35 Best Team Building Activities in Edinburgh in 2024

Are you searching for the best team building activities in Edinburgh? Scotland’s capital is a fantastic city to explore and the base for hundreds of excellent team building opportunities.

Our selection of the best 35 team building activities in Edinburgh has something for every staff group, from ghost walks along cobbled streets to deliciously fascinating whisky tastings. Whether you want a venue for a Christmas party or an activity that will bring your staff closer together, these ideas will provide lots of inspiration.

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• 35 Top Team Building Activities in Edinburgh
• Does Your Team Need Team Building?
• How Team Building Activities in Edinburgh Help Businesses Thrive
• Benefits of Team Building for Employees

35 Top Team Building Activities in Edinburgh

1. Culinary Team Building Activities

Everybody loves good food and culinary team building activities in Edinburgh make a perfect option for any workforce, large or small. From chef-led cooking competitions to pampering private chef meals that will make your team feel like superstars, these activities are the perfect recipe to improve communication, build relationships and make a happy team.

2. Cooking Classes

One of the most effective ways to build bonds as a team is to learn new skills together. It creates shared memories and gives colleagues a space to talk about something other than work. Cooking classes in Edinburgh are a great example. They’re overseen by friendly and experienced chefs and can cater for every sort of palate and experience level.

3. Online Culinary Team Building Activities

Many teams now spend at least a portion of their time working remotely but that’s no reason to miss out on the team building fun. There are lots of online team building activities that are ideal for staff working off-base. For a really smooth team building activity that’s equal parts enjoyment and good times with a twist of laughter you can’t beat online mixology classes. Or how about online cooking classes for your next team day? Led by expert chefs, these classes are an excellent way to discover fresh flavours and have social time with your coworkers.

4. Food Tours

Edinburgh is home to an exciting range of restaurants, cafés and eateries that embrace ingredients from all four corners of the world and Edinburgh food tours are a brilliant way to discover the best bits. Led by an expert on the city’s culinary scene, your team will savour Edinburgh food gems and have a chance to spend quality time together.

5. Climb Arthur’s Seat

Blow out the cobwebs with a vigorous team walk up Arthur’s Seat. One of the most popular team building activities in Edinburgh, Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano that sits 251 metres above sea level. The walk to the top is (relatively) easy and offers unmatched views of the city that are made all the better by the sweet sense of accomplishment.

6. Head to the Park with a Picnic

Get out of the office and head to one of Auld Reekie’s many parks and green spaces for a picnic in the sunshine (hopefully). A perfect summer team building activity in Edinburgh, your team will get to relax as a group and strengthen their relationships, especially if you throw in some simple games or a lighthearted quiz.

7. Beat the Clock!

Escape rooms are another very popular team building activity in Edinburgh. Not only do they challenge problem-solving skills, they allow groups to share a sense of achievement together. With just 60 minutes on the clock, you and your team will have to work hard to solve puzzles and escape.

8. Time for Some Rel-axe-action

Sharpen up your team building activities in Edinburgh and have a go at axe throwing at Game of Throwing. You’ll be shown the basics before getting stuck in with some friendly competition.

9. Team Building as Easy as One Zoo Three

One of the top-rated team building activities in Edinburgh on our list, a group visit to the zoo is a fantastic way to make memories and have some social time together. Edinburgh Zoo is home to over 2,500 animals including pygmy hippos, penguins and porcupines and offers corporate team building activities in Edinburgh that encourage problem solving, communication and planning.

10. Whisky Business

In a city that’s world famous for its whisky, what could be a better choice of team building events in Edinburgh than a group whisky tasting? Run by The Scotch Whisky Experience from its base near Edinburgh Castle, each session can be catered to your group and takes you on a complete journey through the magical history and process of making whisky.

11. Do a Team Treasure Hunt

Classic for a reason, treasure hunts are one of the top team building activities in Edinburgh. Working together, you’ll crack cryptic clues set by Treasure Hunt Edinburgh and race across the city to find the booty. If you really want to get into the spirit your crew can even dress up in pirate gear.

12. Brew Up Some Team Building Magic

If you’re looking for fun team building activities in Edinburgh then you can’t beat The Department of Magic escape rooms. Unlike traditional escape rooms, there are no locks and keys; instead, the immersive story is shaped by decoding cryptic clues. Perfect for building up communication skills and practicing problem-solving as a group, this will be a truly magical experience.

