Office Christmas Parties in London: Games and Venues That Work
Why competitive socialising is taking over London’s office parties
Walk past any bar in Shoreditch or Soho this December and you’ll notice a change. Groups of colleagues are no longer hunched over a table of identical cocktails. They are throwing darts, chasing pool balls around obstacles or trying to hit a bowling pin with a little too much enthusiasm. Insiders call it competitive socialising, and it has become the go-to format for workplace celebrations across the capital.
The appeal is simple. Activities give people something to do with their hands and something to laugh about, which takes the pressure off the small talk that can make a festive office night awkward. Most of the better venues pair these games with proper food and drink menus, so your team gets a good night out without anyone having to stand around holding a plastic cup.
For those of us who live here, it also means more reasons to stay local. Rather than trekking out to a hotel function room in the suburbs, you can book a lane or a screen within easy reach of the Tube, then finish the evening with a walk past Whitehall, where Big Ben is lit up against the night sky. It is one of the few parts of London where a party can feel like a proper occasion without leaving the city centre.
Bowling, darts and axes: where to book your team
Bowling remains the classic choice. All Star Lanes has sites in Brick Lane, Holborn, Stratford and White City, and it leans towards the polished end of the market, with a cocktail bar, restaurant, karaoke and shuffleboard. Lane 7, with branches in Victoria and Camden, has a clubbier, neon-soaked feel that suits a noisier crowd. If your colleagues like a late finish, Rowans in Finsbury Park has long been a favourite for Christmas parties, with lanes open into the early hours.
Darts has deeper roots in the capital than most people realise. Flight Club, which opened its first branch in Shoreditch, offers Christmas packages for groups of up to 37 across its London sites in Shoreditch, Bloomsbury, Islington and Victoria. It is a reliable option if you need to fit a large team into one booking.
If your office wants something more unusual, axe-throwing has quietly spread through the bar scene. Axeperience in the Square Mile and Game of Throwing in Hammersmith both take bookings. The format suits smaller groups best, though many venues can accommodate larger parties if you book early. Whichever you choose, ask about minimum spends and food packages before you commit, as prices vary considerably between venues and dates in December are busy.
Booking tips, budgets and what to watch next
Christmas is the busiest period for these venues, and the best slots, particularly Thursday and Friday evenings in the second and third weeks of December, tend to disappear within days of being released. If you are organising a party for your team, start shortlisting now, check whether the price includes food and drink, and confirm how many people each activity can comfortably handle. Some packages look good value until you add service charge and a drinks top-up.
Accessibility matters too. Check step-free access, quiet areas for colleagues who would rather not join every game, and whether there are alternatives for anyone who does not drink. A good venue will answer these questions without fuss.
For residents who are not organising a party but are curious, many of these places are also open to walk-in groups on quieter weeknights, so it is worth keeping an eye on their booking pages in January when demand drops. Over the coming months, watch for new openings in areas like Shoreditch and Camden, where the market for experiential nights out is still expanding. The clearest signal of what works will be which venues stay busy after the festive season ends, and that is where your next team night out is most likely to be.
Source: Office Christmas Parties: Ideas For Social Gaming And Team-Building Fun
Many teams combine their party with a trip, so if you plan to visit London Christmas markets or light displays, book your venue early.
Many teams combine a festive lunch with a short walking tour past landmarks like buckingham palace, which keeps the day lively without requiring a full evening booking.
Looking for a unique venue with a bit of culture, many London teams book a private tour or evening event at the british museum before heading out for drinks.
