Best team away days: 15 cracking corporate getaways for team bonding

Workplace culture is a funny thing - your average office has all sorts of different subcultures and characters thrown into a big melting pot, and sometimes, the only way to bring all those different people together is through a bit of team bonding. What better way to do that than a good team away day?

If the words 'team away day' make you shudder, fear not - we’re here with some quality team away day ideas and tried-and-tested locations to make sure your next corporate away day is a smashing success. We’ve all suffered the slow crawl of a bad corporate away day, but don’t let that put you off these team building days as a whole - they can be incredibly valuable ways of building long-lasting bonds between colleagues and in turn, that can help workplace morale as well as productivity.

So, where do you start with the planning? Company away days come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, from active and energetic to more problem solving and team-based. Or when all else fails, just learn to paint and enjoy a nice glass of wine at one of these top paint and sip classes in London. Only you know what suits your team best, but fortunately, we’ve pulled in some of our favourite team away day venues below that cover all those bases and more.

Don’t sleep on the importance of picking the right venue. Think about proximity to your workplace (or wherever your staff are coming from) as well as the capacity of the venue and how long you’re expecting to be away for. Some of the venues in the list below are incredibly varied and flexible, which allows you to programme a wide variety of activities.

Best team away days near or in London

Company away days in the big smoke are surprisingly varied, ranging from cooking classes to shooting in the Middlesex countryside.

Borough Kitchen Cook School, Battersea and Islington

What: Borough Kitchen’s cookery classes are the perfect blend of accessible and informative, providing a great environment to get your people working together. Cooking classes here typically accommodate up to 16 people (or 12 at the Battersea site) so this is one for smaller teams. Borough Kitchen Cook School runs courses for beginners and more advanced cooks, and there are lots of packages that include food and drink into the bargain.
Where: 40 Electric Boulevard, SW11 8BJ; 129C Upper Street, N1 1QP
Book now: Borough Kitchen Cook School Battersea; Borough Kitchen Cook School Islington

Pitch London, Soho

What: Pitch’s indoor golf sims are state-of-the-art, three metre simulators with ultra HD screens, so if you want to take the team for a spot of golfing, now you can! The simulators are all built in with handicaps so even novice golfers can take part and have fun, and you can choose to hire a single sim or exclusively take over the whole venue, with capacity for up to 150 guests. There are lots of event packages that include food and drink too, which comes in the form of easy-going Asian snacks and cocktails.
Where: 12 Meard Street, W1F 0EQ
Book now: Pitch London

School of Wok, Covent Garden

What: School of Wok has built a great reputation as a fun place to learn some authentic wok cooking with experienced chefs, so it makes a great location for a bit of team building, and you’ll walk away with new skills. We love the school’s ‘Cook For The Homeless’ session, where guests learn to make a variety of Cantonese classic dishes, then cook double portions, which are later donated to a nearby homeless charity.
Where: 61 Chandos Place, WC2N 4HG
Book now: School of Wok

Rembrandt van Wine, Islington

What: Paint and sip is taking over the nation, so if you and the team fancy something a little less intense than paintballing or go karting, how about painting some masterpieces with a glass of wine in hand? Rembrandt van Wine’s professional art instructors are on hand to guide you no matter how artsy you may or may not be, and at the very least, you can just have a laugh with some glow in the dark paint. Maybe just wear something you don’t mind ruining!
Where: 159 – 163 Marlborough Road, N19 4NF
Book now: Rembrandt van Wine

Holland & Holland, Middlesex

What: This idyllic shooting lodge is set in the midst of 60 stunning acres of countryside, and yet, it’s just a stone’s throw from the capital - perfect for London-based companies that want to get out of the city for a day. The team can cater for all sorts of different team building exercises - not just shooting but also archery, falconry and even goose herding, which we’re told is the ultimate away day experience.
Where: Ducks Hill Road, Middlesex, HA6 2ST
Book now: Holland & Holland

West London Shooting School, Northolt

What: Another rural retreat that is perfect for London-based workers, West London Shooting School lays on loads of activities - from quad biking and archery to shooting, obviously - and instructors are on hand to help you learn as well as have fun. Packages are super flexible too, from full activity days to two hour shoots.
Where: Sharvel Lane, Northolt, UB5 6RA
Book now: West London Shooting School

