Team building days out: 7 smart ideas your team will love
Team building days out are more than just a day away from the office. They’re your secret weapon for trust, creativity, accountability and collaboration. If you’re organising this for the first time and under pressure to get it right, read on – I’ve got you.
Benefits of team building days out
Most first‑time organisers worry: is this worth doing? Yes. A lot hinges on workplace culture and culture matters. For example, according to Quantum Workplace, among highly engaged employees, 54% report a positive change in their company’s culture. (Source)
If your team’s morale is shaky, a well‑run day out gets people talking, laughing and working together again. Done right, it can reduce staff churn, increase productivity and even uncover hidden talent.
Plus, it’s your chance to sweat the small stuff so they don’t sweat YOU: planning a thoughtful day shows you care.
How to organise your first team building days out
What is a team building days out event?
It’s a full or half‑day programme of activities outside the normal office buzz. Think more interactive experience than awkward trust falls. As a team building company, Zing Events delivers experiences that build trust, spark creativity, sharpen accountability and boost collaboration – hosted by charismatic pros who turn team time into memories.
How to plan the ideal team building days out in under 30 minutes
- Set your goal – bond? energise? integrate remote staff?
- Ask your team via a simple poll. Let them choose between indoor, outdoor or evening options.
- Pick the right format based on time, weather and group size.
- Use experienced experts like Zing Events, who run indoor, outdoor and evening experiences across London, the UK and globally.
- Build your itinerary with room to breathe – see below.
Sample itinerary for a successful team building day out
Most companies combine business with bonding. Here’s how a typical team building day out might look when structured for impact and engagement — without overloading your team.
| Time | Agenda | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30–10:00 | Arrival and welcome refreshments | Set the tone, casual catch‑ups |
| 10:00–11:15 | Company update or strategy session | Align on goals, share wins and plans |
| 11:15–11:45 | Morning break | Coffee, networking, recharging |
| 11:45–12:45 | Workshop or business session | Deeper dive into priorities or training |
| 12:45–13:45 | Lunch (on-site or local) | Refuel, socialise, reset |
| 13:45–16:00 | Team building activity (e.g. Escape the Box, GPS Adventurer, Charity Challenge) | Engage, connect, have fun |
| 16:00–16:30 | Wrap-up by senior leader | Reflect on the day, thank the team |
7 ideas for team building days out that actually work
1. Indoor team building activities to get everyone involved
- Escape the Box – a mobile escape room filled with puzzles, logic games and challenges. Perfect for team problem‑solving without leaving the venue.
- Animate or The Apprentice – storytelling, marketing and creative roleplay all wrapped in timed team challenges.
- Deceivers Game Show – inspired by The Traitors; encourages bluffing, deduction and trust building.
2. Outdoor team building activities for fresh air and fresh thinking
- GPS Adventurer – a high-tech treasure hunt where teams navigate real locations via GPS, tackling tasks en route.
- The Sphere (Outdoors) – our take on The Crystal Maze: teams compete in different zones to win time inside the Sphere.
- Race Around the World – travel-themed adventure challenge testing logic, creativity and teamwork in an outdoor setting.
3. Charity team building days out with purpose
- Putt a Hole in Hunger – build a golf course using food items that are donated to food banks. Fun meets CSR.
- Food Chain – an energising relay event that simulates the journey of food aid, perfect for values‑driven teams.
- Charity Challenge – tailored missions with meaningful impact, designed to support real‑world causes and community projects.
4. Evening team building activities to round off the day
- The Zing Show, No Ordinary Quiz, Musical Bingo, Pub Games – high-energy fun without PowerPoint or pressure.
- Murder Mystery – put your team’s deduction skills to the test.
- Generation Game – a throwback to the old-school TV format with hilarious challenges.
5. Fast-paced fun for competitive teams
- Soap Box Derby – build and race your own hand-crafted cars in the ultimate design‑meets‑speed showdown.
- Back to School Sports Day – think egg and spoon, sack race and all your playground favourites.
- Sphere (Outdoors) again shines here as a cross-functional competition.
6. Virtual team building options
- Jungle Survival – a virtual adventure where teams solve survival puzzles in an online jungle scenario.
- Around the World – explore global cultures and compete in international-themed challenges from your laptop.
- Team Connected – a remote-first experience focused on emotional intelligence, communication and bonding in virtual teams. – a high-pressure market simulation to test decision making and communication.
7. Mix-and-match for full flexibility
Not sure whether to go indoor, outdoor or hybrid? You don’t have to choose.
Combine Animate in the morning, a GPS Adventurer in the afternoon, and round it all off with Musical Bingo in the evening. Add catering, awards and a branded backdrop – now you’ve got an away day to remember.
Why choose Zing Events as your team building company
You’re not just picking activities, you’re picking peace of mind. Thats what happens when you use a team building company.
Zing Events has been running expert-led, professional and hilariously fun team building days out for over a decade. With 600+ five-star reviews, we’re the go-to team building company for FTSE 500 businesses and local teams alike.
We specialise in team building activities London teams actually want to do – but we also deliver across the UK and globally. Our events build connection, engagement, trust and performance. And they’re run by pros who know how to read a room.
Reviews for Zing Events
Don’t just take our word for it, see what other teams say!
Check out our five-star reviews on Reviews.io and Google Reviews.
Zing Events is trusted by FTSE 500 companies and loved by teams across the UK for our creativity, reliability and ability to turn ‘meh’ into ‘magic’.
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FAQ
Q1: What are team building days out?
Team building days out are structured offsite activities where teams complete tasks to bond, solve, laugh and grow together. These include indoor, outdoor and evening experiences.
Q2: How far in advance should I plan a team building days out?
Ideally at least 4–6 weeks. That gives time to poll preferences, book hosts and accommodate any special needs. Zing Events can quote in under two hours.
Q3: How do I run a team building days out in summer?
Go for outdoor options like GPS Adventurer or Back to School Sports Day. Include shaded breaks and hydration. Zing Events adapts to weather and group size.
Q4: Is it worth doing indoor and outdoor on the same day?
Absolutely. Mixing Escape the Box or Animate with outdoor fun keeps energy levels balanced and offers something for everyone.
Q5: Can remote teams join team building days out?
Yes – Zing provides virtual options like Escape the Box, Deceivers Game Show and Trading Floor so everyone can participate no matter where they log in.
Q6: How does a charity event fit into team building days out?
Charity events like Putt a Hole in Hunger and Food Chain combine fun with purpose, boosting morale and social impact in one day out.
Q7: What’s a good group size?
Zing delivers scalable events from small teams to 500+. We split groups into pods to keep everything inclusive and active.
