When the weather’s on your side, nothing beats getting the team out of the office for some fresh air and fun. Whether you’re planning a summer away day, a one-off training session, or part of a bigger staff wellbeing programme, outdoor team building activities are a brilliant way to break down barriers, boost morale, and get people laughing together.
The best part? These activities don’t need to be high-pressure or overly competitive. From chilled-out creative sessions to adrenaline-packed challenges, there’s something for every group—and every budget. So if you’re looking to bring people together in a way that’s engaging, energising and a little bit different, here are 10 outdoor team building activities worth trying.
Let’s start with a simple one—human bingo. It’s a great icebreaker that works for groups of all sizes. Each person gets a bingo card filled with facts like “has been skydiving” or “can name all 7 dwarves.” The aim? Find someone who matches each box.
This low-pressure option is ideal for new teams or mixed departments and works well at the start of outdoor corporate events to loosen everyone up. Pair it with a coffee station and picnic tables—easily rented from Event Hire UK for short-term, one-off events—and you’re good to go.
You might think relay races are just for sports day, but throw in a few unexpected challenges—like balancing a balloon, hopping backwards or team wheelbarrow races—and suddenly you’ve got a hilarious, fast-paced team building outside game.
Split people into teams and add a prize for the winners. You can even do multiple rounds to give everyone a chance. This is perfect for fields, car parks or outdoor corporate grounds and makes for a great centrepiece at larger outdoor team building events.
This one’s all about problem-solving. Split your team into small groups and give them limited materials (think cardboard, string, duct tape, wooden planks). Their task? Build a bridge strong enough to support a small object across a set distance. As far as we are concerned, outdoor team building activities don’t come any better!
It encourages planning, communication, and creativity—all key skills for teamwork outdoor activities. To make it more fun, set a strict time limit and throw in a twist halfway through (e.g. “you’ve lost your duct tape!”). Bonus: you only need a few trestle tables, which you can hire from us for the day.
No list of outdoor team building activities would be complete without the classic scavenger hunt. But forget the boring clipboard version—we’re talking modern, fun, and phone-friendly. Get teams to complete creative challenges like “take a selfie with a pigeon” or “recreate a famous film scene using props from the park.”
This can be customised for your area, workplace culture or industry, and is perfect for outdoor team building games that are a bit more playful. Best of all, it’s zero cost to run—just a bit of planning and some imagination.
If you love puzzles, you’ll love this one. More companies are now offering outdoor escape room-style games that work in public parks or even private grounds. Teams solve riddles, complete physical tasks and “unlock” the next location until they reach the finish. This is a great example of how outdoor team building activities can be both fun and challenging, in equal measures!
Great for boosting communication and problem-solving under pressure, this is one of the more structured team building activities outside, and ideal for larger company away days. You can set up a base camp with shade, drinks and seating using Event Hire UK’s outdoor furniture and equipment options.
Som_etimes simple is best. Grab a few giant Jenga sets (you can rent these or even make your own), and run a knockout tournament. Pair it with some snacks, music and chilled seating, and you’ve got an easy outdoor team activity that’s more about banter than brawn._
It’s also one of the best team building games outside if you want a low-key, sociable vibe that still encourages interaction. Great for casual afternoons or as a warm-up before more competitive challenges.
A modern team-building classic! Give each team 20 sticks of spaghetti, one metre of tape, one metre of string, and a single marshmallow. The goal? Build the tallest freestanding tower that can hold the marshmallow on top. If you’re looking for quirky outdoor team building activities, then you’ve found a great example right here!
This game is a great mix of silliness and strategy, and it’s perfect for outdoor team building events where you want something short, sharp and memorable. Works well with a small prize, and needs minimal setup—just some tables, materials and a stopwatch. Outdoor team building activities don’t come much better than this!
Think Bake Off, but al fresco. Give teams basic cooking equipment and ingredients, and challenge them to create the best dish. You can go themed (e.g. “best BBQ burger” or “best s’mores variation”) and bring in guest judges.
This is ideal for all-day outdoor corporate events, especially if you’ve got access to outdoor space and power. Event Hire UK can supply tables, prep equipment, gas ovens, fridges and even gazebos to keep everything covered.
Cooking challenges encourage creativity, collaboration and time management—and they always end in laughs (and a few slightly undercooked sausages).
Tug of war might be old-school, but it still gets teams going like nothing else. It’s fast, physical, and hilariously dramatic. Split into teams, keep it friendly, and make sure someone’s got a whistle. Classic outdoor team building activities such as these are always popular with everyone!
You’ll need a flat grassy area and a strong rope—but that’s it. Pair this with a few beanbags, outdoor benches or even a mobile refreshment station, and you’ve got a proper mini event on your hands.
This is one of those team building outside ideas that needs no explanation—everyone knows what to do, and it always ends in cheers.
Why settle for one activity when you can run a whole outdoor team building tournament? Create an Olympics-style day where teams compete in different challenges—some sporty, some silly. Think egg-and-spoon race, quiz round, mini obstacle course and giant Connect Four.
Assign points, keep scores, and offer prizes at the end. You can even add a “team uniform” element to boost the vibe. With the right layout and a bit of planning, this becomes a full-blown outdoor corporate event.
Event Hire UK can help you bring this to life with seating areas, outdoor bars, PA systems for announcements and even LED furniture for post-event awards. The result? An unforgettable team day.
Once you’ve picked your activities, it’s all about the setup—and that’s where Event Hire UK can help. We supply everything you need to bring your outdoor team building activities to life, with nationwide delivery including major cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
Whether you’re organising a riverside team day in London, a countryside retreat just outside Manchester, or a city-centre event in Birmingham’s business district, we’ve got the right gear to support you.
Our clients regularly plan team building days in London using rooftop terraces, parks, and office courtyards. In Manchester, we support businesses setting up outdoor challenges at converted mills, pub gardens, and suburban greens. And in Birmingham, we’ve helped deliver events in canal-side spaces, hotel terraces, and green areas in Edgbaston and Digbeth.
Need picnic benches for a lunch break? Covered gazebos for shade? Cocktail glass hire for post-game drinks or a mobile bar setup? No problem. We specialise in short-term and one-off hire that works perfectly for outdoor team building events.
We’re used to working with HR teams, event organisers, office managers and local councils to make these team days run smoothly—on time, on budget, and without the stress.
Outdoor team building activities are more than just a day away from the office—they’re an investment in your people. Done right, they can improve communication, break down silos, and leave everyone feeling recharged and reconnected.
Whether you’re planning something competitive, creative, or just a bit of light-hearted fun, the fresh air and open space can work wonders for team morale.
So take it outside, try something new, and remember—Event Hire UK is here to help make the logistics easy, so you can focus on bringing your team together.