13. Share in Some Spooky Stories

One of the more unusual team building activities in Edinburgh, a ghost tour is nevertheless an exciting way to socialise outside of the work space. Mercat Tours offers several group walks in Edinburgh with stories ranging from dastardly deeds to ghostly goings on. The guides can also create a completely private tour for your group.

14. Enjoy a Team Kayak Session

See Edinburgh from a fresh perspective with a guided kayak tour along the river, a unique team building activity in Edinburgh. Your group will be guided by an expert instructor from Driftwood Adventure, who’ll give you a safety briefing and get you kitted out before you embark on a scenic cruise along the Forth.

15. Go For a Canal Cycle

One of the most surprising team building activities in Edinburgh on our list, canal cycling is a super way to share a distinctive experience with your coworkers. Riding on specially adapted water bikes from Bridge 8 Hub, you’ll take a ride along the city’s waterways — definitely something to talk about on Monday.

16. Race to a Team Win

Put your team building activities in Edinburgh into top gear with indoor go-karting, an Xtreme Karting and Combat Edinburgh experience. You can play as individuals or as groups and take part in races and challenges. There’ll be medals for the top drivers, not to mention serious bragging rights on Monday! 

17. Sweet like Chocolate Team Building

Treat your workforce to a deliciously sweet chocolate-making team building activity in Edinburgh at the Chocolatrium. Enjoy a tour through the history of chocolate and learn how it’s made. Then, once you’ve mastered the basics, you can unleash your inner Willy Wonkas by dreaming up a signature team flavour.

18. Team Building Can Be Murder

Put a killer spin on your team building events in Edinburgh by setting up your team with their very own murder mystery. A group of professional actors will present a live traditional murder mystery and your team will have to work together to complete tasks and reveal the identity of the murderer. Be prepared for twists, turns and lots of laughs. It makes an effective corporate team building activity in Edinburgh, too.

19. A Team Building Hole In One

Head to Portal Mini Golf in the city centre for a thrilling team building activity in Edinburgh that can suit any size of team. Each hole has a quirky theme, taking players through history or to fantasy worlds, and lets your team engage in a friendly contest. There are lots of party packages including catering options available.

20. Hit a Team Bullseye

Take your staff on an adrenaline-boosting team building activity in Edinburgh at Combat Archery. Here, you’ll divide into groups to play "archery tag" with special foam tipped arrows. Each group’s objective is to outmanoeuvre their competitors so it’s perfect to increase your team’s ability to work together in high-pressure situations.

21. Test Your Knowledge at a Pub Quiz

If you’re searching for a low-cost team building activity in Edinburgh, look no further than a pub quiz. Perfect for getting people working together, pub quizzes are ideal team building activities in Edinburgh. Head to the Three Sisters for the Bad Boy Quiz every Tuesday and see if your team can emerge victorious.

22. Bowled Over

Found in the New Town area, Roxy Lanes is the perfect destination for team building activities in Edinburgh. As well as the ten-pin bowling alley, there’s karaoke, ice-free curling, shuffleboard and a batting cage. There are options for groups of all sizes including food and drink packages, so it’s a terrific venue for a Christmas party or summer meetup.

23. Brew Up a Great Team

Treat your beer-loving crew to a team building activity in Edinburgh that’s a pint full of fun. Bellfield Brewery & Taproom is an independent beer maker in the city that offers brewery tours and tastings for groups of all sizes. Learn how the beer is brewed before tasting the range of crisp IPAs, lagers and ales.

24. Fairground Attraction

Team building activities in Edinburgh don’t get much better than Fayre Play, an adult fairground game venue close to the city centre. There is a range of package deals that lets you play all the throwing, shooting and hitting games like hook-a-duck and whack-a-mole. It even comes with food and drinks.

25. Head Into the Woods

Escape the traditional team building activities in Edinburgh by taking part in a woodland escape. Serene Woodland Escapes offers private group nature walks that are a fabulous way to escape the hustle and bustle of the office. Your team will be guided by an expert to learn skills such as foraging and will have lots of time to enjoy each other’s company in peaceful surroundings.

