Team building days out have become a staple of modern company culture and there are so many activities to help your team bond. However, this comes at a price. So, on average, how much does team building cost in the UK? Let’s break it down.
How Much Do Team Building Activities Cost Per Person?
On average, a team building activity in the UK costs £60-£80 per person. This figure includes the activity, any basic equipment or tuition provided. Sometimes this includes a venue or the activity can take place at your workplace.
Of course, you can find cheaper or more premium activities to suit your team. More affordable ideas include quiz nights, bubble football and paintballing from around £20 to £30 per person. With a high team building budget, you could be looking at luxury retreats, private dining or bespoke experiences that could cost more than £150 per person.
How Much Do Companies Spend on Team Building?
Small Companies: A small business with up to 10 employees will spend an average of £500 to £1,000 on a single day or event, aiming for something creative but offering value for money like a pottery class, cooking class or local scavenger hunt.
Medium-sized Companies: On average, companies with around 50 staff spend between £3,000 and £6,000, especially if they’re including food, drinks, travel and a more expensive activity or multiple activities like a high ropes course, interactive gameshow or a team challenge day at a countryside venue.
Large Companies: Big businesses with hundreds or even thousands of employees may set aside anywhere from £10,000 to £50,000 or more, depending on how many people are attending and how elaborate the team building experience is. This could include private venues, top-tier catering, overnight stays and a jam-packed itinerary of premium activities including food and drinks.
Breakdown of Team Building Costs by Region
Location can have a huge impact on cost when it comes to team building day outs, affecting the price of activities, venue hire, travel, food and drink depending on where in the UK you are.
The Most Expensive City for Team Building in the UK
It’ll come as no surprise that London tops the list as the most expensive city for team building activities in the UK. With higher venue hire, catering and travel costs, companies based in or visiting England’s capital often spend considerably more than those in other regions.
The average cost for a team building activity in London is around £90 to £120 per person, with premium experiences like private cocktail masterclasses, immersive experiences, theatre or Thames boat trips and parties reaching well over £150 per head. Venue hire alone in central London can cost £500 to £2,000 for a half-day corporate booking, depending on the space and services included.
The second most expensive city for team building is Brighton on the South Coast where team building costs between £70-£100 per person on average.
Despite the high prices, London-based companies are among the most generous when it comes to team building budgets. Many large businesses in the city host quarterly or biannual events, with annual spends reaching into the tens of thousands.
Mid-Range Options: Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds
Cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds offer a great middle ground for team activities with a huge range of team building activities without the hefty London price tag.
In Manchester, you’ll pay from £60 to £80 per person for popular activities like escape rooms, cocktail classes or arts and crafts workshops. Birmingham offers similar pricing, while Leeds is known for its decent mix of indoor and outdoor experiences, ranging from £50 to £80 per person.
These cities also have the advantage of competitive venue hire rates and well-connected transport links, making it easier and more affordable to plan a half or full day event. Local catering options are usually better value too, with group lunch and dinner prices starting from just £10 to £15 per head.
Scotland Has the Most Generous Bosses
Scottish employers are known to be very generous when it comes to team building. Many businesses invest in full weekend retreats and multiple activities rather than just one. Here, team building costs range from £100 to £300 per employee, including activities, meals and accommodation. The focus is often on relaxation, wellness and outdoor adventure, such as hikes, canoeing and whisky tasting.
The UK’s Best Value Locations for Team Building
The most affordable team building activities can be found in Newcastle, with employers paying between £20 and £50 per person. What a bargain!
If you’re looking for a great team day on a modest budget, Wales and the South West of England offer excellent value for money. In Cardiff, Bristol and the surrounding areas, you’ll find activities priced between £40 and £70 per person, often including lunch or drinks. Overnight retreats in Pembrokeshire or Dartmoor can come in at just £150 per person including accommodation, which is great value compared to team building in Brighton, London and other southern cities.
Wales, in particular, has carved out a niche in adrenaline and nature-based team building. The activities in Snowdonia are famously exciting, growing in popularity and still budget-friendly.
Affordable Team Bonding in Northern Ireland
Don’t overlook Northern Ireland. It’s not only a great place to visit but also has some of the most affordable team building experiences in the UK. There’s so much to do in Belfast at a relatively competitive price, on average around £45 to £65 per person. The nearby countryside is perfect for outdoor challenges and team adventure days, often including transport and meals for under £100 per head.
