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Celebrate the dads, grandads, stepdads, fathers-in-law, and special father figures this Father’s Day (Sunday 16 June 2024) with our guide to Father’s Day events, days out, experiences, and gift ideas in Hampshire.

Father's Day with New Forest Activities

Father’s Day events

Celebrate together and join in with some of the special events taking place in Hampshire over the Father’s Day weekend.

A visit to Beaulieu, Home of the National Motor Museum is perfect for dads who love all things auto, and Beaulieu’s Custom and American Show is returning on 16 June with hundreds of American motors, colourful custom cars and bikes, live music, and entertainment throughout the day.

There will be plenty of Father’s Day fun at Exbury Gardens with a model railway exhibition on 15 and 16 June, a tree climbing competition over the weekend, and the Austin Counties Car Show on 16 June. Plus, it’s half price garden admission for dads on Sunday 16 June. 

All Change at The Watercress Line celebrates the changes of road, rail, and music through the '50s & '60s on 15 and 16 June with vintage vehicles, steam trains, and sounds of rock 'n' roll, jazz, and swing.

At Southampton’s Guildhall Square, the Southampton Summer Sessions features music from Tom Jones on 15 June and Madness on 16 June. And there’s music nostalgia at the '80s Bash Live at St Mary's Stadium on Friday 14 June.

For sporting action, Hampshire Hawks host Middlesex on the same day as women's Southern Vipers face Northern Diamonds at the Utilita Bowl on Friday 14 June.

Hop aboard the Steamship Shieldhall Cruise to see the Round the Island Race on Saturday 15 June to enjoy the best views from the Solent of one of the largest yacht races in the world.

Or if you prefer to paddle under your own steam, join the Father's Day Paddle to the Pub with New Forest Activities for a relaxing paddle by canoe on the stunning Beaulieu River ending at the Master Builder's pub on the riverside for a well-earned drink.  

For the active, Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre is hosting a Have A Go Day – Father's Day Special on 16 June with climbing, archery, pioneering, and lake activities to try.

Visit Basing House over Father's Day weekend and bring along a family picnic to enjoy the fascinating historic grounds and activities throughout the weekend.

And, during Father's Day Weekend at Milestones Museum in Basingstoke, dads will be gifted a ration card which can be exchanged for half a pint of beer in the pub or 2oz of sweets in the sweet shop.

The Mutton pub

Father’s Day food

From fine-dining restaurants to pubs serving up local food, there are plenty of places to choose from for a Father’s Day lunch or dinner with many cooking up special Father’s Day menus.

Celebrate Father's Day in style at Lainston House near Winchester, with a sophisticated afternoon tea experience, Sunday Feast with Crumbs Brewery, or a delightful hog roast paired with clay pigeon shooting in the hotel's 63-acre parklands.

If they prefer a pub, try The Mutton at Hazeley Heath, a former 19th century post office and Hampshire’s newly crowned ‘Pub of the Year’ in the National Pub & Bar Awards 2024 and holder of two AA-Rosettes.

For Pas who like pizza, PizzaExpress at Basingstoke Festival Place Shopping Centre is sure to hit the spot.

There’s a Father's Day BBQ Lunch at Solent Hotel & Spa on 16 June with BBQ food and saxophonist sounds.

At the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire the Father’s Day Feast will serve up some of the finest locally sourced produce from the English countryside on Sunday 16 June.

See our guide to restaurants in Hampshire

View our guide to pubs in Hampshire

Prefer to eat al fresco?  Choose from our handpicked list of pub and beer gardens in Hampshire.

Hattingley Wines

Say cheers together

Whether that special man in your life is a wine lover, a beer fan, or a cocktail enthusiast – raise a glass with him at one of Hampshire’s breweries, vineyards, or cocktail experiences.

Indulge in the best vineyards and breweries that Hampshire has to offer. Try some craft beer at the Steam Town Brew Co in Eastleigh, some of England’s finest sparkling at Hattingley Valley Wines, or shake up some gin cocktails at the world-famous Bombay Sapphire Distillery.

