29 Present Ideas for Dads Who Are Hard to Buy For

Some dads are genuinely impossible to shop for – he has every gadget, returns anything with a receipt, and answers "what do you want?" with "oh, nothing."  That's where gift experiences for dad come in. The best presents for dads who are hard to buy for aren't things at all – the move is to give him a thing to do, ideally one you do together.

Across ClassBento's 4.9-star marketplace (156,000+ reviews) you'll find classes for every kind of dad, and nearly all of them can be booked for two or as a family. Whether it's Father's Day, his birthday, or just because, this is the guide for when you have no idea what he's into.

Food and drink, for the dad who's happiest at the table

If his ideal day involves something tasty and maybe a cheeky tipple, start here.

• Art of Perfect Pizza cookery class near Birmingham (£75–85pp, Rubery) – Stretch, top and bake proper pizzas together – easy to do as a pair or family, and everyone eats the results.
• Chocolate truffle making class in Birmingham (1.5 hours, £45pp) – If he’s always stealing your chocolates, treat him to a class where he can make his own. Go all together and make it a family day out – chocolate and quality time together, what more could you ask for? 
• Private cocktail masterclass in Manchester (1.5 hours, £40pp) – Whether he’s already a cocktail expert or just loves to try new things, a cocktail making class is sure to please.
• Family fudge making class in York (1 hour, £156 for a family of four) – Treat him to an indulgent family afternoon with this fudge making class and take home the sweetest of treats – sharing optional!
• Whisky Blending Experience (2 hours, £75pp) in East London – He'll learn the heritage and craft behind whisky-making, taste a curated selection of released (and sometimes unreleased) whiskies, then blend his own from what he preferred – finishing with a 300ml bottle of his own creation to take home and show off.
• Knife Skills Class in Wandsworth, London, from The Avenue Cookery School (3 hours, £145pp) – For the dad who just bought a proper chef's knife and has no idea how to actually use it – he'll learn to slice, julienne and chiffonade like a professional chef, then sit down to a three-course meal he helped prepare.

Pottery, for the dad who likes to get hands-on

For dads who'd rather make something than be given something – and pottery's hard to get wrong in a way that matters.

• Pottery throwing taster class in Birmingham  (2 hours, £68pp) – Give him the chance to try wheel throwing in this fun workshop – even better if you do it together! 
• Kintsugi class in Edinburgh (2 hours, £55pp) – Learn the Japanese art of golden pottery repair. Perfect for dads who always seem to be able to fix things – it just needs gold glue and a little bit of patience.
• Ancient deity ceramic candlestick making in London (2.5 hours, £49pp) – Got a dad who loves all things fantasy and historical? This class is equal parts creative and mystical. 
• Eco resin casting workshop in Glasgow (2 hours, £30pp). An unusual one for the dad who has everything: he casts his own piece in eco-resin and takes it home. Nothing he'll already own.

Make and craft, for the dad who says 'I could make that'

For the DIY dad who insists he can build it himself – let him prove it.

• Beginners mini rug tufting workshop in Leeds (3 hours, from £30pp)  – Tufting has been a popular craft for some time and for good reason – he’ll make his own rug to cherish and learn new skills along the way. Hopefully it’s not shaped like a golf ball. 
• Moss frame workshop in Glasgow (1 hour. £45pp) – A living-art frame of preserved moss – low-maintenance, a bit different, and a talking point on the wall.
• Tie-dye workshop in Bristol (2 hours, £10pp) – Dads often love a bold t-shirt. What screams bold more than tie-dye? 
• Leather workshop in London (2 hours, £55pp) – Craft wallets, belts or keychains from scratch and show them off with pride (which of course he will… multiple times). 

Nature and gardening, for the dad who's always in the garden

If he spends more time with his plants than the telly, these unique presents for fathers will be right up his garden path.

• Organic fruit and vegetable growing course in London (4 x 1.5 hours, £148pp) – Does your dad like to cook with his own homegrown produce? This class’ll kick his skills up a notch! 
• Japanese kokedama plant workshop in Manchester (1 hour, from £25pp) – Get hands-on with green moss balls in this cool Japanese tradition – even more fun if you do it together! 
• Create a Terrarium Workshop in Bristol (2 hours, from £45pp) – For dads who would love a plant to brighten up their desk – let them make their own thriving ecosystem! 
• Indoor succulent garden workshop in Glasgow (1.5 hours, £45pp) – Create a low-maintenance mini garden – perfect for if he’s not quite as green-fingered as he thinks.

Painting, for the dad with a creative streak

When you've run out of ideas for gifts for Dad who wants nothing, a painting class is a safe, sociable bet – no skill required.

• Painting class: paint your pet in London (2 hours, £40pp) – Got a pet that your dad totally didn’t want, but now he’s always napping on the couch snuggling with the pup? This paint your pet class might be the winner. 
• Family paint and sip class in Gloucester (2 hours, £20pp) – Get together and paint as a family – the best gift is having quality time together, 
• Landscape painting workshop in Manchester (3 hours, £29pp) – For dads who love a good view – give him the chance to relax and get creative. 
• Acrylic pouring in Gateshead (1 hour, £35) – Try something different with acrylic paint pouring – a little bit chaotic, a whole lot of fun.  

Wood and metal, for the dad who can fix anything

Something a bit different for the dad who likes tools, sparks, or anything with a story.

• Beginners woodworking class (7.5 hours, £175pp) – If he’s handy, treat him to a class where he can learn all the best tips and tricks of woodworking.
• Cast a Bronze Age sword (5.5 hours, £200pp) – If he loves history and anything fantasy, making his own sword might be a dream come true. Let him live his Game of Thrones dreams!
• Metalwork class: embossed letter and bookmark in Birmingham (3.5 hours, £56pp) – Got a bookish dad? This class is a great way to make something personal that won’t end up forgotten in a drawer.
• Blacksmithing Class: The Blacksmith's Knife in Edinburgh (5 hours, £245pp) – A proper full day at the forge: he'll get hands-on control of the fire and anvil, learn the metallurgy and history behind hot forging, then hammer, harden and temper his own blacksmith's knife from a single piece of steel.
• Knife Forging Workshop in London (8 hours, £175pp) – From London's centre for traditional green woodworking – he'll forge and sharpen his own blade, then carve the handle himself, walking away with a genuinely useful, entirely handmade tool.

How to choose for a dad who has everything

The best presents for dads who are hard to buy for all share one trick — they stop thinking about objects:

How gifting an experience works

The practical bit, for when you've decided on those experience gifts for hard-to-please dads:

• Gift a specific class — book it and he turns up. Best when you've picked something you'll do together.
• Gift a card and let him choose — a ClassBento gift card works across any class and city, ideal for the dad who's impossible to read.
• It keeps — gift cards are valid for a set window, so there's no pressure to lock in a date now.
• Book for two, or the whole family — most classes take pairs or groups, which is the whole point of this guide: the experience is something you share.

Give him stories, not stuff

The best presents for dads who are hard to buy for aren't things you can wrap – they're afternoons you spend together. Cooking pizza, casting a sword, painting the dog he pretends not to love: every one of these is a memory made side by side, not another object he didn't ask for.

So when he says he wants nothing, take him at his word – and give him time, a laugh and something to talk about instead.