FATHER AND SON EXPERIENCE DAYS
Whether you’re a father looking to bond with your young son, or a fully-grown son looking to buy Dad something brilliant, our list of father and son experience days will have you covered!
There’s no better way to bond as father and son than over a shared experience that you’ll both remember forever – whether that’s tucking into some afternoon tea in a plush hotel, or testing your limits by scaling an indoor ice wall!
Below we’ve gathered our favourite father and son experience days across the U.K, including individual age restrictions, so no matter how old you are, you can find something perfect for Father’s Day!
We know the future is uncertain right now, so we’ve got you covered with 18 month voucher validity instead of 12 – giving you plenty of time to book and take your experience.
DADS & LADS TANK EXPERIENCE FOR 2 - LEICESTERSHIRE
Minimum Age: 8 years old
If you’re looking for the perfect bonding experience for you and your young son, this exciting ‘Lads and Dads’ tank day in Leicestershire is just the thing, with a minimum age of 8 years old.
Your experience begins when you meet your instructor, who will introduce you to your day out by taking you on a thrilling ride in a tank. After experiencing the adrenaline-pumping fun of riding in one of these fantastic machines, you’ll choose who is going to be the driver. Their job is to negotiate a tricky tank course set in a World War II bombing range. Next, take it in turns aiming the cannon, loading the breach and firing paintballs!
By the end of your tank driving day, you’ll be buzzing from the adrenaline of your experience, and feeling closer than ever after conquering battle with paint!
LADS AND DADS CARP FISHING EXPERIENCE - ESSEX
Minimum Age: No restriction!
A great excuse to sit back and soak up the beautiful British countryside, this Essex Lads and Dads Carp Fishing Experience makes a unique day out for father and son. There is no minimum age for this experience, so it’s a great way to bond with your young son and get him interested in fishing.
You can choose when to begin your carp fishing experience. If you are both early risers, you can meet your instructor at 8am for the morning session, or in the afternoon at 1:30pm at Tyler’s Common Fishery in Upminster. Your instructor will give you a briefing on what to expect from the day ahead, making you both feel comfortable if you’ve never fished before!
After being shown the proper use of the equipment and what to expect from your fishing experience, you can both get started.
Carp are freshwater fish that have become favourites amongst anglers worldwide, mostly due to the select skills needed to make the difficult hook and the broad range of sizes that the fish can grow to. Throughout the four hour session, you'll receive expert advice and tuition on making the perfect catch, and come away with a new hobby in the making!
ARCHERY LESSON FOR TWO IN NORTH YORKSHIRE
Minimum Age: 8 years old
Always wanted to learn the ancient sport of archery? This archery lesson in North Yorkshire for 2 accepts participants as young as 8 when accompanied by an adult, so it’s the perfect father and son experience day bonding activity.
You’ll meet your instructor and the rest of the group for a briefing. Set in a purpose-built outdoor activity centre, this archery experience takes this unique sport to the next level by surrounding it with beautiful views. You’ll feel just like Robin Hood and his band of merry men!
After a safety briefing and introduction to your bows and arrows, your instructor will explain the skills and techniques you need to work on to hit the target. You do not need to have any prior experience for this; the instructors are experienced archers who have taught many novices to shoot!
As well as teaching you how to take aim and fire, your instructor will teach you all about the long history of archery. You'll be able to tell your longbow from your cross bow and strings from limbs by the end of the session, and you'll have a good insight into the origins of the sport, from when it was used to defend castles and catch food!
Next, you will head for the Yorkshire archery range to put into practice all that you have just been taught. You will spend the rest of the archery experience learning archery skills, from the correct stance to the proper way to hold the weapon, and how to ensure your aim is true. You and your son will feel like real archers by the end of this 1 hour archery lesson.
CLAY SHOOTING FOR TWO - BEDFORDSHIRE
Minimum Age: 8 years old
You might be surprised to learn that children as young as 8 years old can take part in this Bedfordshire clay pigeon shooting experience. Whether you’re a son looking for a unique Father’s Day gift, or a dad looking for a day out with your son, clay pigeon shooting is a great way to improve hand eye coordination while enjoying the outdoors.
Your instructor will begin with a safety briefing outlining the techniques, skills and potential hazards of firing a shotgun. Once briefed and ready to hit the range, you'll be coached on how to hold the gun, the stance you take and how to aim.
With 75 clays and 75 bullets, the two of you will need your ultimate concentration and fearless nerves of steel. Your instructor will be on hand at all times to assist, and before long you'll be practising your stance, aim and your firing - hopefully resulting in a few orange puffs of smoke as you try and prove a better aim than your opponent!
Could this be the beginning of a father son rivalry? Only one way to find out…
ICE AND ROCK CLIMBING EXPERIENCE FOR 2 - SCOTLAND
Minimum Age: 14 years old.
Brrr! Can you feel the chill? That’s the adrenaline-inducing sensation of ice climbing; a unique indoor experience for those who favour the cold! If Dad’s the daring type who loves to climb, this ice and rock climbing experience in Scotland will be a great new challenge for him – and with 2 people included in the price, you have no excuse not to go with him…
This activity centre in Inverness-shire is the UK’s best indoor ice climbing facility, so you know that you and Dad will be in good hands. Your instructor will begin the morning by introducing you to this challenging sport, and demonstrating how to safely use the specialist equipment.
