There are many ways to show your dad that you love and appreciate him. There's breakfast in bed, an offer to mow the lawn, a big hug and the offer of the last biscuit.
Or you could just buy him something that he definitely doesn't need, but we're pretty sure he'll want. Amie-Elizabeth White and Toby Keel pick out some fine ideas.
For car-mad dads
Driving goggles
Made in England from smooth grain leather, Connolly’s driving goggles feature an adjustable elastic strap and slightly tinted polycarbonate lenses, providing the driver with comfort and protection. A glorious sight on country lanes or city streets.
Aston Martin driving experience
The new Aston Martin Vantage.
For 1% of the price of a new Aston Martin, you can get behind the wheel of one of the iconic British marque’s latest creations — a DB12, DBX707 or a Vantage — at the famed Millbrook Proving Ground testing facility. Other track days can be had for less, but this is a full-on, four-hour experience which includes lunch, goodie bag, and (best of all) professional tuition — something which we can say from experience is an incredible extra that you’ll never forget.
Tag Heuer x Formula 1 chronograph
Set the pace for victory with a bold statement watch from the Tag Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph collection. It’s not one for shrinking violets — the racing red and stainless steel finish ensure that — but for those with the chutzpah to carry it off, this is smart and fun, with optional engraving to allow your dad to really make it his own.
Car air fresheners
Very little beats the scent of a new car, but when you aren’t in the market for a new one, then you can at least make the old one smell incredible. We love Onsen and Elementary for dad.
Maeving RM1S electric motorbike
Clearly, seven and a half grand is quite a lot to spend on dad, no matter how much you love him. But if you’re fishing in that particular pool, this new electric motorbike is something else. Designed for mixed urban riding, the Maeving RM1S is a lightweight, no-frills but powerful electric bike that will take suburban and city fathers from A to B and back again — so long as the round-trip is under 80 miles, anyway. And even if it isn’t, there is another trump card to play: the Maeving has a removable battery that can be charged in a standard socket. Battery range anxiety begone!
‘Pendine Beach’ by Jack Vettriano
Pendine Beach by Jack Vettriano. Credit: ©Jack Vettriano / King McGaw
A motoring-themed print for dad’s office, perhaps? This by Jack Vettriano is one of a series produced by the Scottish artist commemorating the life and achievements of Sir Malcolm Campbell, all of which were originally commissioned by Sir Terence Conran. This one is of the first time Campbell broke the land speed record, hitting 146mph at Pendine Sands in Wales in 1924. The original car, a 350HP V12 Sunbeam, is on display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
£25 (unframed) from King & McGaw
A man and his car
Replete with stories, anecdotes, and images of iconic vehicles and the people who drove them, this novel is a deep dive into the world of cars and their place in history; from Jay Leno’s $350 1955 Buick Roadmaster to Steve McQueen’s beloved 1956 Jaguar XKSS.
£36 from The Bookshop at Selfridges
For the techie dad
PerL Pro wireless earbuds
They say hearing is believing, don’t they? The new PerL wireless earbuds from Denon use specialised technology to measure your ability to pick up on certain sounds and frequencies, and then use the information to sonically enhance your audio to bring you a truly personalised, immersive experience with every note.
Instax mini link 2 photo printer
If your dad grew up blowing on Polaroids to get the picture to appear quicker, he’ll love this modern Fujifilm equivalent which links to a smartphone to print pictures as soon as they are taken. And in truly 2020s nod, there is an option to ‘draw’ on the images by using the smartphone as an AR paintbrush.
£115 from Fujifilm via Selfridges
Personalised leather Airtags case
Tracking your belongings is a smart idea, but putting stickers on your luggage is not the smartest way to do so. Personalised AirTag cases will enable dad to keep an eye on his belongings and identify them from a distance.
For foodie dads
Emile Henry ciabatta baker
A very good steak sandwich begins with a very good ciabatta, continues with a lovely piece of meat, and is finished off with plenty of caramelised onions. And once you’ve tried it with home-made ciabatta, nothing will beat the feeling (and taste) of serving it in your own fresh bread.
Beer and brownies, together at last
Really — don’t overthink it. Cutter & Squidge’s ‘beer and brownie’ gift boxes are basically Father’s Day perfection.
£34.99 from cutterandsquidge.com
Harvest recipe journal
For kitchen garden cooks or Sunday supper chefs, all good recipes need documenting, and a personalised journal is the best place to do it .
