The Best Creative Escapes in London for Every Type of Dad

Looking for gift experiences for Dad in London that beat another pair of socks? Whether he's the one who reads every recipe, fixes every shelf or knows every whisky distillery by name, there's a London class with his name on it.

We've rounded up 100 creative escapes in London for every type of Dad, from blacksmithing in Lambourne End to whisky blending in Hackney and pasta in a Michelin-starred kitchen in Fitzrovia. Every class is beginner-friendly, and ClassBento is rated 4.9 stars from 171,000+ reviews.

For the foodie dad

If he likes...

• Trying new cuisines and hunting down the best street food
• Cooking for the family at weekends
• Watching cookery shows and attempting the recipes

Then treat him to...

• Ethiopian cooking class, Shepherd's Bush (£59–60pp): he'll make injera flatbread and slow-cooked stews, then share them from one plate.
• Authentic sushi making class, Finsbury Park (£78pp): he'll learn to season sushi rice and roll his own maki.
• Fresh pasta class with bottomless prosecco, Isle of Dogs (£70–80pp): he'll hand-roll ravioli and tagliatelle with a glass that never runs dry.
• Authentic Chinese hand-pulled biang biang noodles masterclass, Archway (£82–92pp): he'll stretch and slap wide noodles by hand.
• Pasta making masterclass in a Michelin star restaurant, Fitzrovia (£165pp): he'll cook ravioli and gnocchi in the kitchen at Pied à Terre on Charlotte Street.
• Spanish foodie experience on a boat, Canary Wharf (£85–90pp): he'll make paella and tortilla on a Dutch houseboat.
• Taste of Thailand cookery class, Camberwell (£99pp): he'll balance sweet, sour, salty and spicy in classic Thai dishes.
• Indoor pizza oven experience, Holloway (£42pp): he'll make pizza from scratch and take home extra dough.
• Best of British cooking class: fish and chips, Wandsworth (£80–110pp): he'll master crisp batter and proper chips.
• Lebanon and Middle Eastern cooking class - full day, Forest Hill (£197pp): he'll spend a whole day cooking a Middle Eastern feast.

For the drinks connoisseur dad

If he likes...

• A well-stocked drinks cabinet
• Craft beer, single malts or a properly made G&T
• Telling you the story behind every bottle

Then treat him to...

• Whisky tasting experience with food, Hackney (£50pp): he'll taste a flight of whiskies with food pairings.
• Whisky blending experience, Hackney (£75pp): he'll create a whisky blend of his own.
• Aquavit and gin distilling workshop, Putney (£95–160pp): he'll distil his own spirit at a working distillery.
• Aquavit and gin distillery tour and tasting experience, Putney (£25pp): he'll go behind the scenes, then taste the results.
• The Secret Beer Mile: craft beer tasting experience, Bermondsey (£26pp): he'll explore the brewery taprooms tucked under the railway arches.
• Group brew your own beer workshop, Brixton (£150–205pp): he'll brew a batch of beer from grain to fermenter.
• Craft beer tasting experience, Brixton (£18–20pp): he'll learn what makes a good pint, one glass at a time.
• Davy's wine tasting class, Holborn, Bankside or Tower Hill (£48pp): he'll learn to taste wine like a pro at one of Davy's London wine bars.
• Anything but the wine tasting masterclass, Isle of Dogs (£70pp): he'll taste his way through some unexpected wines.
• Premium cocktail making masterclass, Hackney (£50pp): he'll shake a signature cocktail using Japanese gin and sake.

For the DIY-loving handy dad

If he likes...

• Fixing things before anyone asks
• Spending Saturdays in the shed or garage
• Browsing tool catalogues "just for ideas"

Then treat him to...

