Our Top Picks

Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe — two dads talking honestly about the chaos. The unofficial school-run soundtrack for UK dads.

“Genuinely funny, genuinely useful, and the only podcast that makes the commute feel short.”

Capital FM's Dave Berry interviews well-known dads on the realities of fatherhood. UK-based, warm, refreshingly unmacho.

“The interviews go places the celebrity-mag versions don't. Worth subscribing to.”

The Famileigh dads on raising boys, marriage, and trying to be present. UK-based and unusually honest about the hard parts.

“Slower, more reflective than the comedy pods. Good for when you want substance over banter.”

Dean and Sara talk parenting, marriage, and modern dad life without the highlight-reel filter.

“Real-couple chemistry. Funny without trying too hard.”

Ryan Holiday's daily three-minute meditation on fatherhood. Stoic philosophy, fatherly wisdom, no filler.

“Three minutes a day, and it actually changes how you parent. The morning coffee of dad podcasts.”

Lotte Jeffs and Stu Oakley host the UK's first LGBTQ+ parenting podcast. Every dad should listen, not just LGBTQ+ ones.

“Brilliantly produced, broadens what 'family' looks like, and Stu's a properly good interviewer.”

Dr. Becky Kennedy on sturdy parenting — practical, science-backed, no fluff. Works for dads and mums.

“The toolkit you wish someone had handed you on day one. Save the toddler tantrum episodes.”

Steven Bartlett's interviews go deep on relationships, kids, mental health. Cherry-pick the parenting episodes.

“Not a parenting podcast, but the parenting episodes hit harder than most dedicated ones.”

Sunday Times bestseller. Honest, funny, no-bullshit account of new fatherhood by a regular bloke. Probably the most-gifted UK dad book.

“If you read one book before the baby comes, make it this one. Properly funny, properly true.”

Ex-Commando turned dad delivers a no-nonsense ops manual for the first three years. Practical, clear, slightly tongue-in-cheek.

“If you want a manual that treats parenting like a mission, this is it. Brilliant for the practically-minded.”

Month-by-month guide to the pregnancy your partner is doing, and what you can actually do about it.

“The pregnancy book that explains scans, kit, and how to be useful instead of in the way.”

Bestselling guide to breaking generational patterns. Bracingly honest. Applies as much to dads as mums.

“The book that makes you think about your own dad before you think about yourself as one.”

The companion to the podcast. Sturdy, science-backed parenting tools for emotional resilience.

“Highlighter required. The most-actually-used parenting book on the shelf.”

What ancient cultures teach us about raising calm, helpful, capable kids. Shifts your perspective entirely.

“Quietly the most influential parenting book of the last five years. Rethink everything.”

Not a parenting book. A novel about a father and son trying to survive. The most powerful thing ever written about being a dad.

“Read it once. You won't forget it. The standard you'll quietly hold yourself to.”

Volume of My Struggle dedicated to becoming a dad. Norwegian, intense, unlike anything else.

“For the reader who wants the literary deep-end. Strangely comforting in its honesty.”

The Australian animated series that's quietly the best show on television. Bandit Heeler is everyone's parenting benchmark.

“Bandit is the dad we're all trying to be. Some episodes will properly ruin you.”

Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney's unflinching comedy about marriage and parenthood. Four perfect series.

“Possibly the truest portrayal of new parenthood ever filmed. Especially Rob Delaney's dad.”

Martin Freeman's pitch-black comedy about the rage and love of parenting. Sky / NOW.

“The show that makes you feel less guilty about the bad days. Brutally funny.”

Adam Kay's NHS memoir adapted by the BBC. Not strictly parenting, but the labour-ward scenes will reframe how you think about birth.

“Watch before the baby comes. You'll be a more useful partner in the room.”

The CBeebies show grown-ups secretly love. Educational, joyful, only 7 minutes per episode.

“The badge system is genuinely brilliant pedagogy. You'll learn things.”

Documentary series exploring modern fatherhood across cultures and life stages.

“Smarter than the title suggests. Sparked a lot of group-chat conversations.”

Dutch pram brand built like a tank. Holds value, lasts through siblings, looks the part.

“If you only invest in one big-ticket item, make it this. Reseller value is genuinely strong.”

The carrier that fits bigger frames properly. Newborn-to-toddler with serious back support.

“The carrier you'll actually wear every day. Worth every penny for the back support alone.”

