Competitive Socialising

10 Outside-the-Box Work Christmas Party Ideas for London 2024

By Swingers

Coming up short on work Christmas party ideas in London? This list of 10 unique activities for your next office Christmas party has got you covered!

10 Outside-the-Box Work Christmas Party Ideas for London 2024

Struggling to come up with unique work Christmas party ideas? It’s completely understandable – office Christmas parties aren’t always as fun as they look on TV. If you’re having trouble innovating beyond an evening in the local pub, never fear: we’ve put together this list of 10 fantastic work Christmas party ideas to end your year with a bang!

Go disco skating and bowling

A young woman kneels on a blue-and-purple-lit curling court, attempting to curl on the ice.
Credit: Queens

Keen to take everyone for an exciting evening out? You’ll find no shortage of things to do at Queens, which offers light-up ice skating, curling, arcade games, and bowling, all in the bustling heart of Queensway. In addition to abundant activities, Queens also boasts an extensive food and drinks menu from MEATliquor to cater to your team’s tastes. Check out the green chilli cheese burger with pickled jalapeños – it’s sure to keep you warm on a cold winter’s night (especially if you’re there on Tequila Tuesday)! And if all else fails, you can snap some trippy Instagram photos under those neon lights.

Enjoy a few rounds of crazy golf with Swingers

Two men and two women laugh with one another on the crazy golf course, as one of the women putts her ball.
Swingers

Swingers’ enchanting take on crazy golf makes it the ideal venue for a work Christmas party. Here you’ll not only find fabulous 1920s aesthetics, but also custom cocktails and some of the best street food in London! Start the night off right by crushing your colleagues in crazy golf (or, you know, letting them win for morale), then sample five-star food like chestnut mushroom pizza and sweet potato tacos. Finish off the night with a round of Negronis or “Copper Dogs” with whisky, apple, and just a hint of absinthe. Interested parties can book a Christmas package at Swingers today! Just make sure to book your tee time in advance – and for teams larger than 20 people, check out our unique event spaces available for private hire.

Try a Christmas scavenger hunt

white gnome with christmas ball ball

Credit: Susanne Jutzeler

Another fun twist on the typical office Christmas party could be a Christmas scavenger hunt! London has plenty of ready-made offerings in this vein, such as the “Xmas Adventure London” from myCityHunt (though you can always create your own hunt if you prefer). And with cryptic clues for your team to solve, a scavenger hunt is not only fun and festive, but also an excellent opportunity for team building! To really up the ante, consider combining people who don’t often work together to break the ice and foster new office friendships. Just make sure people don’t have too much mulled wine to finish the hunt!

Have a festive booze cruise on the Thames

A view of the River Thames at night, lights reflecting off the water and St. Paul’s visible in the distance.
Credit: Pexels

Celebrate the holiday season in style by taking a Christmas party cruise on the Thames. The entire office gets to relax and enjoy the glittering scenery of the river, plus you have the option of a festive feast onboard! After dinner, eggnog and peppermint schnapps, take to the deck and dance the night away to the latest hits and beloved throwbacks. The resident DJ also takes requests, so you can get some office favourites in there, or just stick to Christmas  classics. As far as London Christmas parties go, dancing on-deck as you sail past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks is a luxurious winner indeed!

Attend a lush, immersive Barbican holiday party

The interior of the Barbican, a space covered in tropical plants and trees.
Credit: Barbican

Speaking of luxury, the Barbican also hosts office Christmas parties in their dazzling conservatory space. This private tropical garden makes for a truly magical backdrop to any Christmas party, and the expansive venue can cater to groups of 150-650 people. The Barbican offers two standard holiday packages, “Festive Fun” and “Christmas Wrapped Up”, both of which include food, drinks, theme lighting and six hours of conservatory/garden access – as well as a DJ and dancing at the end of the night! The Barbican can even tailor parties to your team’s specific needs; curious party planners may inquire separately.