• Charcuterie board woodworking workshop, Harlesden (£110–120pp): he'll shape and finish a hardwood serving board.
• Power tools 101: safety and skills workshop, Harlesden (£65–75pp): he'll learn to use drills, saws and sanders with confidence.
• Bread board woodworking class, Woolwich (£150pp): he'll make a bread board for the kitchen.
• DIY workshop: power tools masterclass, Woolwich (£95pp): he'll put a full range of power tools through their paces.
• Home maintenance and DIY class, Kingston upon Thames (£150pp): he'll pick up practical fixes for around the house.
• Stool making workshop, Stepney (£150pp): he'll build a wooden stool from scratch.
• Evening woodcarving taster workshop, Bloomsbury (£60pp): he'll try his hand with chisels and gouges after work.
• Table lamp making class, Balham (£195pp): he'll build and wire his own table lamp.
• Make a knife block: woodworking day course, Harlesden (£110–160pp): he'll spend a day making a knife block for the kitchen counter.
• Half day tools class - drill, jigsaw and circular saw, Kingston upon Thames (£60pp): he'll get hands-on with the three tools every DIYer needs.

For the adventurous dad

If he likes...

• Trying anything once
• A challenge with a bit of heat, noise or mess
• Hidden corners of the city most people never see

Then treat him to...

• Make a ladle - blacksmithing and coppersmithing class, Lambourne End, near Romford (£150pp): he'll rivet a forged steel handle to a copper bowl.
• Introductory blacksmithing class, Romford (£190pp): he'll shape hot metal with a hammer and anvil.
• Glassblowing tumbler making workshop, Stoke Newington (£165pp): he'll hand-blow his own drinking glass from molten glass.
• Lampwork glassmaking creative workshop, Stratford (£49–147pp): he'll shape glass over a flame to make beads or small pieces.
• Lampworking glass flower workshop, Shoreditch (£72–144pp): he'll melt and sculpt glass into a delicate flower.
• Introduction to stone carving: weekend course, Tottenham (£175pp): he'll spend a weekend carving stone with a mallet and chisel.
• Wildlife photography workshop, Petersham and Ham (£119–395 per group): he'll photograph Richmond Park's deer with Matthew Williams-Ellis.
• DJ class for beginners, Dalston (£80pp): he'll learn to beatmatch and mix on professional decks.
• Southbank low light / night time smartphone safari, meeting near Seven Dials (£65pp): he'll capture the city after dark on his phone.
• Splatter, splash and drip painting class, Earlsfield (£59pp): he'll throw paint at a canvas with full permission to make a mess.

For the creative and artistic dad

If he likes...

• Sketching on the back of envelopes
• Gallery trips and design museums
• Making things look good

Then treat him to...

• Paint and sip workshop, Battersea (£50–90pp): he'll paint a canvas with a drink in hand.
• Life drawing workshop, Trafalgar Square (£19pp): he'll sketch from a live model in a relaxed session.
• Oil painting class, Walworth (£85–225pp): he'll learn the basics of oils in a small group.
• Quick intro to oil painting workshop, Leamouth (£65pp): he'll have a shorter first go with oils, with no experience needed.
• Introductory watercolour workshop for beginners, Bank (£79–85pp): he'll learn washes, layering and colour mixing.
• Bottomless neon sip and paint class, Hammersmith (£45pp): he'll paint in glowing neon colours with bottomless drinks.
• Still life drawing workshop, Camberwell (£25pp): he'll sharpen his drawing skills with a still life set-up.
• Lino printing workshop for beginners, Shoreditch (£42pp): he'll carve a lino block and print his own design.
• Woodcut printing workshop, Hackney (£55–85pp): he'll carve and print from wood, one of the oldest printmaking methods.
• Lino print workshop: London architecture, Canary Wharf (£29pp): he'll print the city skyline he sees every day.

For the relaxed and mindful dad

Inspired? Book now:
Our fun gift experiences for dad ideas experiences in London

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Wheel Throwing Pottery Class - BYOB and Pottery

5.0 (996)

Runs regularly

Nine Elms

1 to 65 guests

£75 Now £34 - £45



Pottery Wheel Throwing Taster Class

4.9 (1,592)

12 years in business

Runs regularly

London Bridge

1 to 40 guests

£35 - £40



Silver or Gold Ring Making Workshop

4.6 (169)

6 years in business

Runs regularly

Waterloo

1 to 6 guests

£61



Lampwork Glassmaking Creative Workshop

4.9 (214)

Runs regularly

Stratford

1 to 15 guests

£49 - £147



Perfume Making Workshop with Over 150 Essential Oils

4.9 (127)

Runs regularly

Stratford

1 to 30 guests

£39 - £99



Kintsugi Pottery Class for Beginners

5.0 (2,346)

Runs regularly

Tower Gateway / Mobile

1 to 50 guests

£62



Introductory Pottery Wheel Taster Class

4.9 (302)

Runs regularly

Camden Town

1 to 10 guests

£45 - £50



Lampworking Glass Flower Workshop

4.7 (98)

Runs regularly

Shoreditch

1 to 20 guests

£72 - £144

See more

If he likes...

