Unusual Team Building Activities
Want your team day to be the one people still bring up months later? Below are 40+ genuinely unusual team building activities, the ones that break away from the usual workshop or sports day, from solving a murder with real forensics to bushtucker trials and building your own soap box racer.
Funktion Events has run more than 10,000 team building events since 2007, and our event team handles the planning, kit and staff, so your only job is to pick the idea and turn up.
Not sure which unusual activity suits your team? Get a quote in 30 minutes »
Activities
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Crime Scene Investigation
- Realistic crime investigation
- Scotland Yard detectives
- Solve the murder mystery
- Use real forensic procedures
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The Betrayers
- Mind-boggling challenges
- Trust your gut!
- Secret competition
- Who will survive?
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Cracked It
- Escape room-inspired challenge
- Crack codes and solve puzzles
- Encourages teamwork and communication
- Fully portable and venue flexible
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Yoga Class
- Yoga at your location
- Tailored for all group sizes
- Boost staff wellness
- Ideal for events or offices
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Outdoor Escape Rooms
- Outdoor escape rooms
- Improves problem solving
- Interactive fun host
- Tasks, clues, Immersive challenges
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Qubed
- Escape the cube
- Series of challenges
- Game show host
- Prize for the winners
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Master of the Tasks
- TV show challenges
- Hilarious game material
- Tasks per group
- Prize for the winners
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Challenge 100
- Compete in many challenges
- Mental agility, common sense
- Bonus tasks
- Racing against the clock
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Charity Sleep Pod Build
- Charity team event
- Sleep pods for the homeless
- Learn the mission
- Collaborative experience
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Corporate Sports Day
- Play school sports games
- Small or large teams
- Sack race, egg & spoon
- House team colours
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Everest Challenge
- On top of the world
- Challenge simulation
- 29,000ft high
- Learn survival skills
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Party Bike
- Tour and sightseeing
- Drinks on board
- Sober chauffeur
- Music system
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Hostage Kidnap
- Rescue your kidnapped CEO
- Scotland Yard Detectives
- Surveillance & negotiating
- Meet up with informants
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Life Drawing
- Nude male or female life model
- Private city centre venue
- All drawing materials included
- Casual class atmosphere
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Smartphone Urban Treasure Hunt
- Explore your location
- Self-run, start anytime
- Great value, app technology
- Team challenges & puzzles
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Pub Olympics
- Indoor pub style games
- Air hockey, casino, darts
- Everyone involved
- Dry hire or event managed
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Rookie Detective
- Real forensic techniques
- Solve a mini crime
- Ex-Scotland Yard detectives
- 1.5-hour portable event
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The Detective
- Thrilling crime investigation
- Solve cryptic clues
- Forensic & FBI techniques
- Meet with informants
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Chocolate Making
- Artisan chocolate
- Melt, dip and decorate
- Milk, white and dark chocolate
- Take your treats home
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Brilliant Bingo
- Chaotic bingo!
- Fast-paced games
- Energetic host
- Hilarious prizes
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The Crystal Team Challenge
- Physical & mental tasks
- Large, full day event
- Compete in zones
- Crystal dome finale
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Sports: Multi Activity Day
- Huge variety of games
- Multiple sport activities
- Venue hire included
- Team bibs, equipment
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Race Nights
- Expert race night organisers
- Winning posts, fences
- Bet solo or in teams
- Witty, costumed race host
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Pizza Making
- Create and make pizzas
- Learn to toss dough
- Pizzaiolo chef
- Prosecco, dough balls, nibbles
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Smartphone Pub Treasure Hunt
- Fully organised pub quiz hunt
- Self run - start any time
- Test general pub knowledge
- Hilarious team challenges
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Chain Reaction
- Encourages team cooperation
- Design & build simple tasks
- Link chain sections together
- Produces a domino reaction
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I'm an Executive, Get me Out of Here
- Bush tucker trials
- Real snakes, spiders
- Kiosk Kev host
- Push the limits
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Stop The Clocks
- Race against the clock
- Multiple skill challenges
- Lowest time wins
- Mental & physical tasks
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Masterpiece Challenge
- Communication is key
- Paint & create a collage
- Fully inclusive activity
- Fantastic indoor activity
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Olympic Sports Day
- Olympic-inspired sport activities
- Any skill level
- Fun and competitive
- Closing ceremony
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Battle Archery Tag
- Dodgeball but with arrows
- Battle against each other
- Bunkers and barriers
- Latest Archery Craze!