Before long, it’ll be time to scale the wall! Fully kitted out in climbing suits and rigs, you and Dad can begin the challenge of testing out the country’s largest climbing wall. It’s yours for 3 hours, so make the most of this exciting and challenging time bonding with Dad as you put your nerves to the test on a wall of ice!
By the end of your ice-cold experience, you’ll have a fantastic sense of achievement – not to mention the health and fitness benefits that come with climbing.
GORGE WALKING IN GLAMORGAN - HALF DAY ADVENTURE FOR 2
Minimum Age: 8 years old
A thrilling outdoor experience for an adventurous father and son team! Moving on from indoor climbing to outdoor climbing, this gorge walking experience in Glamorgan will get the heart rate up while soaking in the incomparable beauty of the Brecon Beacons.
You’ll meet your expert instructors at their adventure centre, where they’ll welcome you and the rest of the group to the thrilling activity of gorge walking. After kitting you out in all the necessary gear, you’ll head out into the gorges for the outdoor adventure of a lifetime.
From here on out, you’ll be surrounded by stunning scenery - placing you in the centre of an ever-lasting battle between landscape and river! Throughout the 3-hour experience, you'll find yourselves trekking down the river path, scrambling over rocks, swimming through clear waters and perhaps even jumping over waterfalls.
Outdoor adventures with Dad don’t get much better than this!
BEER TASTING MASTERCLASS FOR TWO
Minimum Age: 18 years old
Cheers! For obvious reasons, this beer tasting masterclass is only for those over the age of 18, so makes the perfect day out for dads with grown up sons looking to learn more about their favourite drink, and is a great Father’s Day gift for beer-loving dads.
Taking place in Brewhouse and Kitchen pubs across the U.K., this experience starts with an introduction from an expert brewer. They will give you a little background info on every beer you try, whether it’s the amazing beers that have been brewed on site, or renowned craft beers from much further afield.
You and Dad will learn to taste the subtle differences and interesting nuances of flavour that make each beer unique - and very delicious – sampling up to 8 different beers throughout the day. This experience also includes food, and throughout your masterclass you will be treated to nibbles such as olives, snaffling pig, and perhaps even a sharing platter if the group is big enough!
At the end of your experience, you and Dad will enjoy a gourmet burger straight from the kitchen. Is there any better combination than burgers and beer?
COTSWOLD HOUSE - AFTERNOON TEA FOR TWO
Minimum Age: 18 years old
Gorge walking, ice climbing, driving military tanks… these activities are all well and good for the adventurous types, but what about for those of us who like our adventures a little more on the culinary side? We’ve got you covered with this luxurious afternoon tea at Cotswold House.
Give Dad a Father’s Day gift to remember (and devour) in the form of this indulgent afternoon tea. Perfect for sophisticated dads with refined palettes, or anyone who loves tucking into delicious food in opulent surroundings. (Hands up!)
The award-winning Cotswold House Hotel is located in the heart of charming Chipping Campden, and exudes a contemporary, boutique style which sets it apart from the rest. After you and Dad are shown to your table, you can choose from an exceptional selection of teas, coffees, sandwiches, cakes, pastries and scones, all served with jams and preserves from small-scale artisan producers.
If it’s a warm day, you can even take your tea on the Pavilion Terrace which is tucked away in the beautifully landscaped hotel gardens! A true taste of luxury for Father’s Day.
UP AT THE O2 CLIMBING EXPERIENCE
Minimum Age: 8 years old
For the adventurous dads and their trusty sidekicks - get ready for the one-of-a-kind Up at The O2 Experience! Strap on your climbing suits, put on your gripped shoes, and prepare for ultimate London adventure.
As soon as you arrive at The O2, you'll be transformed into a fearless explorer, suited up and briefed on all the safety stuff by an instructor. Then, it's time to conquer the summit! But hold on tight, because the walkway has a bouncy feel to replicate the vibes of The O2 tent below. It's like walking on air, 52 meters above the ground, with jaw-dropping panoramic views of London spread out before your eyes. Trust us, you won't find a better vantage point for spying on the city.
Want to make it extra special? You can book the climb during the day to soak up the sunshine, at sunset for a romantic twist, or even at twilight for a truly magical experience under the twinkling stars. If you're feeling hungry after all that climbing excitement, we've got you covered. Check out the Up at The O2 Dining Package, where you can combine your epic adventure with a fancy dinner. Because let's be honest, conquering heights and indulging in a delicious meal go together like Batman and Robin.
Thank you for reading!
That concludes our list of Father and Son Experience Days, perfect for Father's Day - or just as an excuse to bond with your dad. Whether he's an adrenaline junkie, foodie, or the outdoorsy type, you can treat him to a gift as unique and special as he is. And remember, gift vouchers are currently valid for 18 months - so Dad has plenty of time to redeem and book his experience day.
If you have any tips on the best Father and Son experience days, or want to ask a question about one of our experiences, please feel free to leave a comment - we'd love to hear from you!