See our guide to Vineyards in Hampshire

See our guide to Breweries and Distilleries in Hampshire

Mottisfont roses

Visit a gorgeous garden

June is a glorious time of year for visiting gardens in Hampshire, and if your dad enjoys his gardening, a visit to the rose season at Mottisfont this time of year is a must. 

The walled garden at Mottisfont is filled with fragrance and colour from thousands of roses from late May. The National Trust property is home to the Plant Heritage National Plant Collection Rosa (pre-1900 shrub roses), which creates a spectacle in early summer. 

This year, the National Trust is celebrating 50 years since the collection was brought to Mottisfont for everyone to enjoy.

Mottisfont is offering extended opening hours on some evenings during rose season. The gardens will stay open until 8pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in June and on Fridays 7, 14 and 21 June there will be live jazz from the FB Pocket Orchestra, plus wine tastings and wine for sale from award-winning Hampshire vineyard Black Chalk.

See more glorious gardens in Hampshire

Cycling

Go for a spin or take a hike

Father’s Day is also one of the longest days of the year so it’s the perfect opportunity to pack up the bikes or lace up your walking shoes and head out on an outdoor adventure together.

Whether you fancy a leisurely Father’s Day walk or a challenging bike ride, Hampshire has hundreds of footpaths and cycleways to choose from.

Find out more about the cycling routes in Hampshire

See our guide to walking and hiking in Hampshire

See family-friendly walks in Hampshire

See all family cycling routes in Hampshire 

Lymington sailing

Take to the water and make a splash

Falling on a beautiful midsummer Sunday, Father’s Day is a great day for spending in or near the water and there are plenty of opportunities to take the plunge in Hampshire.  

Make a splash together at the New Forest Water Park, go sailing in the Solent, try stand-up paddle boarding along the county’s coastline, or enjoy a day out at the beach.

Find out more about water sports in Hampshire

Stand-up paddle boarding in Hampshire

Find out more about sailing in Hampshire

Find out more about beaches in Hampshire

Spinnaker Tower abseil

Father’s Day gift vouchers and experiences 

If you can’t treat them on the day, give dad, grandad, or the special man in your life, something to look forward to with a gift voucher or experience this Father’s Day.

Many of Hampshire’s famous attractions including Thruxton Motorsports CentreHawk Conservancy Trust, and the Watercress Line, all offer gift experience vouchers.

Basingstoke Leisure Park has lots of activities to enjoy all in one place including the Basingstoke Golf Centre, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, Basingstoke Aquadrome, and Milestones Museum. 

For daring dads the Spinnaker Tower abseiling experience is a 100-metre descent down the side of Portsmouth’s iconic landmark.

Or, if he enjoys his sport, how about tickets to the cricket at The Utilita Bowl, football in Southampton or Portsmouth, or driving experiences,  golf experiences and fishing experiences all over the county.

Find out more about cricket in Hampshire

Find out more about football in Hampshire

Find out more about driving experiences in Hampshire

Find out more about golf in Hampshire

Find out more about fishing in Hampshire


If you’re visiting Hampshire in June, why not stay a little longer and extend Father’s Day to a Father’s Day weekend or week? Take a look at our huge range of accommodation. Hampshire has something for all budgets including hotels, bed and breakfastsself-catering properties, and cosy traditional holiday cottages

See what events are on in Hampshire this Father’s Day

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Related

The Custom & American Show at Beaulieu National Motor Museum
Father's Day
The Custom & American Show at Beaulieu National Motor Museum

The Custom and American Show will be returning on Father's Day Sunday 16th June 2024 with hundreds of cool American motors, colourful custom cars and bikes, live music and hip entertainment throughout the day.

