Tips for Planning a London Team Building Event

Whether you’re organising an extravagant office Christmas party for 2024 or a long-awaited remote team meet-up, event planning can feel a little daunting, but the good news is — we’re here to help! From providing you with a range of fun team building ideas in London to top tips for throwing the ultimate work do, we’ve got you covered. 

Team building events are a great way to foster a happy work culture, boost morale and improve employee well-being — if they’re done right, that is. So ditch the post-it note games and stuffy corporate team building cliches and get ready to plan a truly terrific team building event in London — with help from us!

To ensure your team bonding get-together goes off without a hitch, we’ve put together six essential tips (you’re welcome!). 

1. Plan ahead 

It’s not unusual for people to plan their Christmas party from as early as May or June, so even if you think your upcoming team building event is months away — start planning now! 

Consider what it is you want to gain from your event. Do you want to reward your employees with fun London activities after a successful (or perhaps rather tiring) quarter? Or maybe you’re looking to strengthen the bond between departments? With your answer in mind, you can begin preparing and potentially booking some fun teamwork activities that align with your goals for the event. Planning ahead also means you avoid disappointment — especially when you’re arranging one in the always-busy big smoke!

With our booking platform, you can browse through a range of unusual team building activities, from Italian pasta and pizza making classes to soy candle making workshops and opt for a time and place that’s best for you and your crew. 

2. Choose the perfect venue for your team building event

Team building events should ensure that your crew can leave the office behind for a day or two and switch off from impending deadlines or targets. Opt for a venue with lots of natural light and create an office-free environment by banning laptops and tablets!

For example, a light, airy London pottery studio could be just the place to transport your employees to the land of calm wheel throwing or fill them with creative inspiration and instantly lift their moods.  

Stuck for time? If leaving the office isn’t an option for you and your busy-bees, why not let a fun activity come to you and transform your space? From mobile calligraphy classes to soothing art classes, there are so many ways to transform your office into a creative hub and invite your colleagues to de-stress and unwind — even if they’ve only got half an hour!

3. Get creative with your team building ideas!

We’ve all seen the classic team building activities that take place in a stale conference room in London – well, you can opt-out of them! These tried-and-tested team bonding ideas may be a good starting point for newbie event planners, but if you want to spice things up, we suggest moving away from the norm. 

Got a stagnant or demotivated team? Fire up their energy with an exhilarating pottery making workshop. Need to de-stress your staff? Why not treat them to a gentle watercolour class? Want to boost communication in the team? Help things along with a fun team bonding pizza making class or tipsy cocktail masterclass! With so many creative team activities in London, there really is no excuse for two truths and a lie in a stuffy hotel meeting room — especially if your team are too attached to their desks!

4. Make a day of it with multiple activities in London

If you’re able to, make your team bonding session a day event and organise multiple activities in London. This way, your employees will have the chance to build relationships with each other while they explore the city. It’s also a great way to please everyone — if they don’t like one activity, they’re sure to like the next! 

By choosing multiple London experiences, you and your group can enjoy a fun-filled day out in the big smoke. With our booking platform, you can find a range of unique and unusual team building activities that are all within close proximity to one another — or they can come to you at your own venue with our ‘mobile’ option! 

5. Introduce friendly competition 

We’ve all heard the saying ‘healthy competition is good for you’. While we don’t necessarily suggest a gruelling sprint around the office to get your team bonding, a friendly challenge can be fun and great for morale. 

If you know your employees well, think about what excites them and put their passions to the test. For example, at a cocktail making class, you could introduce a ‘who makes the most inventive tipple prize’ into the mix. You could even channel the GBBO at a competitive baking and cake decorating class or flex their creative muscles at a paint and sip with prizes. This can encourage team spirit and remind your staff that despite their hectic workloads, they’re there for each other when it matters most! 

6. Lastly, show your hard working crew an amazing time! 

A team building day should be all about fun and creating unforgettable memories – so make sure you and your employees have a great time! You’ve come this far in planning the perfect date, so make it worth their while with some awesome activities that will leave your team feeling relaxed, refreshed and ready to crack on with the next quarter. 

While planning might seem like a lot of work, it’s well worth it when your employees are in top spirits! So if you need any help or advice on what would be best for your team, get in touch - we’re always happy to help!