Away Day And Conference Games: 18 For A Full Day Off Site

An away day is a long time to hold a room. The pattern that works is the same every time: a proper opener, real work in the morning, an energiser after lunch, and something with a bit of competition at the end.

These are picked for groups of twenty to two hundred, where nobody knows everybody.

Openers for a room of near-strangers

• Table introductions with one fixed question, three minutes, no going round the whole room.
• Human bingo across the whole room - a grid of facts, find a person for each, ten minutes.
• Stand up if: you've been here under a year, over ten years, you've changed department, you work weekends. Instant picture of the room.
• Map on the wall - everyone puts a pin where they grew up and where they work now.

The post-lunch energiser

• The tallest tower - paper and tape per table, eight minutes, judged by height.
• Table quiz, five quick questions, one round only.
• Paper aeroplane distance contest down the middle of the room.
• Rock paper scissors knockout - losers become the winner's cheering section. Two hundred people in four minutes and the noise is extraordinary.
• Stand up, find someone from another team, sixty seconds each on what you're working on.

Bigger games for the afternoon

• The escape room challenge in teams, hired kits or a set of printed puzzles.
• Scavenger hunt round the venue or the local area with photo proof.
• A build challenge with a charity ending - bikes, boxes or care packages that get donated.
• Dragon's Den style pitching: teams get twenty minutes and pitch an idea in two.
• Cook-off or bake-off if the venue allows it.

A running order that works

• 09:30 arrival and coffee, 10:00 opener (15 min), 10:15 the actual content.
• 12:30 lunch, 13:30 energiser (10 min) - never go straight back into content after lunch.
• 13:40 afternoon session, 15:00 team challenge, 16:15 wrap-up and thanks.
• Finish when you said you'd finish. Nothing sours an away day like overrunning into people's commute.

Shop thank you and leaving cards

How to write it so it lands

• Never schedule content straight after lunch.
• Every game needs a named person running it and a visible timer.
• Finish at the time on the agenda.

Where to shop next

• Work team building games
• Icebreaker games for a new team
• Remote and virtual team games
• Games for a leaving do or retirement party
• Games for a work BBQ or family fun day
• Two-minute games to start a meeting
• Work quiz rounds (non-Christmas)
• Training day games adults won't hate
• Office games HR won't object to
• Office Christmas party games
• Board games hub
• Quiz questions and rounds
• Free feel good tools
• Shop leaving and thank you cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What games work for a work away day?

Human bingo or table introductions to open, a paper tower or rock paper scissors knockout after lunch, and a team challenge like a scavenger hunt, escape room or pitching exercise in the afternoon.

What's a good energiser after lunch at a conference?

Rock paper scissors knockout - everyone plays, losers join the winner's cheering section, and a room of two hundred is down to one champion in about four minutes. It's loud, quick and needs nothing.

How do you plan an away day agenda?

Opener at 10, content until lunch, a ten-minute energiser at 1:30 before any afternoon session, a team challenge mid-afternoon and a hard finish. Never put content directly after lunch.

How do you include people who don't want to take part?

Build in roles that aren't performing - timekeeper, judge, scorer, photographer - and make sure at least one session is seated and small-group rather than whole-room.

Do you sell team building kits or games?

No - we make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK. Every game here runs with what's already in the room, and the only products on this page are our own cards.