Father's Day at Exbury Gardens
Gardens
Father's Day at Exbury Gardens

Join us at Exbury Gardens for a fantastic Father's Day. Dads are offered half price garden admission on Sunday 16 June, and we have lots of events for the whole family: Model Railway Exhibition – 15 & 16 June An array of static layouts and live displays across a variety of scales, gauges and eras. All located inside Exbury's working railway shed. Tree Climbing Competition – 15 & 16 June Austin Counties Car Show – 16 June As part of our Father's Day events we are delighted to be hosting the Austin Counties Car Show.

All Change at The Watercress Line
Heritage & History
All Change at The Watercress Line

Celebrating the changes of road and rail, music and more, through the '50s & '60s!

Southampton Summer Sessions
Festival
Southampton Summer Sessions

Southampton’s Guildhall Square will be transformed into a buzzing live music hub welcoming artists from across the globe to form the highly anticipated 'Southampton Summer Sessions'. The line-up of events includes Rag'n'Bone Man, UB40, The Stranglers and Simple Minds.

'80s Bash Live at St Mary's Stadium
Music
'80s Bash Live at St Mary's Stadium

Party like it's the '80s this summer at St Mary's Stadium, enjoying the best hits from one of music's most iconic decades.

T20 Double Header: Southern Vipers v Northern Diamonds & Hampshire Hawks v Kent Spitfires at Utilita Bowl
Sporting Event
T20 Double Header: Southern Vipers v Northern Diamonds & Hampshire Hawks v Kent Spitfires at Utilita Bowl

Vitality Blast is the local T20 cricket celebration in Hampshire, an action-packed competition! Hampshire Hawks are the most successful domestic T20 team in history and host seven huge Vitality Blast fixtures this summer.

Steamship Shieldhall Cruise to see the Round the Island Race
Heritage & History
Steamship Shieldhall Cruise - Round the Island Yacht Race

Spend a leisurely day on the Solent, enjoying the spectacle of the Round the Island Yacht Race from the great viewing platform of the Shieldhall! The race regularly attracts over 1,700 boats and around 16,000 sailors, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world.

Father's Day Paddle to the Pub with New Forest Activities
Father's Day
Father's Day Paddle to the Pub with New Forest Activities

Treat your Papa to a relaxing paddle on the stunning Beaulieu River this Father's Day with New Forest Activities. Enjoy paddling together through the Beaulieu River Nature Reserve as a family, ending at the Master Builder's pub on the riverside where Dad can wet his whistle with a nice cold beer. Boating and bevvies - the perfect combo for deserving Dads this Father's Day!

Have A Go Day - Father's Day Special at Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre
Father's Day
Have A Go Day - Father's Day Special at Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre

Make some special memories with Dad this Father's Day by booking our Have A Go Day on the 16th of June for just £10 per person. During your 2-hour time-slot, you can enjoy: Climbing Archery Pioneering Lake activities

Milestones Museum
Museums & Galleries
Antique car at Milestones Museum

From cobbled streets to a seaside pier, teddy bears, vintage vehicles, an operating pub, sweet shop and more, there is so much for everyone to see, do and enjoy at Milestones, Hampshire’s museum of living history!

Basing House
Historic Site
Basing House

Unearth the amazing stories of Basing House, the nationally important historical ruins of the largest private house in Tudor England which suffered at the hands of Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War.

Father's Day with Lainston House
Father's Day
Father's Day with Lainston House

Lainston House, a charming 17th-century hotel nestled in the picturesque Hampshire countryside, invites guests to celebrate Father's Day in style on June 16, 2024. This year's guests can choose between a sophisticated afternoon tea experience, Sunday Feast with Crumbs Brewery or a delightful hog roast, paired with clay pigeon shooting in the hotel's 63-acre parklands.

The Mutton
Pub/Inn
The Mutton

Welcome to a place for good cheer, fantastic food, and a damn good pint. A place where ramblers’ chilled bones are warmed before a glowing hearth, comforting aromas of home-cooking emanate from the bustling kitchen, and summer evenings are whiled away in a garden simply made for the golden hour. Welcome to The Mutton at Hazeley Heath.

