9 Creative Things to Do with Your Dad in 2026

When it comes to gift experiences for Dad, nothing builds a memory quite like making something side by side. Whether your dad is the kind who still insists on assembling flat-pack furniture himself or he's never held a paintbrush in his life, there's a shared class out there that'll get you both laughing, learning and going home with something to show for it. We've rounded up 9 of our favourite creative things to do with your dad in 2026 – hands-on workshops to share with dad UK-wide, with a teacher walking you through every step. If it's traditional dad gifts you're after, we've got those too, but this list is all about classes you both roll up your sleeves for.

Why doing a class together beats just giving a gift

There's nothing wrong with a nicely wrapped present, but a shared experience tends to stick around long after the wrapping paper's in the recycling. When you do something new together – especially something a bit silly or a bit skilled – you come away with inside jokes, a wonky-but-loved keepsake, and a story you'll both retell for years.

It's why so many of our regulars book classes as father and child experience ideas rather than picking something off a shelf. One of our crafters summed it up perfectly after a printmaking class with her 70th-birthday dad:

"I took my dad to this as his 70th birthday present as he's always wanted to try lino printing and we both absolutely loved it... a really fun and unique way to spend an afternoon." - Katie Scott-Marshall, London.

That's the magic we're going for – two people, one class, a pile of laughter and a finished piece to take home.

A few practical notes before you book:

• Most ClassBento workshops let you book two spots in one go – just select two tickets at checkout and you're sorted.
• Classes typically run 2–3 hours, so there's time to chat, make and enjoy the process without losing the whole day to it.
• You don't need any experience. Teachers set things up so complete first-timers feel just as comfortable as seasoned makers.
• Many classes offer tea, coffee, or a glass of something – a nice touch if your dad's the sort who likes to settle in.

And now, on to the list!

1. Shape something together: pottery for two

A pottery class is a brilliant place to start if you're looking for activities to try with your dad that leave you both with something you actually use. You'll learn to throw on the wheel, hand-build a mug or bowl, or paint a piece that's already been fired – all guided by a potter who knows how to make clay feel less daunting than it looks.

Why it works as a duo

There's plenty of room for comedy here – wobbly mugs, collapsed pots, clay in places it shouldn't be. But there's also real satisfaction in sitting next to each other at the wheel, trading tips, and comparing your finished pieces at the end. You'll both leave with a keepsake that's got a story attached.

Tips for the day

• Pick a piece with purpose. Suggest he make a mug for his morning coffee or a bowl for his Sunday-night crisps – something he'll actually reach for at home.
• Don't fight the mess. Clay is happiest when you stop trying to keep your hands clean, and leaning into it is half the fun.
• Compare and laugh. Hold your pieces up side by side at the end – half the joy is realising how different two people can make the same brief look.

2. Cook side by side: a culinary class for two

If your dad's happiest place is the kitchen, a cooking class is one of the tastier workshops to share with dad UK-wide. You might be rolling sushi together, kneading pasta from scratch, or trying something brand new like Ethiopian cooking – all without the washing-up, because the studio handles that bit.

Why it works as a duo

Cooking side by side means you each pick up a different trick and you get to eat the results together at the end. It's also a low-stakes way to spend time in the same space without the phone-tapping and telly in the background.

Tips for the day

• Take on different jobs. One of you on sauce, the other on prep – it mirrors a real kitchen and takes the pressure off.
• Ask the teacher about home swaps. They'll usually have clever tips for recreating the dish in a normal home kitchen without a fancy oven.
• Swap plates at the end. Tasting each other's version of the same dish is genuinely funny and often surprising.

3. Raise a glass together: cocktail making masterclass

For dads who like their drinks with a bit of theatre, a cocktail making class is one of the most social creative things to do with your dad. You'll muddle, shake, stir and garnish your way through a handful of classics – think Old Fashioneds, Negronis, Espresso Martinis – with a bartender who knows their way around a jigger.

Why it works as a duo

Cocktail classes are basically built for two. You mix, you taste, you compare notes, you get slightly merrier together. It's one of those rare activities where the "homework" is sipping your own drink.

Tips for the day

• Pick one signature each. Agree at the start that you'll each perfect one drink to make at home – a handy skill for future family dinners.
• Taste as you go. Teachers will encourage small sips throughout so you can learn how tiny tweaks (more citrus, less syrup) change the whole drink.
• Take notes on your phone. It's easy to forget the ratios by the third cocktail, and you'll thank yourselves later.

4. Carve something lasting: woodwork and spoon making

A woodworking class or spoon carving workshop suits dads who like slow, focused work with something to show for it. You'll pick up the basics – marking, shaping, sanding, finishing – and end up with a proper piece of kit, whether that's a wooden spoon, a small shelf or a chopping board.

Why it works as a duo

Carving is quiet, rhythmic work. You're doing the same thing a metre apart, occasionally showing each other a cleaner cut or a smarter grip. It's the kind of activity where conversations come and go at their own pace – no pressure to fill the silence.

Tips for the day

• Go for something useful. A spoon or board that ends up in the kitchen gets seen (and used) daily, which beats a decorative knick-knack on a shelf.
• Mind the grain. Teachers will show you how to read the wood – once you spot it, you'll feel like a pro.
• Sign and date your pieces. A tiny carved initial on the back turns a nice object into a proper keepsake.