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Charity Bike Build
- Teamwork for a cause
- Rebuild your bike
- Learn repair skills
- Create bike signage
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GPS: Spy School
- Spy themed challenges
- Self-run – start any time
- Great value, latest technology
- GPS and image recognition
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Smartphone Christmas Treasure Hunt
- Pub quiz & bar crawl in one
- Self-run, so start anytime
- Great value, app technology
- Perfect for Christmas parties
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Big Picture Challenge
- Creative team bonding
- One big painting
- Event host
- Takeaway art
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Corporate Office Massage
- Fully qualified therapists
- Stress free experience
- Fully clothed massage
- Massage and Reflexology
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Gameshow Bonanza
- Your own gameshow
- Magnetic host
- Different quiz rounds
- Prizes to win!
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Paint & Sip
- Paint 2 canvasses
- Two paintings each
- Drinks included
- Private venue hire
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Real Life Clu'doo
- Murder mystery challenge
- Investigate who killed Dr Black
- Fun forensic tasks and clues
- Just like the real game
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Retro Showdown
- Variety of retro gameshows
- TV classics from the 80s & 90s
- Bulleye, Catchphase
- Million Dollar Drop finale
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Zorb Bubble Games
- Classic games like bulldog, relay races
- Event co-ordinator
- Zorb Bubbles
- Fun forfeits to play
Our Most Popular Unusual Team Building Activities
These are the unusual activities work teams book most when they want something different. None of them need special training, and every one comes with our staff and kit:
Swipe to see what you do and best for →
| Activity | What you do | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The Betrayers | Sniff out the hidden traitors in your team | Trust & tactics, the Traitors effect |
| Crime Scene Investigation | Solve a murder with real forensic techniques | A gripping problem-solve |
| I'm an Executive, Get Me Out of Here | Bushtucker trials with real critters | Daring teams after a laugh |
| Hostage Kidnap | Rescue your "kidnapped" CEO with detectives | High-drama problem-solving |
| Life Drawing | Sketch a live model with a tutor on hand | A relaxed, creative curveball |
| Everest Challenge | A simulated summit with survival tasks | An epic, immersive day |
| Soap Box Derby | Design, build and race your own kart | Hands-on, competitive fun |
| Party Bike | Pedal the city together with drinks on board | A sociable, offbeat outing |
Unusual does not mean complicated. We bring the whole thing to your office or a venue we find for you, so the only surprise on the day is the one you booked.
Detective & Murder Mystery Team Building
Our biggest unusual category is crime. If your team likes cracking a case, we run a whole range of detective and murder-mystery events with ex-Scotland Yard hosts and real forensic techniques: Crime Scene Investigation, Hostage Kidnap, Real Life Clu'doo, The Detective and the quick, portable Rookie Detective. They are brilliant for communication and problem-solving, and they work indoors, so the weather never gets a vote.
Want the day to mean something as well as feel different? Charity team building like our charity bike builds and sleep-pod builds gives your team an unusual challenge with a cause behind it.
What Every Team Building Event Includes
- We come to you – our event team travels to your office or venue anywhere in the UK, with all the kit and setup.
- A dedicated event manager – one point of contact who plans the day with you and runs it on the day.
- Free venue finding – if you need a space, we source the right one for your group size and location at no extra cost.
- Fully insured and ABTA-bonded (Y6501) – every event is covered and your booking is protected.
Teams We've Run These For
Prefer to keep it a bit more classic? See our indoor and outdoor team building activities. And if you would rather play it safe, our most-booked team building activities are always there.
“The teams that go for something a bit different always seem to talk about it the longest. Tell me what your lot are like and how brave they're feeling, and I'll find you the right kind of unusual.”
Izzie
Corporate Event Manager
How to Choose an Unusual Team Building Activity
Start with how far your team wants to push it:
- A gripping problem to solve: the detective and murder-mystery events, or The Betrayers.
- A proper laugh: I'm an Executive, Get Me Out of Here or a Soap Box Derby.
- Creative and relaxed: Life Drawing or a Party Bike around the city.
- Unusual with a cause: a charity bike or sleep-pod build.
Give us your numbers and how adventurous the group is, and we will suggest the right one and handle it from start to finish.
Unusual Team Building FAQs
Fully Insured & ABTA Members (Y6501) – every event is insured and your booking is protected.
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot with 2,811+ five-star reviews – your team is in safe hands.
Ready to plan something a bit different? Tell us your group size and date and we will send tailored ideas and a quote, usually within 30 minutes.