- Photography: Dahl was a keen amateur photographer and often took his own photographs to illustrate his books. He once said, "I always photograph my own characters. I have to. If I didn't, I wouldn't be sure what they looked like."
- Flying: Dahl was a trained pilot and served as a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He flew numerous combat missions and was shot down over the Libyan Desert in 1940.
- Travel: Dahl loved to travel and visited many different countries around the world. He often used his travel experiences as inspiration for his books.
- Food and wine: Dahl was a passionate foodie and enjoyed cooking and trying new foods. He also had a keen interest in wine and often wrote about it in his books.
- Inventing: Dahl was an avid inventor and held several patents for his inventions, including a "lazy man's corkscrew" and a "self-cleaning teapot".
- Collecting: Dahl was a collector of many things, including stamps, coins, and butterflies. He also collected autographs of famous people.
- Animals: Dahl loved animals and had several pets throughout his life, including dogs, cats, and rabbits. He often wrote about animals in his books.