Open daily | Book in advance to secure your place
Open daily | Book in advance to secure your place
A corporate away day should give your team something they cannot get from an ordinary day in the office. That might mean time to discuss plans without interruptions, an opportunity for new colleagues to connect or simply a chance to enjoy themselves together.
Edinburgh offers plenty of possibilities for small teams, from creative workshops and chocolate experiences to walking tours, outdoor activities and volunteering. The hard part isn't finding something to do. It is choosing an activity that suits the whole group and building a realistic day around it.
This guide will help you plan a corporate away day in Edinburgh that feels worthwhile, inclusive and enjoyable.
Before looking at venues or activities, decide why you are organising the day. Without a clear purpose, it is easy to fill the schedule with activities that look entertaining but do not give the team what it needs.
Your main aim might be to:
Try to finish this sentence before you make any bookings:
If the away day goes well, our team will leave feeling...
Your answer will help shape the rest of the day. If you want people to feel appreciated and relaxed, a demanding schedule of competitive tasks may be the wrong choice. If you aim to help a new team work together, an activity where everyone participates may be more useful than simply watching a performance.
It is sensible to involve colleagues in the decision, but asking everyone what they want to do can quickly produce ten unrelated suggestions and no clear answer.
A short anonymous survey works better. Ask colleagues to choose between a few broad options:
Include a private question about dietary, accessibility or religious requirements. You can ask what the organiser needs to know without expecting anyone to explain personal circumstances.
It is also worth asking whether there are activities people would prefer to avoid. Someone may be uncomfortable with heights, physical competition, alcohol-focused venues or being expected to perform in front of colleagues.
Work out how much you can spend per person before contacting venues. This makes it easier to compare options and prevents one impressive activity from consuming the day's budget.
Include more than the advertised activity price. Your budget may need to cover:
Ask each venue what is included in its price. A slightly more expensive package that includes refreshments, equipment and exclusive use can be better value than a cheaper option with several additional charges.
Edinburgh’s events calendar can significantly affect availability, traffic, accommodation and prices.
August is the most obvious period to approach carefully. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, International Festival and other major events attract large numbers of visitors. The atmosphere can be fantastic, but restaurants, hotels and activities become busier and often need to be booked well in advance.
December is another busy period for corporate events. If you want a Christmas away day or staff party, start planning early rather than waiting until the most popular Thursday and Friday dates have disappeared.
Before confirming a date, check:
For a small local team, a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday outside the busiest visitor periods will usually give you more choice.
You don't need to fill an entire day just because it is described as an away day.
A half day can be enough when the main aim is to reward the team or spend time together socially. It costs less, requires less time away from customers and can be easier for colleagues with caring responsibilities.
You could meet for lunch and follow it with one main activity, or start with an experience and finish over coffee or an early dinner.
A full day makes more sense if colleagues are travelling to Edinburgh or you want to combine a business session with a social activity.
You could use the morning for focused discussion while people are still fresh and motivated. After lunch, you can easily change the pace with an experience that gets everyone away from their laptops and gives them something different to think about.
One of the easiest mistakes is trying to justify the day by filling every available minute.
People need time to arrive, get coffee, speak to colleagues and move between venues. Lunch will usually take longer than expected, particularly with a larger group or several dietary requirements.
You can build a comfortable full-day schedule like this:
One main activity is normally enough. A team is more likely to enjoy one well-chosen experience than three rushed bookings spread across the city.
The best corporate away day activities give colleagues a reason to interact without forcing artificial team building.
Chocolate making, afternoon tea, guided tastings and creative workshops work well when the aim is to reward the team and give people time to talk.
A chocolate experience at the Chocolatarium can suit a small group with mixed interests and confidence levels. Colleagues have something practical to do, but still have time to chat while they make and taste chocolate.
It also works well as the afternoon part of an away day because the activity is indoors and centrally located, reducing the risk of weather or complicated transport disrupting the schedule.
Printmaking, candle making, pottery painting and craft workshops allow everyone to participate without needing previous experience.
Creative activities can be particularly good for teams that do not enjoy competition. People can work at their own pace, compare what they have made and take something home at the end.
Escape rooms, treasure hunts, quizzes and team challenges can encourage communication and friendly rivalry.
These activities are best for a group that already enjoys competition. Choose carefully for teams with very different fitness levels or colleagues who dislike being put under pressure.
Avoid making the event feel like a disguised team or staff assessment. The aim should be enjoyment and shared problem-solving, not identifying the fastest or loudest employee.
Edinburgh and the surrounding area provide opportunities for guided walks, garden tours, watersports and outdoor adventure activities.
Outdoor experiences can feel like a genuine break from work, but they require more planning. Check fitness requirements, appropriate clothing, transport and what will happen if the weather becomes unsafe.
Always have a wet-weather plan. “We will decide on the morning” is rarely enough when colleagues have already travelled and set aside a full day.
Some teams would rather spend the day doing something useful than taking part in a conventional corporate activity.
Volunteering, technology refurbishment, environmental projects and repair workshops can bring colleagues together while supporting a wider cause.
Choose a project that connects naturally with the company’s values. The experience should benefit the organisation receiving the support, not simply serve as a photo opportunity for the business.
An activity can look suitable on paper but still exclude part of the team.
Before booking, consider:
Don't assume everyone wants an energetic day simply because the team is young, or that older colleagues will not enjoy something active. Ask privately and base the decision on the people who will attend.
If the activity takes place in a licensed venue, check whether alcohol is simply available or forms a central part of the experience. These are not the same thing, and the distinction may matter to your team.
Edinburgh is compact, but its hills, cobbled streets and busy city centre can make short distances take longer than expected.
Where possible, keep the meeting venue, lunch and activity within the same part of the city. Moving a group from the West End to the far side of the Old Town in 15 minutes is likely to create stress and delays.
When you start planning the route in Edinburgh:
Send the final itinerary at least a week before the event. Include start and finish times, addresses, travel details, what to wear and the organiser's name and mobile number.
This format suits a team that wants to celebrate or spend time together without turning the day into a formal business event.
Keeping the structured work in the morning prevents the business discussion from hanging over the rest of the day.
Lead with the activities rather than presenting the day as the sensible alternative to a pub event. The day should feel enjoyable in its own right.
You could use your own workplace for the morning, and choosing one paid activity keeps the day manageable without making it feel ordinary.
You do not need to turn an enjoyable staff event into a performance review. However, a short follow-up can help if the company plans to organise more away days.
Ask colleagues what they enjoyed, what they would change and whether the balance between work and social time felt right. Keep it brief and allow honest answers.
If your morning session results in decisions, write them down before everyone leaves for the afternoon activities. Send a quick email the same afternoon. Memories will be fresh and your staff are far more likely to read and respond.
