Things To Do

6 Ways To Spend Father’s Day

Avatar photo
Written by Tim Barnes-Clay

Father’s Day is almost here, so make sure you celebrate ‘your day’ in style.

This Sunday, dads across the country will finally be shown some appreciation for all the effort they put in 365 days of the year…well, more or less. So, whether you’re spending it with the family or taking the time to treat yourself, we’ve selected some of the best options for a day out in the capital.

Taste of London

Are you a foodie trapped inside the body of a man who would need to take out a second mortgage to afford a meal in one of London’s high-profile eateries? Well, this one’s for you.

Many of the capital’s best restaurants will have a stand at the annual festival where they will showcase a few of their signature dishes for a fraction of the normal price. At the very least, it’s a great opportunity to experience some of those trendy dishes that tend to be a little out of the average price-range.

Restaurants taking part this year include Bubbedogs, Kurobata, The Clove Club, Ember Yard, The Cinnammon Club, Barbecoa, Jose Pizarro, Duck & Waffle, Koya and Sushisamba. Plus, you can catch demonstrations from big names in the culinary world including Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti, Atul Kochar and Nuno Mendes.

Regent’s Park | Weds – Sun | £24london.tastefestivals.com 

BBQ Comedy at Invisible Dot

Catch the world’s best comedians as they warm up for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in pubs all over London.

One major stop on the pre-festival tour map is The Invisible Dot in London’s King’s Cross. Here, you’ll not only get a great show from some of the circuits best budding comedians but those who pre-book will also get a complimentary burger for the break. Who wants to split their sides on an empty stomach anyway?

The Father’s Day line-up includes a familiar face to Have I Got News For You fans, Joseph Morpurgo and the multi award-winning Bridget Christie.

The Invisible Dot, King’s Cross | Sunday, 6pm | £15theinvisibledot.com 

West End Live

The stars of the stage take to the streets to give you a preview of what’s on offer in London’s famous West End.

Join the crowd for this alfresco extravaganza that will see casts from some of London’s biggest and best shows burst out into the open for a weekend of song and dance that is sure to get you singing along.

It goes without saying that this one is a must for musical lovers out there. But, it’s also a great chance for those who are less enthusiastic about the genre to get a taste of the eclectic showstoppers of the West End condensed into one explosive weekend.

You can catch snippets from such favourites as Billy Elliot, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Mamma Mia, as well as The Commitments, The Lion King and Miss Saigon.

Trafalgar Square | Sat – Sun | Freewestendlive.co.uk

Streatham Common Kite Day

In the immortal words of Mary Poppins, “Let’s go fly a kite!”

Blow the dust off of your favourite aerial plaything and head on down to Streatham Common where you can partake in one of the world’s oldest father/child traditions.

Come Father’s Day, the south London skies will be filled with the multi-coloured sails and streamers as the UK National Champions Team, Flame, present their three-man dual line team display. Also making an appearance will be “Smorg the Dragon” as well as musical displays from Team Spectrum.

You can kick back and enjoy the pros at work or you can try your hand at it yourself. If you don’t own a kite then don’t worry, you can just pick one up at the pop-up kite stall.

Streatham Common | Sunday | Freestreathamkiteday.org.uk

Short Sighted Cinema Presents: The Shortest Nights

This one day short film festival will showcase the very best emerging British filmmakers with everything from animation to comedy, drama to documentary – with a gritty edge and comic tone. So there is sure to be something for everyone.

Look out for the next big names in cinema as you ride an emotional rollercoaster of highs, lows, tears and joy for 12 hours of motion picture heaven. There will be popcorn available as standard and even beer and BBQ – what could be better?

See an individual film for a fiver or get a day pass and spend the whole afternoon, an absolute must for film fans!

Electrowerkz, Angel | Sunday, 12pm – 12am | £5 – £25shortsihtedcinema.com 

The Alternative Father’s Day

Are you looking for something a bit different from your Father’s Day? Well, the guys over at Rich Mix might just have the answer.

Designed to be the perfect antidote to the traditional Father’s Day celebrations, The Alternative Father’s Day promises to be an evening of dad-themed comedy, poetry and entertainment celebrating the weird and wonderful relationships we all have with fatherhood, whilst sticking two fingers up to the boring, conventional stereotypes of Father’s Day.

Hosted by comedian Jack Rooke (of Radio 1 fame), headliners will include East London’s very own stand-up poet Daniel Cockrill, the man behind The Face Show Rob Auton, and 2015 IdeasTap Underbelly award-winner Ben Norris.

Rich Mix, Bethnal Green | Sunday, 7pm | £5 – £7richmix.org.uk