• Peace and quiet
• Slow Sunday mornings
• Hobbies that help him switch off

Then treat him to...

• Terrarium making workshop, Shoreditch (£57pp): he'll build a miniature garden in glass.
• Kintsugi workshop, Battersea (£60–80pp): he'll learn the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold.
• Kintsugi pottery class for beginners, Aldgate (£62pp): he'll take the same slow, steady repair craft to a top-rated studio near Tower Gateway.
• Bonsai tree terrarium making workshop, Shepherd's Bush (£80pp): he'll plant and style a mini bonsai landscape.
• Matcha ritual and matcha bowl making workshop, Holloway (£65–70pp): he'll make a ceramic matcha bowl and learn the ritual of whisking tea.
• Wheel throwing pottery class - BYOB and pottery, Nine Elms (£34–45pp): he'll centre clay on the wheel with a drink of his choice.
• Pottery wheel throwing taster class, London Bridge (£35–40pp): he'll get unlimited clay and two hours to throw as many pots as he likes.
• Candle making workshop at Somerset House, Strand (£45pp): he'll blend a scent and pour candles in one of London's grandest buildings.
• Mandala art workshop - sip, relax and create, Chiswick (£35–45pp): he'll draw calm, repetitive patterns that need no artistic background.
• Introduction to ikebana class, Balham (£75–85pp): he'll learn the Japanese art of minimalist flower arranging.

For the tech-savvy dad

If he likes...

• The latest gadgets and how they work
• Taking photos on his phone (and showing you all of them)
• Building, programming and tinkering

Then treat him to...

• Lego robotics workshop, Isle of Dogs (£13–19pp): he'll build and program a LEGO Mindstorms robot for a sumo-style battle.
• Laser cutting and engraving introduction class, Harlesden (£60–70pp): he'll design and laser-cut or engrave wood, leather or plastic.
• Smartphone photography class: London Bridge, London Bridge (£55pp): he'll get more out of the camera already in his pocket.
• Smartphone photography class: Barbican, Farringdon (£55pp): he'll shoot the Barbican's famous brutalist estate.
• Smartphone photography workshop - Brutalist Thamesmead, Abbey Wood (£55pp): he'll photograph Thamesmead's concrete architecture.
• Smartphone photography workshop - Maritime Greenwich, Greenwich (£55pp): he'll capture the Cutty Sark and riverside views.
• Night photography class, Waterloo (£85pp): he'll master long exposures and low light on a proper camera.
• Beginner's digital photography taster class, Clerkenwell (£25pp): he'll finally learn what all the buttons on his camera do.
• Street photography workshop - shoot London like a pro, Bankside (£65pp): he'll capture candid city life along the river.
• Textured LED moon art workshop, Battersea (£60–80pp): he'll make a textured moon artwork that lights up.

For the outdoorsy or green-fingered dad

If he likes...

• Pottering in the garden or allotment
• Long walks in the woods
• Knowing the name of every plant

Then treat him to...

• Kokedama - Japanese moss ball plant workshop, Islington (£42pp): he'll wrap a plant in a moss ball to hang or display.
• Sip and plant workshop, Kings Cross (£55pp): he'll pot up plants with a drink in hand.
• Grow your own vegetables workshop: small space gardening, Archway (£75–85pp): he'll learn to grow veg on a balcony or patio.
• Real-plant terrarium making workshop, Battersea (£65pp): he'll layer soil, moss and plants into a living glass garden.
• Foraging Fridays: a seasonal creative open-workshop, Mitcham (£29pp): he'll make something creative from seasonal foraged finds.
• Spoon carving workshop for beginners, Abbey Wood (£45pp): he'll carve a wooden spoon using traditional hand tools.
• Introduction to green wood working workshop, Abbey Wood (£80pp): he'll work freshly cut wood the traditional way.
• Willow winter wreath, garland and crown making workshop, Lesnes Abbey Woods (£40pp): he'll weave locally sourced willow by a woodland fire.
• Columbia Road floristry class, Shoreditch (£65pp): he'll arrange flowers just off London's famous flower market.
• Closed terrarium making workshop, Shepherd's Bush (£55pp): he'll build a sealed glass ecosystem that almost looks after itself.