Because of this, Northern Irish employers often plan multi-day events with generous perks such as private transport, slap up meals and live entertainment, without blowing the budget.
Where Bosses Spend the Most on Team Building
Data shows that London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Brighton and Manchester have the highest average corporate spend on team building, especially among finance, tech and legal firms. In these cities, it’s not uncommon for businesses to allocate upwards of £500 to £1,000 per person annually across multiple events.
Where You’ll Find the Most Cost-Conscious Planners
In contrast, Southampton, Sheffield, and Cardiff tend to be more cost-conscious, favouring locally run activities and DIY-style events to keep things personal and budget-friendly. Small and medium-sized enterprises in these cities are usually happy spending more time than money to get great results so put a lot of thought into their team building events.
What Are the Most Popular Team Building Activities in the UK?
Across the UK, some clear team building favourites have emerged. Scavenger hunts and escape rooms are really popular. They’re fun, budget friendly, and get everyone working together to solve problems in a short amount of time. It’s a great way to help your team to let their hair down and bond over a shared goal.
Outdoor adventure days are also a strong choice. Activities like orienteering, raft building, axe throwing, go karting and obstacle courses are popular, especially when run at dedicated centres. These usually come in around £50 to £90 per person and offer a full-on day of fresh air and teamwork.
Cooking classes are another crowd pleaser. Depending on where you go and what’s included, prices can range from £60 to £120. Some sessions include drinks and a full meal, which is a nice bonus and can help cover lunch or dinner for the day.
If you’re looking for something a bit different, there’s growing interest in quirky options like combat archery tag, immersive experiences and silent discos.
Cocktail making is still a go-to for many teams, but there’s a rising trend in more inclusive versions like mocktail masterclasses, which give everyone a chance to join in, whether they drink alcohol or not. Either way, you’ll whip up something delicious.
If you’re after something more chilled out, wellness activities continue to gain momentum, such as group yoga session, spa days or mindfulness days out in nature. Prices start around £60 for a half day and can go over £200 for full retreats with meals and extras included.
Travel and Other Extra Costs for Company Team Building Days
When budgeting for a team building day, you’ll need consider a range of extras as well as the activities. Travel can be a big cost, especially for companies with employees located all over the country. If you’re booking train tickets or a coach, expect to pay anywhere from £10 to £50 per person, depending on the distance. For overnight trips that require hotel stays, mid-range accommodation typically costs between £70 and £120 per person, per night.
You’ll also to think about food and drink. Some activities include light refreshments but many don’t. A simple lunch buffet might cost £10 to £20 per person while a more filling, sit down meal at a restaurant could be upwards of £30 or more. Alcoholic drinks, if included, can quickly ramp up costs too. A bar tab of £500 or more isn’t unusual for medium to large teams.
You might also want to include branded merchandise, T-shirts, goodie bags or photo booths for your team to enjoy. These extras might seem small but they add up. You can expect spend an additional £5 to £20 per person on these kind of things.
The Cost of Virtual Team Building for Remote Teams
As remote and hybrid working has become more common across the UK, virtual team building has gained popularity. Of course, nothing quite replaces in person meet ups, but online activities can still be a fun, effective and budget-friendly way to keep employees connected and feeling like part of the team wherever they’re working.
One of the biggest perks of virtual team building is the cost. Without the need for venue hire, travel or food and drink, companies can save money and still enjoy fun team building experiences. On average, businesses spend between £15 and £50 per person on a virtual team building activity.
While virtual events are generally more affordable, you’ll still need to consider extras such as gift boxes, snacks or anything else you want to send out to enhance the experience. These can range from £10 to £25 per person, depending on what’s included. Some companies send branded mugs, notebooks or other small branded items to include a personal touch.
How Much Do Team Building Events Cost?
In conclusion, the average cost of team building activities in the UK are between £60-£80 per person, with total spends ranging from a few hundred pounds for small companies to tens of thousands for bigger ones. The most popular activities include escape rooms, outdoor challenges, cooking classes, cocktail making and wellness experiences. Further costs to think about include staff travel, food, drink and extras like branded gear, which can add money to your final bill.Of course, we know that team building is worth every penny.
The return on investment comes in smiles, bonding, stronger teams, improved retention and a company culture that people actually want to be part of. And that’s money well spent. Check out our range of fun team building activities now.
