all kinds of activities available.
Weekends away in Hampshire
If you’re looking to extend the celebrations and take your dad somewhere lovely for a break away, to explore the local area and have some quality time together, there are so many choices in Hampshire. Here are some of our favourites:
- Careys Manor Hotel and SenSpa Review
- Staying at the Marwell Hotel
- The Wellington Arms – Stratfield Turgis, Hampshire
- A Wonderful break at The Bell Inn New Forest, Hampshire
- A Weekend at the Solent Hotel and Spa – Fareham
- A Weekend Break at The Potters Heron Hotel, Hampshire
If you’re happy to go somewhere further afield, here’s some more hotel inspiration for you:
So there you have inspiration of things to do this Fathers Day in Hampshire. We also have a Fathers Day Gift Guide if you’re looking for the perfect present this year. Whatever you do, I hope you have a wonderful Father’s Day weekend.
