Genuinely fun corporate event ideas in London

Reviewed by Charles Tivey, Events Director at Kindred

Work events don’t have to be boring. We can personally attest to that: we’ve worked closely with companies big and small to pull off corporate events that are memorable and genuinely enjoyable.

Planning an event for your team, clients, or partners, and want it to be fun? From team-building activities to socials, here are some of our favourite ideas for corporate events.
 

Contents

What do your delegates want? UK events trends
Corporate events ideas
Your next corporate event
 

What do your delegates want? UK events trends

Before we dive into our ideas, let’s take a quick look at some trends in UK corporate events. This can help give you an idea of what your guests actually want.

One of those things is connecting with people in person. Demand for IRL events is on the rise: in a 2026 report, Eventbrite noted that 74% of Gen Z respondents think IRL experiences matter more than digital ones. And when it comes to business events, 72% of attendees say that in-person conferences provide the best networking opportunities.

In a similar vein, people are also looking for meaningful experiences. That could be attending an event where they’re encouraged to participate or experience something, rather than sitting through a bunch of lectures. In a survey by Bizzabo, 75% of professional event attendees said that immersive event experiences helped them disconnect and engage more deeply.

There’s also more focus on health and wellbeing, and a shift away from alcohol-based socialising. Per the Financial Times, just 24% of UK employees want alcohol to be served at work events. Meanwhile, 55% said that having non-alcoholic options was “a great way to be inclusive”.

Finally, don’t forget about the food. In the Bizzabo survey we mentioned earlier, just 45% of B2B event attendees said they liked the food and drink on offer at the last event they went to.

Corporate event ideas

So, with the above in mind, what sort of event should you run? The below ideas feed into the trends we’ve just mentioned: they prioritise IRL connection, they’re interactive, inclusive, and encourage participation.

Interactive workshop or class

A really engaging workshop or class goes down an absolute treat. Think cooking classes, storytelling or artistic workshops, terrarium-making, something crafty…the list goes on.

Rather than having your guests sit and listen, it pulls them into an activity. This instantly breaks the ice and makes it much easier for everyone to connect. And it’s fun!

At Kindred, we’ve hosted all kinds of workshops: from ceramics making to cheese tasting, and much more. And let us tell you, these sorts of creative events are usually a hit.

Best for: Company away days, team-building events

Structured networking

Networking is back in vogue (you heard it here first). But most people don’t want to attend some stuffy, awkward event where everyone is only out to sell. They want to go to a relaxed event where they can connect and chat with others in their field.

It might sound counterintuitive, but in our experience, the best way to create a networking event that feels relaxed is to give it some light structure. Just plopping people in a room and expecting them to get on is rarely a recipe for success. It can make your guests feel like they’re on the spot to make conversation (and be interesting), which can be stressful. Plus, friendly small talk can get awkward after a while.

Adding some structure makes it easier to start a conversation. For instance, breaking people into smaller groups, having discussion prompts, or having someone lead the discussion. Formats like speed networking (i.e. 10 minutes per person) can also help.

Best for: Industry, client, or partner events

Pitching competition

Get your team together in small groups and have them work on a creative brief. The key here is that the brief needs to be fun and engaging: your guests shouldn’t feel like they’ve just been pulled into a regular meeting.

You could have them pitch a fictional (and totally left of field) product, like stationery for pets, or ask them to come up with creative ideas around what you currently do. For instance: pitch a new product you could launch, or come up with creative ways to reward your top customers. The aim is to have people working together and get creative juices flowing rather than land on a genuine solution. So, take the pressure off and let your people have fun.

Best for: Company meetings, team-building activities

Games day

Games aren’t just for kids. Whether it’s Monopoly or outdoor games like cornhole, activities work wonders in breaking the ice and putting a smile on people’s faces. Games are a low-pressure, low-stakes way for your guests to connect with each other: there’s no need to worry about what to say next, because everyone is focused on the activity at hand. And we aren’t scientists, but we’re pretty sure that laughing together helps to boost morale.

There are dedicated providers who specialise in certain activities, like Go Ape, who run outdoor ropes and climbing experiences. But you don’t need to go that big if you don’t want to. Indoor activities, like board games or a customised version of Taskmaster, can also be hugely successful.