PizzaExpress Basingstoke Festival Place Shopping Centre
Italian
PizzaExpress Basingstoke Festival Place Shopping Centre

PizzaExpress believes that dining out should be one of life’s highlights. It’s why every PizzaExpress pizzeria is packed with pizzazz and only the freshest and perfectly sourced ingredients will do. It’s why every dish is made with care—and flair. Because at PizzaExpress, a pizza doesn’t just mean dinnertime, it means showtime.

Father's Day BBQ Lunch at Solent Hotel & Spa
Father's Day
Father's Day BBQ Lunch at Solent Hotel & Spa

Bring Dad and celebrate a truly special day. Indulge in a delicious BBQ lunch with a glass of beer for dad while listening to the sounds of 'Solo Sax'. Come and enjoy the entertainment and meet our famous Thwaites Shire horses who will be with us from 12pm until 1.30pm.

Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire
Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel

This Georgian manor house, set in 500 acres of rolling grounds and English Heritage listed gardens, offers the upmost in luxury and relaxation, just an hour from London.

Steam Town Brew Co
Breweries & Distilleries
Steam Town Brew Co Bar

Steam Town Brew Co in Eastleigh is a craft brewery serving around 10 of our own made, often railway themed beers (cask and keg) at any time, along with other drinks in our front of house bar and restaurant. They have a 1000l brewery onsite at the rear of the business, on view from the taproom.

Hattingley Valley Wines
Vineyard
Hattingley Vineyard

Founded in 2008 by Owner and Chairman Simon Robinson, Hattingley Valley is a family-owned English wine producer located on the edge of the picturesque South Downs in rural Hampshire.

Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Distillery
Bombay Sapphire Distillery

The Bombay Sapphire Distillery based at Laverstoke Mill in rural Hampshire, just 15 miles from Winchester and 10 miles from Basingstoke. The Distillery is in a conservation area with over 1000 years of history. The distillery showcases the care, skill and artistry behind every drop of Bombay Sapphire, and allows you to discover the flavours of the botanicals which make Bombay Sapphire gin so unique.

Rose Season at Mottisfont
Nature
Rose Season at Mottisfont

The walled garden at Mottisfont is filled with fragrance and colour from thousands of roses in early summer. The National Trust property is home to the National Collection of pre-1900 old-fashioned roses, which reach their peak in early summer. Unlike modern species, old-fashioned roses tend to flower just once a year, so their blooming season is an extraordinary annual sight, attracting thousands of visitors.

New Forest Water Park
Water Based Activities
New Forest Water Park

New Forest Water Park is a family run business situated just outside Fordingbridge, on the outskirts of the New Forest. They have several activities running on site, wakeboarding, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and the UK's 1st Aqua Park being. The inflatable Aqua Park now measures in at 80 metres long, 40 metres wide and has 2 trampolines, monkey bars, flippers, slides, hurdles, rockers, rollers, an overhang climbing wall, a swing, a giant iceberg(!) and much more.

Thruxton Motorsports Centre
Driving
Thruxton Motorsports Centre

Thruxton is the fastest race circuit in the UK and hosts events as varied as the British Touring Car Championship, Truck racing, British Superbikes and Historic racing.

Hawk Conservancy Trust
Animal Collection / Zoo
Owl's at the Hawk Conservancy Trust
The Watercress Line
Steam Railway
Autumn on the Watercress Line

Experience the golden age of steam on the Mid Hants Railway 'Watercress Line'! Whether you are taking a trip down memory lane or making new ones, sit back, relax and travel through the heart of quintessential English countryside by steam train, looking towards stunning views of the South Downs National Park.

Basingstoke Leisure Park
Leisure & Activity Centres
Basingstoke Leisure Park

Whether you are looking to spend the day or a quick time out, Basingstoke Leisure Park is packed with activities to enjoy leisure time on your own or with family and friends.

Utilita Bowl
Sports Ground
Utilita Bowl from the air

Hampshire Cricket's home since 2001, the picture-perfect Utilita Bowl has established itself as an esteemed international venue across sport and entertainment.