Guide to the best team building activities in London

Bowling is a classic team building activity that's suitable for all team sizes, ages, or skill levels. Many of London's bowling alleys offer special corporate packages for that very purpose, ensuring the fun evening doesn't come at too high a cost. Throw in some food and drinks and you've got a casual and entertaining event for the whole office in the bag.

Though it might hit too close to home for certain types of business, Monopoly Lifesized is a unique activity that makes for a fun team building event. The classic board game has been blown up, turning the players themselves into game pieces moving around a life-sized board and completing challenges to earn as much cash as possible. Entertaining, exciting, and with just the right competitive edge, Monopoly Lifesized also offers bespoke corporate packages.

Go on an exhilarating team quest inspired by the iconic 90s game show at The Crystal Maze Live Experience. You'll have to navigate through different zones, tackle intriguing puzzles, and overcome various challenges as your group makes its way to the climactic crystal dome. It's a top choice for friendship groups and team outings alike. Bespoke corporate hire packages are available.

Another classic team building standby, mini golf has been entertaining groups of co-workers since its very beginnings, it seems. Get the whole team together and hit the links for some silly fun. True, you might have to put up with Alan from Acquisitions crowing about his hole-in-one at every office party in the foreseeable future but, in general, mini golf is an entertaining activity that the whole team can enjoy, regardless of skill level.

The Oche group has brought its unique gastro gaming concept to London, offering an engaging dart-playing experience alongside a diverse menu of international sharing plates and all sorts of drinks. Their high-tech boards offer different darts games, suitable even for beginners, and you can book as many booths as you need for your office. They also host other bespoke team activities, such as wine tastings.

This sleek restaurant and bar captures the vibe of a Japanese club with a soulful twist—private karaoke rooms for teams of any size. Sip on cocktails crafted from the finest liqueurs, juices, and fruits, which can be ordered straight to your private state-of-the-art karaoke room. It's perfect for a work outing and big groups. You can also drop by for drinks at Hidden Bar post-sing-song, which combines the ambience of a traditional cocktail bar with the trendiness of a Tokyo-inspired boutique nightclub.

Escape rooms have really taken off in the capital, offering all sorts of themes and challenges to budding code-crackers and riddle-solvers. A big part of their success is their appeal to corporate clients, as they make for an excellent team building activity. The trapped colleagues have to work together and tackle the various riddles from different perspectives, improving their collaboration and communication skills. Find the right escape room for your office with the help of our guide to the best escape rooms in London.

Colleagues have been going head-to-head on the go-kart track since time immemorial, working out office grudges through the hazy fumes of petrol and sound of screeching tyres. The various karting tracks around the capital offer group packages that are well-suited to team building events, and you can even organise your own tournament to crown the office king or queen.

Though it's been around for a while now, virtual reality still has a way of intriguing even the most tech-averse crowds. Take your team into fascinating new worlds at one of the VR experiences around London, with groups strapping on goggles and working together to complete multiplayer games in a world all of their own. Most of the VR activities in our guide offer group packages.

Embark on a thrilling quest with Lara Croft at The Tomb Raider Live Experience. Begin your escapade in Finland, venture through the Costa Rican wilderness, and make your way to the final showdown. The experience welcomes groups of every size, including team building events, and can provide meals, drinks packages, commemorative gifts, photographs, and even presentation facilities if you're looking to combine business with pleasure.

Whether you serenade with a heavenly voice or hit notes that only dogs and cats can appreciate, karaoke in London promises a memorable time. Gathering the team, booking a private booth, and having everyone sing their heart out along to their favourite tunes is the ultimate team icebreaker, helping get rid of any awkwardness between colleagues and creating a fun shared memory.

Phantom Peak offers a blend of immersive theatre, escape rooms, and dining in an Old West-style setting. Guests can explore a myriad of spaces, meet characters, solve puzzles, and indulge in various dining options, all while being protected from unpredictable London weather. Suitable for all ages and group sizes, this four-hour experience near Canada Water makes for a great team activity.

Art Social Club helps adults nurture their creative side through relaxed painting workshops. The club offers team building events in its studio or in your office space, taking care to protect all surfaces in the latter case so there's no need to fear any damage. Different packages and themes are available, and you can also agree on a bespoke workshop. Whether in the studio or your office, you can also bring food and drinks along.

Suitable for beginners and pros alike, Active 360 offers a variety of SUP experiences for team building, including guided tours, races, team games, canal clean-up sessions, and more. You can rent all the equipment at one of their locations, and they'll provide all the necessary training so everyone is up to speed before you set off. Team size is no limit either, as they've organised events for more than 200 participants in the past.

Competition and collaboration collide in this fun team building activity, held in the cosy, familiar pub setting that's sure to take the edge off after a hard day's work. Whether your company fields one team or more, co-workers will have to pool their brainpower to find the correct answers and beat the other contestants. Also, it's always good to have a solid excuse to head to the pub.

Experience bingo like never before at Hijingo, drawing inspiration from Tokyo's vibrant bingo bars. Dive into a game enriched with dynamic lighting, sound effects, and live entertainment, all while vying for fab rewards like European getaways. The venue offers group packages for team building events, including an assortment of food and drinks.

Featuring a herd of cow-patterned canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, Moo Canoes organise fun days out on the canal, providing all the required equipment and training. Corporate clients are their speciality, as they organise various group events and team building activities – you can even spice up a face-to-face board meeting by holding it on paddleboards.

If you're looking to take your business on the water, Boat Party London is the one-stop-shop for boat rental you need. Their fleet spans a range of vessels that can accommodate all group sizes, whether it's a department outing or a company-wide gathering. The boats feature all the essentials for a cruise party – sound systems, lighting, seating, and of course, a boat bar.

The Go Ape adventure parks offer a range of exciting activities for team buildings and other corporate events, specifically designed to help colleagues develop communication, trust, and teamwork. Whether it's tackling high ropes and ziplines or competing in a series of mental and physical challenges, your team is sure to have an unforgettable time. Food, drink, and meeting spaces are provided as well.

The Thames RIB Experience boasts the fastest speedboats in all of London, taking passengers on an exhilarating cruise down the Thames. Corporate clients can choose from a range of different team building packages, from quick sightseeing trips to a Bond-themed experience with music and quizzes. The RIB speedboats can accommodate 12 passengers each and the company has multiple vessels, so there shouldn't be any problem getting everyone on board.

The iFly facility provides an expert indoor skydiving adventure fit for all ages and skill levels. Thanks to their cutting-edge wind tunnel technology, they can simulate speeds reaching 150mph and offer the thrill of freefall without having to jump from an aircraft. They offer different group packages for corporate events, including exclusive flight sessions for up to 13 people.

Bunker 51 is designed to resemble a subterranean nuclear shelter and offers an array of thrilling group activities such as paintball, laser tag, and airsoft, as well as escape rooms and zombie encounters. Their immersive team building experiences will bring colleagues together as they use teamwork and on-the-fly strategising to fend off the undead, then recharge at the buffet.

F1 Arcade is a high-tech social gaming venue that seats visitors in their own full-motion racing simulators and sends them off on famous Formula 1 circuits around the world. Their corporate packages include the option to book a private room with its own simulators and bar, as well as different food and drink offers.