For the intellectual and curious dad

If he likes...

• Reading the plaque at every museum exhibit
• History, languages and how things were made
• Learning a skill for the joy of it

Then treat him to...

• Calligraphy workshop at Little Louie, Walworth (£35pp): he'll learn modern calligraphy near Elephant & Castle.
• Chinese calligraphy class: brush and ink art, Archway (£82–92pp): he'll learn the brushstrokes behind Chinese characters.
• Guided Chinese calligraphy and tea tasting workshop, Greenwich (£79–85pp): he'll pair brush lettering with a Chinese tea tasting.
• Chinese calligraphy on porcelain: ceramics workshop, Holloway (£60–68pp): he'll paint calligraphy onto a porcelain piece.
• Chinese calligraphy and lantern making workshop, Bank (£48–53pp): he'll decorate a traditional lantern with his own calligraphy.
• Beginners modern calligraphy class, Covent Garden (£55pp): he'll pick up a dip pen and learn modern lettering.
• Perfume making workshop with over 150 essential oils, Stratford (£39–99pp): he'll explore the chemistry of scent and blend his own.
• Perfume making class with essential oils, Whitechapel or Marble Arch (£59pp): he'll learn about fragrance families and create a personal scent.
• Bookbinding taster workshop: saddle stitch notebooks, Deptford (£15pp): he'll learn a centuries-old binding technique and make two notebooks.
• Gelli printing - an exploratory monoprinting workshop, Deptford (£40pp): he'll experiment with layered, one-of-a-kind prints.

For the stylish dad

If he likes...

• A good watch and well-made shoes
• Accessories that last a lifetime
• Looking sharp without making a fuss about it

Then treat him to...

• Leather crafting series: create a wallet, Eltham (£145–185pp): he'll hand-stitch his own leather wallet over two sessions.
• Leather crafting workshop, Deptford (£150pp): he'll cut, stitch and finish a leather piece by hand.
• Leather crafting workshop: create a belt, Eltham (£75–95pp): he'll make a belt that fits him perfectly.
• Leather card holder and key ring workshop, Woolwich (£45–50pp): he'll make a slim card holder and matching key ring.
• Silver ring making class, Shoreditch or Chelsea (£66pp): he'll cut, solder and shape a sterling silver ring.
• Silver or gold ring making workshop, Waterloo, Woolwich or Walworth (£61pp): he'll craft a ring in silver, or upgrade to gold.
• Textured silver ring making workshop, Woolwich or Brick Lane (£55–59pp): he'll hammer a textured finish into his own band.
• Signet ring making workshop, Whitechapel (£50–70pp): he'll make a classic signet ring.
• Watchmaking taster day workshop, Nine Elms (£125pp): he'll take apart, reassemble and regulate a mechanical watch movement.
• Skincare and makeup for men - male grooming masterclass, Elephant & Castle (£197pp): he'll get a one-to-one session on a simple skincare and grooming routine.

Why craft workshops make better dad gifts than you'd think

• He learns something new: most dads have more stuff than they need, but few have tried glassblowing.
• He has something to show for it: a wallet, a mug or a chopping board he made himself.
• You get time together: book two places and go with him.
• There's something for every budget: classes range from £13 to £197pp, so you'll find creative escapes in London for every type of Dad, whatever you want to spend.

Which creative escape suits your dad?

Use this table to find the right creative escapes in London for every type of Dad at a glance.

Give Dad a day out he'll actually talk about

The best dad gifts aren't another gadget for the drawer. They're a morning at the forge in Lambourne End, an afternoon blending whisky in Hackney or a day rolling pasta in Fitzrovia. With 100 creative escapes in London for every type of Dad, there's one that fits him. Pick a class above, or send a ClassBento gift card and let him choose.