Personalised Glenfiddich scotch whisky
If you thought Glenfiddich couldn’t get better, a personalised label will give dad even more pleasure.
Roccbox portable pizza oven in Olive
Gozney promises perfect pizza in 60 seconds, but we give it a few minutes more to give it that golden touch.
The NYC thic cookie box
Although they’ve lost the letter ‘K’, Blondie’s Kitchen NYC ‘thic’ cookies are anything but lacking. Milk and dark chocolate chunks, milk chocolate and hazelnut cream, and fudge cookie with white chocolate chunks: these are cookies made for grown-ups.
For sporty dads
District Vision x Tracksmith Kazu Tourer sunglasses
Designed with ventilated lenses, side shields to mitigate ambient light, anti-reflective and oleophobic coatings for eye protection, and water and oil repellency. And they even stop the sun from being too bright.
Life’s a beach
As seen on court, now seen poolside.
For sore muscles
A synergy of science and sport, Puresport’s freeze balm roll-on is crafted with CBD, magnesium, arnica, witch-hazel, peppermint and lemongrass, designed to help manage tension and soothe aching joints. A sleek and stylish bottle gives this gift-like quality
Picnic cool bag
Nothing good ever comes from letting a father go hungry.
Build your own Purdey
If ‘sport’ means ‘sticks that go bang’ to your dad, and money is essentially no object? This is why you came here.
For any dad at all
A subscription to Country Life
Three months of getting the magazine delivered to your dad’s home every week costs just £46.49.
Obviously we may be slightly biased, but this really is a bargain.
£46.49 for three months from Country Life
For the well-dressed dad
Harrington jacket
The Harrington jacket is an essential for any gentleman’s wardrobe, and Hackett has elevated theirs with elegant details, from a buttoned mandarin collar to suede detailing on the pockets. The jacket is made with sustainable fabrics, and comes in classic navy and understated beige.
Di Marme espadrille loafers
We’re not going to lie: you’ll need to know your dad very well before you buy him shoes. But if you’re in that space, these are arguably the smartest take on an espadrille your eyes will ever see. Russell & Bromley have combined the suave suede loafer with the traditional jute weave sole, providing the well-dressed man with the most versatile shoe of the summer season.
Unless, of course, it rains. In which case, best bring some wellies as a back-up.
Richmond rugby shirt
One of the latest additions to Peregrine’s Richmond Collection, the mid-weight cotton ‘rugby shirt’ is both bold and refined. Stripes are a true classic, and a zip, in place of buttons, adds a contemporary feel — though it does make a bit of a nonsense of suggesting that this is a shirt you could play rugby in.
Cedar jade striped linen shirt
Comparable to a cold, crisp pint at the end of the working week, Beaufort & Blake’s linen shirts are an undoubtedly smart staple for the warmer weather we hope will soon be here.
The Orford Fedora
A lightweight version of the Fedora — made from straw instead of the usual felt — all tied up with a navy ribbon. The perfect topping for formal or informal occasions.
For the well-groomed dad
Parsley seed anti-oxidant facial hydrator
Working or playing, countryside or city streets, the British elements take their toll. Aesop’s hydrator nourishes skin and ‘acts as a shield against the daily stressors’, which sounds fanciful to us, but then again so does £57 for a tub of face cream. Less fanciful is their suggestion to keep it in the fridge for an even better feeling.
Tobacco & vanilla beard oil
Whether you love it or hate it, many fathers are overly fond — and defensive — of their beards, but fail to give it any TLC. This will leave it silky smooth and smelling lovely.
Sunlit clementine & vetiver EDT
Molton Brown’s newest fragrance, with vetiver, which is a type of grass used in perfume, is ‘designed to whisk you away to a sun-soaked citrus landscape’ (which sounds lovely) while ‘vibrant oranges ease into creamy fig leaves and a woody-smoky base of sustainably grown Bourbon vetiver’ . It’s an easy, everyday fragrance.
100ml for £85 from Molton Brown
Vanity case
Swaine’s beautiful calfskin leather toiletry bags have been given some sunshine treatment thanks to a soft and buttery mustard colourway; perfectly proportioned for carrying his daily essentials.
Cordless ‘Legend’ hair clippers
These are not just clippers. These are WAHL cordless hair clippers, complete with the word ‘LEGEND’ engraved on them — they all have it, apparently, but you can tell dad they were personalised.