We’ve run plenty of indoor games during events at Kindred. Get in touch with our team to learn more about what’s possible at Bradmore House.

Best for: Team building

Scavenger hunt

Technically, a scavenger hunt could fall under the above ‘games’ category. But it’s such a distinct and well-loved event idea that we say it deserves its own place on this list.

Here, your guests will follow a series of clues (often having to complete small challenges to get to the next stage) that will eventually lead them to a final prize. It’s an inclusive game that involves teamwork and problem solving.

Again, there’s dedicated providers out there who can design your scavenger hunt for you. But we say: it’s more fun to plan it out yourself. It’s not as complicated as you think!

Best for: Team building

Volunteer for charity

Why not bring your people together by doing good? You could send your team for a day of volunteering with a charity they care about. This could include hands-on activities like gardening or delivering meals to vulnerable people.

Helping other people is good for the soul. Plus, it can help boost morale while getting your people to connect in a different way.

There are some providers that offer corporate charity day packages or facilitate the comms between you and the charity. Or you could always contact the charity directly.

Best for: Team building

Team awards

Celebrate your people with a company-wide awards night. You could have your guests arrive in their gladrags and treat them to a gala dinner, or do something more low-key. What matters here is the personal element: you’re naming and appreciating everyone’s contribution. There’s nothing that’s better for building morale, we say.

One of the trends we pointed out earlier was that people are seeking more meaningful experiences from events they attend. A team awards night ticks that box perfectly.

Best for: Team building, internal conferences, company meetings

Hackathon (or non-tech equivalent)

A hackathon is basically an event where people in tech work together on an engineering project over a short stretch of time. By the end of the event, the aim is usually to have a functioning prototype. It’s meant to be fun and collaborative: a way to challenge yourself and sharpen your skills.

But what about those of us who don’t work in tech? You can use the hackathon model to come up with new ideas, like an idea for a new product, or a solution for a business problem you’re facing.

This is a more in-depth version of a pitching challenge we mentioned above. Except here, the aim is to actually come up with a new solution that your business could use.

There’s an art to making an event like this fun. Encourage creativity and take the pressure off: you want your team to think outside and box and get excited about making something new.

Best for: Team building

Wellness day

From a group yoga class to massages or manicures, why not treat your team to some wellness activities? We’ve hosted events like this at Kindred, where we had multiple stations set up across our building that guests could float between. What worked well was the relaxed atmosphere, leaving guests to engage at their own pace.

You could have wellness activities to break up a longer meeting or lecture-style sessions, or make them the main focus of the day. Plus, what’s great about wellness activities is how inclusive they are: anyone can benefit or take part.

Best for: Team building, boosting morale, breaking up company meetings

Guided tasting event

Tasting a delicious flight of food or drink, while being guided by an expert? Sign us up. Speaking from experience, these sorts of events are really popular (and easy to organise!).

They work best for small and medium-sized companies. Essentially, you hire an expert on whatever it is you want to taste to run the session and provide the goods. That could be wine, rum, cheese, craft soft drinks (yes, this is a thing!), or whatever else. This expert sets up in your venue of choice and leads your guests through the tasting.

It’s a great activity that never fails to put everyone in a good mood. You might decide to wrap up a company meeting with a tasting or have it as a standalone event (we’ve been known to end a team meeting with a wine tasting here at Kindred).

Best for: Team building, breaking up a company meeting

Your next corporate event

Beautifully-designed surroundings, restaurant-quality catering, and a dedicated events manager to ensure your event runs smoothly. That’s what you get when you host a corporate event at Kindred.
We’re a Grade II listed Baroque mansion, located right in the heart of Hammersmith. Whether you’re hosting a 100+ person conference or a team-building event for your startup, we would be delighted to bring your event to life.

Kindred is a private event venue, conference space, corporate events venue, and West London wedding venue. We also have bookable meeting room spaces (one of which, the Butterwick Room, has originally 18th century wall panelling), a private bar on each floor, a stage and full AV capabilities. And when it comes to food, we can provide catering or you can hire out our downstairs kitchen space.

Take a look at our events brochure to read more about our hire packages. Or, get in touch with our team and tell us what you have in mind.