London City Beach, South Bank

What: A stone’s throw from Waterloo and the South Bank, London City Beach often hosts large team away days, boasting capacity for up to 1200 guests. Expect all the fun of the British seaside, from fun fair stalls, bars, giant garden games like Jenga, ping pong and table football, as well as a surf board simulator and silent disco! There’s also a huge range of street food options and packages are super-versatile.
Where: Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PU
Book now: London City Beach

Swingers West End, Marylebone

What: Good food, drinks and crazy golf sounds like a recipe for a great corporate away day to us. Swingers offers all three of those, with three bespoke mini golf courses and a range of food and drink that means business, with the likes of Patty&Bun, Breddos Tacos, Pizza Pilgrims and Crosstown Doughnuts providing the munch.
Where: 15 John Prince's Street, Marylebone, W1G 0AB
Book now: Swingers West End

Best team away days UK

The UK is packed full of incredible away day opportunities, so we've picked out a handful of varied experiences worth thinking about.

Hever Castle & Gardens, Kent

What: With over 600 acres of verdant Kentish countryside at your disposal, you’re bound to find something to do in the grounds of Hever Castle, which was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. The venue can organise a huge range of activities for you and your team to enjoy, from quad biking and apache cars to driving giant diggers, or even just a wildlife walk. Hever Castle has accommodation and catering covered as well, so this is a great shout for an overnight trip.
Where: Hever, Edenbridge, TN8 7NG
Book now: Hever Castle & Gardens

Cave Hotel, Kent

What: Cave Hotel is a slick, modern hotel near Faversham in Kent, highly regarded for its in-house restaurants Firepit and Korean Cowgirl. As a result it offers some interesting cooking courses, like a pitmaster experience which would be perfect for a team that fancies learning how to barbecue. The team can also lay on all sorts of other activities, from escape rooms to interactive events and friendly golf tournaments at the nearby course.
Where: Brickfield Lane, Boughton-under-Blean, Faversham, ME13 9AJ
Book now: Cave Hotel

Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Hampshire

What: If you’re learning more towards boozing than goose-chasing, get your team over to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery for a day of tasting and cocktail making. The Distillery hosts daily tours as well as informative tasting masterclasses, and you can book out an area for a little party afterwards. Plus, it’s easy to get to by train from London if you’re based in the capital.
Where: London Road, Hampshire, RG28 7NR
Book now: Bombay Sapphire Distillery

Lainston House, Hampshire

What: Picturesque Lainston House is an away day planner's dream, with 63 acres of countryside to play in and an endless list of activities on offer. If the weather allows, you can get stuck into motorised sports, tank driving, giant football and clay pigeon shooting in the grounds, and indoor activities are just as varied, from murder mystery days to chocolate making classes. Don’t forget the cookery school too, which hosts loads of private cooking classes.
Where: Woodman Lane, Sparsholt, Hampshire, SO21 2LT
Book now: Lainston House

Now Strike Archery, Essex

What: Get to grips with a true British icon - the English longbow - at Now Strike Archery. Now Strike’s instructors are genuine experts with a passion for archery so this is ideal for a team that really wants to get to grips with a new skill. Axe and spear throwing is also popular with corporate away days, and for those true medieval enthusiasts there are also classes on bow-making and forging.
Where: The Essex Barn at Rook Hall Farm, Essex, CM9 4RB
Book now: Now Strike Archery

Leeds Castle, Kent

What: Leeds Castle looks like something off a postcard, and you won’t find many away day locations quite this handsome, both inside and out. The stately castle has its own Go Ape! Course that proves extremely popular for corporate away days, but there are lots of other activities besides, including falconry and segway racing across the massive grounds.
Where: Broomfield, Kent, ME17 1PL
Book now: Leeds Castle

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, Hertfordshire

What: If your team aren’t big Potter heads, they soon will be when you’re picking teams for company fun with the official Hogwarts sorting hat! Warner Bros. Studio was the studio used to film all the Harry Potter movies, and you can hire iconic locations from the films, from the Great Hall to Platform 9¾. There’s even a green screen area where you can recreate scenes from the films, and packages include food and drink too.
Where: Studio Tour Drive, Hertfordshire, WD25 7LR
Book now: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter

If the only team away day you need involves throwing a massive company summer party, look no further than our top tips for the ultimate summer party, and whilst you're there, get a load of the hottest summer party themes for 2023, as well as our pick of the London's best summer party venues.