5 Ideas For A Memorable End-Of-Year Company Outing

As the end of the year approaches, an end-of-year company outing can be a great opportunity to bring colleagues together outside the workplace. 

Whether you are planning a relaxed day out, a festive evening or something a little more adventurous, there are plenty of options for businesses in the South East. Here are five ideas to consider when planning your company’s end-of-year event.

1. Combine Christmas shopping with a festive day out

A Christmas shopping trip can be a straightforward way to give employees some time away from the office while making the most of the festive atmosphere. London is an obvious option, with major shopping areas, department stores, and markets all within easy reach. 

Alternatively, cities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton or Canterbury can provide a different setting for a day of shopping, sightseeing and festive food.

You could build the day around a particular destination, allow plenty of free time for shopping and finish with a group meal before travelling home.

2. Book a West End show

For something more memorable, make an evening of it with a trip to the West End. A theatre outing can work particularly well for mixed groups because there is no need for everyone to participate in a physical activity or competitive event. 

Choose a popular musical, comedy or theatrical production, then arrange a meal before or after the performance.

Travelling as a group can also make the evening easier to organise. Rather than asking everyone to make their own way into central London and arrange their own journey home, everyone can travel together and return to the same departure point afterwards.

3. Plan a festive market trip

Christmas markets have become a popular choice for group outings, offering food, drinks, gifts and seasonal entertainment in one location.

There are plenty of options across the UK, from established markets in London and other major cities to smaller local festive events. A market trip can be particularly flexible because employees can explore independently for part of the day while still travelling together.

For larger groups, it is worth checking opening dates, peak times and any booking requirements well in advance. Popular Christmas events can become extremely busy during December, so early planning can make the day much easier to manage.

4. Organise a team experience

An end-of-year outing does not necessarily have to involve Christmas markets or shopping. An experience-based event can give colleagues the chance to do something completely different from their normal working routine.

Depending on your team, possibilities could include an escape room, cookery experience, sporting activity, brewery or food tour, museum visit or creative workshop. You could also combine an activity with lunch or dinner to create a fuller day.

Above all, choose something that suits the group rather than simply selecting the most unusual option. Consider accessibility, different interests and whether everyone will feel comfortable taking part.

5. Turn it into a full day or evening away

If you want to make your end-of-year event feel like a genuine occasion, consider combining several activities rather than arranging a single destination.

For example, a company could travel into London for lunch, spend the afternoon Christmas shopping or visiting an attraction, enjoy an early dinner and then attend a West End show. Another option could be a visit to a Christmas market followed by a restaurant booking.

For businesses outside London, there are plenty of possibilities closer to home too. A day trip could combine sightseeing, a seasonal attraction and a group meal without requiring colleagues to organise multiple journeys themselves.

Planning group transport for your company outing

Once you have chosen the event, transport is one of the practical details to consider. If employees are travelling from different locations, asking everyone to make their own arrangements can quickly become complicated, particularly for an evening event.

To allow the whole group to travel together, corporate bus hire is a useful option. It can also provide a straightforward way of getting everyone home after an event, particularly when public transport services are reduced or the group is travelling late at night.

For larger companies, it may also be possible to arrange multiple pick-up points or coordinate transport around different office locations.

The key is to start planning early. December is a busy period for venues, restaurants and transport providers, so confirming your date, itinerary and approximate group size as soon as possible gives you more options.