Fall under the spell of a Christmas cabaret show

Cabaret performers in 1920s flapper dresses and feathered headpieces pose onstage.
Credit: London Cabaret Club

For an immersive Christmas party your colleagues won’t soon forget, check out the annual holiday show at London Cabaret Club. Their 2024 performance of The Great Gatsby will sweep you back in time to the sparkling Jazz Age, where you’ve been invited to the most extravagant party in town. As you watch this classic tale of love, loss and the American Dream, you’ll be served elegant food and cocktails that will make you feel like Daisy Buchanan herself! The unique mix of fine dining and live entertainment is perfect for small teams who want a glamorous holiday party – but make sure to book early, because tickets go fast.

Delight in a delicious cake-decorating class

A woman carefully spreads white icing atop a small round cake.
Credit: Cutter & Squidge

Or if you’re seeking a more lowkey but still upscale Christmas party, family-run Soho bakery Cutter & Squidge offers cake-decorating classes that are ideal for smaller groups. Sisters Annabel and Emily have curated a lovely atmosphere in which to learn the art of cake decoration… and as an added bonus, everyone will leave with brand-new confectionary skills! This masterclass experience consists of decorating a six-inch cake using the bakery’s all-natural ingredients, sipping complimentary mimosas all the while. Each class lasts two hours, after which time you can take your marvellous creations home – or back to the office for coffee and dessert!

Sing your heart out at Christmas karaoke brunch

Three people sing and dance in a blue-lit karaoke room, the man in the middle leaning back to belt into the microphone.
Credit: Lucky Voice

There’s nothing like an all-out karaoke sesh to blow off some steam. The only way to improve this scenario would be adding brunch to the mix – which you can do at Lucky Voice during their Christmas karaoke brunch! These events include brunch, bottomless prosecco, rum punch and a private karaoke booth for you and your colleagues. With over 11,000 songs in the catalogue, you certainly won’t be left wanting for choice! And if brunch isn’t your thing, go with the Lucky Voice cocktail masterclass instead – or just skip straight to the karaoke. No matter your exact approach, you’re sure to leave this work Christmas party on a high note (pun fully intended).

Devour a Dickensian holiday banquet

A man dressed as Charles Dickens sits at an old-fashioned desk, an audience faintly visible behind him.
Credit: The Great Christmas Feast

Looking for a quaint Christmas party with literary vibes? Look no further than the Great Christmas Feast: an exclusive “secret” Victorian banquet themed around Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. As you listen to a dramatic reading of this holiday classic, you and your team will indulge in a sumptuous three-course meal. This consists of a street food-style starter, a rich Christmassy main, and a booze-soaked dessert, all accessorised with stunningly themed cocktails. Needless to say, it’s just the ticket for a holiday work celebration – but speaking of tickets, they usually go quickly, so book now to get in on this seasonal treat.

Get moving with the Great Christmas Pudding Race

A group of ten women, dressed in Santa costumes and green elf costumes, pose for a photo after the Great Christmas Pudding Race.
Credit: The Great Christmas Pudding Race

If you’ve been pondering the perfect Christmas party for an athletic, fun-loving team, the Great Christmas Pudding Race is your answer! Don your most festive outfits and prepare to take on this eccentric race, which involves tackling inflatable obstacles and balancing Christmas puddings on a tray. You’ll compete in teams of four, so the event is great for a little friendly competition – not to mention it helps raise money for Cancer Research UK! So even if you’re not much of an athlete, you can still feel good about the cause… and look forward to the fancy dress contest they host on the sidelines.

Here’s to an unforgettable work Christmas party – and a very happy new year!

Swingers ~ The crazy golf club

We believe that life is more fun when there is an element of competition, and that competition is best enjoyed with friends.

Swingers, the crazy golf club takes the holy trinity that is crazy golf, street food and amazing cocktails and combines them all into one incredible social experience