5. Forge it together: blacksmithing and metalwork

For dads who fancy a proper hands-on challenge, a metalwork workshop is about as primal as a class gets. You'll be working with fire, hammers and hot metal, shaping a knife, a hook or a decorative piece under the eye of an experienced smith.

Why it works as a duo

There's something brilliant about standing next to your dad at an anvil. It's the kind of class that makes you both feel like you've achieved something real – and it's a proper conversation-starter when the piece ends up on a shelf back home.

Tips for the day

• Listen closely to your smith. Safety briefings aren't filler – they're what let you get properly stuck in with confidence.
• Wear your worst clothes. This isn't a tidy class. Expect a few sparks, a bit of soot, and a lot of good-natured sweat.
• Agree on your pieces in advance. If you each aim to forge a matching pair – say, two hooks or two bottle openers – you've got matching keepsakes from the day.

6. Make matching keepsakes: jewellery making

A jewellery making class is one of the most underrated father and child experience ideas going. You'll learn the basics of silversmithing or beadwork – cutting, shaping, soldering, polishing – and walk out with a wearable piece you made from scratch.

Why it works as a duo

Jewellery is an easy way to build in a "matching keepsake" moment without it feeling cheesy. Think matching key rings, a pair of simple silver bands, or a pendant each. You'll both wear or carry a reminder of the day without it being front-and-centre.

Tips for the day

• Decide your match in advance. Same style, different finish works beautifully – one polished, one brushed, for example.
• Don't rush the filing. The difference between "homemade" and "handmade" is usually in the sanding and polishing stage.
• Ask about resizing. Most teachers can adjust ring sizes on the day so your finished piece actually fits.

7. See the world through new eyes: smartphone photography

If your dad is forever photographing his dinner, a smartphone photography workshop will get him doing it properly. You'll learn composition, light, framing and a few handy editing tricks – all on the phone that's already in his pocket.

Why it works as a duo

Photography is a great class to take side by side because you're each shooting your own version of the same scene. Comparing shots at the end is genuinely fun, and you'll both come away noticing things in the world you used to walk past.

One of our crafters captured the mood beautifully after a class in Deal with his thirteen-year-old son:

"We both had the best time and learnt so much about our smartphone and how to get the most out of using it for photography. Julie was a great teacher and made everything fun and simple. My son has learning challenges (SEN) and left with such a sense of energy and accomplishment." - Jonathan Conley-Green, Kent.

Julie's the kind of teacher who makes complicated technical stuff feel completely approachable – which is exactly what you want when you're learning with a family member.

Tips for the day

• Shoot the same subject separately. Pick one thing – a teacup, a doorway – and each photograph it your own way. It's a brilliant lesson in how two people see differently.
• Clean your lens first. Sounds daft, but it's the single biggest fix for hazy phone shots.
• Edit side by side afterwards. Teachers often cover editing apps, and doing the post-processing together reinforces what you've learned.

8. Paint side by side: painting and paint-and-sip

Out of all the creative things to do with your dad on this list, a painting or paint and sip workshop is probably the most relaxed – especially if he claims he "can't draw to save his life." You'll work through a guided piece, often with a drink in hand, and end up with something you're both a bit chuffed with.

Why it works as a duo

You're following the same brief, but your paintings will end up wildly different – and that's the fun of it. Add a glass of wine or a soft drink and it becomes one of those evenings that feels miles away from a normal Tuesday.

Here's what one of our crafters had to say about a recent London watercolour class:

"Really fun class – I had a lovely time with my dad, it really built up his confidence in painting. Our teacher Ishbel was lovely and very talented!" Katie Driver, London.

Ishbel's the sort of teacher who makes first-timers feel they've been painting for years – exactly the warm, patient energy that makes these classes land.

Tips for the day

• Pick a scene you both like. Many classes let you tweak the subject – a favourite pub, a family holiday view – so make it personal.
• Don't peek at each other mid-class. Save the comparison until the end. The "reveal" is one of the best bits.
• Frame them together. Two versions of the same scene, side by side on a wall, makes a brilliant little home gallery.

9. Brew a bond: tea blending

For dads who live for a proper cuppa, a tea blending workshop is a calm, sensory way to spend an afternoon. You'll taste and smell your way through different tea bases, herbs and spices, then blend a bespoke mix to take home.

Why it works as a duo

Tea blending is quiet, slow and full of small moments – which, frankly, is a nice change of pace from most days. You'll each blend your own jar, swap samples, and end up brewing each other's creations back home.

Tips for the day

• Brew with a memory in mind. A blend inspired by a favourite holiday or a family recipe makes the jar mean more than its ingredients.
• Go slow on the tasting. First impressions aren't always right – some flavours need a second sip to reveal themselves.
• Label and swap. Give each other's jar a name at the end of class. It turns the whole thing into a tiny ritual you'll keep going at home.

Ready to plan your day?

Whether you're going for a full-on forge day or a quieter afternoon with tea, any of these creative things to do with your dad will leave you both with a memory (and usually a keepsake) that lasts a lot longer than socks. Browse the full range of workshops to share with dad UK-wide on ClassBento, pick two tickets, and the rest is just showing up.