Christmas party ideas for work: axe throwing, laser tag and more

Good Christmas party ideas for work get everyone doing something together before the food and drinks, and axe throwing, laser tag, white water rafting, canyoning and paintball are all bookable for groups this winter. Below is what each one involves and how many people it takes, so you can pick something that suits the whole team.

Quick picks

• Axe throwing near Bristol, for up to 24 people
• Woodland laser tag at Alice Holt, for up to 20 players
• White water rafting in Cardiff Bay, up to six to a raft
• Canyoning in the Neath Valley with RIPNROCK, for 3 to 32 people

Axe throwing and sword fighting near Bristol

UK Active Outdoors is based at Avon Valley Farm between Bath and Bristol, and its Axe Throwing session is 90 minutes of marshal-led throwing, games and trick shots for groups of up to 24. For more variety, Ultimate Throwing Sports adds knives, nails and throwing cards, and Battle Royale - Sword Combat kits out groups of 2 to 14 in body armour and full-face masks for battles with foam swords. If it rains there's a sheltered throwing range, subject to availability.

Photo: UK Active Outdoors

Bigger teams can request Battle Archery, a mix of archery and paintball played with foam-tipped arrows, which needs at least six people.

Laser tag in the woods or an indoor arena

The Outdoor Ed School runs woodland laser tag at Alice Holt, Wendover Woods and Parley, with 90 minutes of team missions such as Capture the Flag and Team Death Match. The guns fire infrared light, so there's no sting like there is with paintball. Each session needs at least six players, and Alice Holt takes up to 20.

In Cornwall, Cornwall Laser Tag has a neon-lit indoor arena at the Atlantic Reach Resort in Newquay, a useful choice if the weather turns. One-hour sessions take groups of 6 to 16, with games such as Capture the Flag, Seek and Destroy and the venue's Cornwall Laser Tag Zombies.

White water rafting in Cardiff Bay

Cardiff International White Water caters for corporate events, and the white water on its course in Cardiff Bay is generated by pumps, which makes it easier to plan than a river trip. Each raft holds up to six people and a session lasts two hours, including kitting up and a safety briefing. Everyone needs to be confident in and around water, and larger groups may be split across rafts. Wetsuits, boots, helmets and buoyancy aids are included.

For a team that would rather stay on the gentler side, the indoor wave runs body and knee boarding sessions for up to 10 people, so everyone can take turns.

Canyoning and gorge walking near Swansea

RIPNROCK, based in Bishopston near Swansea, takes groups canyoning down the River Mellte in the Neath Valley, an area nicknamed waterfall country, with jumps and bumpy white water slides along the way. Sessions take 3 to 32 people, and everyone needs a moderate level of fitness and to be able to swim 15 metres with a buoyancy aid. Gorge walking is the gentler option, with a riverside path for most of the way, and the team recommends a thin fleece under your wetsuit from November to April.

Photo: RIPNROCK

RIPNROCK also runs half-day rock climbing for groups of 4 to 12.

Paintball, mud and gorges in Porthcawl

Adventures Wales in Porthcawl is set up for groups. Paintball runs in a purpose-built arena for 6 to 20 players, and the Muddy Assault course for large groups has over 20 obstacles, including monkey bars, vertical walls and a tyre maze, for 6 to 35 people. Gorge scrambling for groups takes up to 40 people to a river gorge on the edge of the Brecon Beacons for waterfall jumps and caves.

Photo: Adventures Wales

Full-day white water rafting runs when river levels allow, and if they aren't suitable on the day, the session switches to gorge scrambling.

Something festive: donutting in Aldershot

For a team that would rather laugh than compete, donutting at Alpine Snowsports Aldershot means sliding down the dry slope in an inflatable ring, forwards, backwards or spinning. No experience is needed, a session takes up to 30 people, and everyone needs gloves that cover their hands and fingers.

How to plan a work Christmas party activity

• Count heads early. Several activities have a minimum group size: six for paintball and woodland laser tag, and three for canyoning and gorge walking with RIPNROCK.
• Check water confidence. Water activities ask for a basic level of confidence in water.
• Plan for anyone who'd rather watch. Sword combat at UK Active Outdoors welcomes spectators, so nobody has to sit the party out.
• Book the activity before the meal and drinks. Providers such as Adventures Wales ask that nobody takes part under the influence of alcohol.
• Dress for December. Bring warm layers, a change of clothes and a towel, and remember it gets dark early.

Planning something for later in the year? Our guide to 7 brilliant team building activities has ideas that work in any season.

Christmas party ideas for work: FAQ

What are good Christmas party activities for work?

Active options such as axe throwing, laser tag, white water rafting, canyoning and paintball work well because everyone takes part together. Pick one that suits your team's fitness, then head off for food afterwards.

How many people do you need for a team activity?

It depends on the activity. Paintball at Adventures Wales and woodland laser tag need at least six players, Cornwall Laser Tag takes groups of 6 to 16, and axe throwing near Bristol takes up to 24 in one session.

Related reading: 5 outdoor stag and hen do ideas near London, Where to go donutting in the UK and Can you go white water rafting in winter?

Find your team's next adventure on eola

Axe throwing and laser tag are just the start. The eola marketplace has hundreds of activities run by local providers across the UK, from paintball and canyoning to dry slope skiing, with live session times and online booking for the whole team. Explore the eola marketplace and get your Christmas party in the diary.

Want to see your activities on the eola marketplace?

eola is the booking system built for activity and experience providers, with online bookings, payments and scheduling in one place and a listing on the eola marketplace to reach new customers. Get in touch to see how it could work for your business.