Premium car seat with the best crash-test data going. ISOFIX, swivel, the lot.

“Look at the safety stats once and you can't choose anything else.”

Running buggy that turns the school run into a workout. Build quality is exceptional.

“If you're getting back into running, this is the buggy that makes it possible.”

The rear-mounted bike seat that proper UK cycling dads use. Norwegian-made, ridiculously safe.

“If you cycle, this is the upgrade that turns weekends into adventures.”

British-designed bedside crib. Earns back its cost in sleep.

“The crib that buys you a working partnership in the first six months.”

London-founded sustainable bamboo babywear. The zip-up sleepsuits are the gold standard.

“Stock up. The 3am zip is the difference between sleep and despair.”

Cornish organic kidswear with playful prints and B-Corp credentials. Splash suits are unkillable.

“Indestructible cotton joggers and the best wet-weather suits going.”

Swedish kidswear built to last generations. Lifetime guarantee, grow-with-me sizing.

“The brand that quietly outlasts everything else in the wardrobe.”

The compact, plane-cabin-bag-sized buggy that actually works on holiday.

“If you travel, this is the one. Folds smaller than your carry-on.”

Modern fatherhood platform covering identity, culture and family life. Not just tips — bigger conversations.

“The place to read when you want fatherhood content with some intellectual weight.”

Community-led UK platform with articles, podcasts and a strong members' Slack. Genuine peer support.

“If you want other dads to actually talk to, this is the network. Worth joining the community.”

Long-running UK dad blog with practical guides, gear reviews and a strong community.

“The reliable, well-researched dad blog. Bookmarked alongside the spreadsheets.”

UK money blog through the dad-and-family lens. Genuinely useful saving and budgeting content.

“When the nursery fees land and you need a plan, start here.”

Adoptive dad couple sharing the journey of same-sex parenting in the UK. Underrepresented perspective, brilliantly told.

“Essential reading regardless of your family setup. Honest, warm, properly written.”

UK charity for dads experiencing postnatal depression, anxiety or PTSD. Helpline, peer support, no judgement.

“If you're struggling, start here. Free, confidential, and they get it.”

Free, confidential help is available. If you're in crisis, call 999 or text SHOUT to 85258.

Free weekly peer-to-peer talking groups for men. 'It's okay to talk.' Run nationwide every Monday.

“Walk in once and you'll go back. No therapy speak, just blokes who understand.”

Free, confidential help is available. If you're in crisis, call 999 or text SHOUT to 85258.

UK helpline and digital resources targeted at men in crisis. Open 5pm to midnight, every day.

“Save the number in your phone now. You may not need it. Someone you know might.”

Free, confidential help is available. If you're in crisis, call 999 or text SHOUT to 85258.

Perinatal mental health support — they specifically cover dads, not just mums.

“One of the few perinatal mental health services that takes dads seriously. Use them.”

Free, confidential help is available. If you're in crisis, call 999 or text SHOUT to 85258.

Online therapy platforms accessible from your phone. Spill is UK-based and used by lots of employers.

“If waiting lists are the blocker, this is the route. Many UK employers cover Spill — check yours.”

Free, confidential help is available. If you're in crisis, call 999 or text SHOUT to 85258.

Weekly dad-and-baby meetups across London. Coffee, walks, no agenda. Run by dads, for dads.

“Show up once. The threshold's low and the community's genuine.”

Local dad meetups organised through the UK Dad Network platform. Filter by postcode.

“Use the postcode filter and turn up. Easiest way to find your local crew.”

Free weekly timed runs across the UK. Junior parkrun on Sundays for 4–14s. A brilliant family ritual.

“The simplest, best free thing you can do with the kids on a weekend. Just turn up.”

Meal-kit boxes that solve the 'what's for dinner' problem on the days nursery emails sap your soul.

“Affiliate gold dust — sign-up bonuses are generous and the food is genuinely good.”

London nanny and after-school care matching. Vetted, regulated, properly run.

“When the school pickup juggle breaks, these are the people who fix it.”

Modern, Ofsted-regulated home childcare across the UK. Become one or hire one.

“The home-from-home option that's quietly transformed UK early-years care.”

UK-wide music classes for 0–4s. Local franchises across London. Properly good musicianship.

“The Tuesday morning class your toddler asks for by name.”

Pre-school sports classes UK-wide. Get them throwing, kicking and falling over in good company.

“The class where dads are properly welcome and not a novelty.”