Let’s be honest, the phrase “team building” doesn’t always inspire excitement. Your team are instantly thinking of awkward icebreakers, forced fun, or activities that feel more draining than energising. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
We believe that team building should be something people genuinely look forward to. It should feel intentional, experience-led, and aligned with your company culture (and also shouldn’t be in your employee’s free time!) Whether you’re aiming to boost morale, reward your staff, or simply get people talking across departments, the key is creating shared experiences that are all about connection and collaboration, and just celebrating your people!
Here are ten curated team building ideas that balance enjoyment with an actual purpose – and won’t make your team roll their eyes.
1. Back To Nature
A nature themed away day is a brilliant way to shake up the routine and give your team a fresh perspective. The theme sets the tone – whether it’s a countryside escape with a day of outdoor activities or an overnight glamping experience, being in the fresh air can really help to escape daily life and routine. Think chic glamping tents, fire pit circles for team discussions with smores and some gold ole team activities! It will be just like being back at a school away trip! Oh and of course…you must include wine!
Done right, a nature retreat becomes a fully immersive experience – one that encourages creativity and genuine conversation in an inspiring setting.
2. Cook-Off Challenges
Food is something everyone loves! A group cooking session—whether a pasta-making class, a street food cook-off, or a “company bake-off”—encourages collaboration, communication, and a healthy dose of friendly competition. You can mix teams from different departments, give them time to prepare a dish, and have a panel of judges (or the whole team) vote for the winner.
It’s fun, delicious, and always sparks plenty of laughter—and let’s not underestimate the power of breaking bread together at the end of the session. This is also a great option if you just a one day, or one afternoon event. There are plenty of spots you can go to across the UK for this, or you can hire a company to come to you.
3. Outdoor Adventure Experiences
Taking your team out into the great outdoors is a powerful way to refresh minds and build trust. Activities like paddleboarding, wild swimming, hiking, or guided orienteering are ideal for encouraging confidence, resilience, and team spirit.
These types of challenges help team members learn to rely on one another and often reveal leadership qualities and problem-solving approaches in a more natural way than a boardroom ever could. Another bonus is that fresh air and movement are great for mental wellbeing too. We would advise to only opt for this if you have a team of outdoor activity lovers!
4. Creative Workshops
Creative workshops are perfect for getting teams together and doing something that they probably wouldn’t usually do in their own time. From pottery throwing and calligraphy, to floral arranging or natural candle making, there’s something deeply satisfying about getting stuck into a creative project!
These sessions work especially well when paired with good music, great coffee (or wine!), and a relaxed, welcoming space. We would recommend getting out of the office and going elsewhere for this kind of activity so there are no distractions!
5. Escape Rooms & Puzzle Experiences
If your team loves a challenge, escape rooms or problem-solving games are a brilliant option. These scenarios require critical thinking, delegation, and time management – and more often than not, some really excellent teamwork.
You can book a dedicated escape room venue or bring a mobile escape-style challenge to your office or chosen venue. Some even create custom puzzles themed to your company values or goals, which adds a nice layer of personalisation. You could even throw in a dinner afterwards!
6. Wellness & Mindfulness Days
Team building doesn’t always have to be high energy. In fact, creating space for rest, reflection, and mindful connection can be just as impactful – especially for high-performing or high-stress teams.
A wellness day might include yoga, guided breathwork, nutrition workshops, nature walks, or a spa day. There are some great health retreats around that you can take your team to for a day. It’s about reminding your team that their wellbeing matters – and giving them the time and space to truly pause.
7. Company Festivals
For some party vibes, why not host your own company festival? Picture tipis, acoustic music, fire bowls, food trucks, glitter stations, and a relaxed, celebratory atmosphere.
We love curating these as summer parties or annual kick-offs. The beauty of this format is that everyone can attend in their own way, whether they just want to stop by, or stay for the whole day/evening. You could even offer the invite out to their families too. There’s no pressure, just great vibes!
8. Volunteering & Social Impact Days
Doing good as a team can be an incredibly bonding experience. Whether it’s supporting a local charity, helping renovate a community space, or organising a fundraising event, volunteering gives people a shared sense of purpose. This could be everyone attending an event such as a fun run, or even just hosting a bake sale in the office!
It also allows your company to live its values in a meaningful, tangible way. Choose a cause your team cares about, and design a day that mixes hands-on action. This would also be great to shout about on the company’s social media to show how much the team are helping a great cause, as well as bonding between them.
We would advise discuss the option of which charity they would like to work with.
10. Themed Party
Throwing it back to where a lot of team building started – a good ole party! Whether it’s a themed night at a local venue, or hiring your own venue to host a company party, most people will love to get involved! The down side is that not everyone may want to attend, so it’s understanding whether this would suit the people in your team.
You could even tie in an awards section to really help with team morale!
So, what’s next?
Whatever your goal, connection, creativity or just treating your employees, team building should reflect your company culture and values, and also have your team in mind. It should feel effortless on the day, and something that everyone will enjoy where possible.
Ready to plan something they’ll actually talk about? Get in touch here!