26. Be a Square at SuperCube Karaoke 

One of the best team building activities in Edinburgh, a karaoke night is guaranteed to make your crew smile. At SuperCube, a modern karaoke venue on George Street, you’ll find private rooms to suit your group. There are thousands of songs to choose from and drinks and snacks can be provided.

27. Take In Rooftop Views

Sometimes, there’s no better team building activity in Edinburgh than an after-work drink. At Chaophraya rooftop bar the experience is seriously elevated and offers panoramic views over the city. Decompress after a busy day by enjoying some of Chaophraya’s signature cocktails and a bite or two from the Thai-inspired menu.

28. Battle It Out

There’s nothing better than a bit of relaxed rivalry for building up bonds and kicking back and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Boom Battle Bar. This sports bar is an ideal venue for team building activities in Edinburgh. Your team will get to know each other better as they play shuffleboard, Prosecco pong, pool, crazy golf and more. Plus, there are shareable eats and a full drinks menu.

29. Lights, camera, action!

If you're looking to treat your team or say thank you for a job well done, then a trip to a private cinema showing can't be topped, especially for Christmas parties and summer get-togethers. The Dominion, an elegant Art Deco-inspired cinema that has been showing films for more than 80 years, offers private screenings, making it a perfect team building activity in Edinburgh. These screenings include food and drinks and a choice between a blockbuster release or a classic movie.

30. Try Something New

Turn your staff into a winning team with a visit to Murrayfield to watch an Edinburgh rugby match. Hospitality packages include a private table, which can host between two and ten guests and can include food and drink, as well as a ticket to watch the match. A perfect treat to reward your hard-working staff, this is a super team building activity in Edinburgh. 

31. Get a Fresh View of the City  

Enjoy a unique experience, spend time together and create shared memories on scenic Forth Boat Tours, one of the most popular team building activities in Edinburgh. The 90-minute cruise takes in the city’s famous three bridges and Inchcolm Island, home to a medieval abbey and lots of marine wildlife.

32. Hit the Beach

Portobello Beach is a beautiful sandy spot found just a few miles from the city centre. Perfect for team building activities in Edinburgh that are light on the wallet, you can head there with your crew to enjoy games on the beach and dinner at one of the nearby restaurants. 

33. Scare Yourselves Silly

Grab your team by the hand (really, you might want to hold hands) and take them on a trip through the city’s gruesome and grizzly past at Edinburgh Dungeon. Both spooky and entertaining, a trip around the dungeon makes a thrilling team building activity in Edinburgh. 

34. Make a Taco Tuesday Tradition

A lively, family-run cantina that specialises in Mexican sharing plates, Mariachi is great if you’re looking for relaxed team building activities in Edinburgh. Start with some chips and guacamole for the table before ordering tacos, fajitas and burritos to share. If you can bear to split a dessert of Nutella churros with your coworkers then you’ll know you’re a team in total harmony. 

35. Paint the Town

Paintball is one of the most popular team building activities in Edinburgh. Not only does it get the heart racing, it helps groups develop their strategic thinking, communication and problem-solving skills. Battlezone Paintball offers a choice of group packages including biodegradable paintballs, full safety equipment and coveralls. Food packages are also available.

Does Your Team Need Team Building?

A team that works together effectively is the most important element in a successful business. It doesn’t happen overnight but team building activities are an effective way to build the skills needed for good group work. Team building is especially important for teams working remotely who may not get to spend much time together outside of work. Not only do these activities help colleagues get to know each other, they make them feel more comfortable approaching other team members for help and support.

How Team Building Activities in Edinburgh Help Businesses Thrive

Countless studies have demonstrated that team building activities are vital for a company to succeed. Every member of your staff was hired as an individual, not as part of a group, so team building activities are crucial to building those fundamental working relationships. 

Not only does this help new staff to feel settled quicker, it also helps strengthen the bonds between existing members of staff. This helps the team communicate better, feel united against problems and support each other during stressful and busy times. On a practical level, it also gives staff a chance to understand how everybody’s roles contribute to the business as a whole. 

Benefits of Team Building for Employees

Team building activities can have a bit of a bad rep but they’re very beneficial for employees:

• Increased trust as a team
  • Establishing stronger relationships as a team means that staff will feel more confident to ask each other for help. Therefore problems can be addressed sooner and the team will feel more confident to work together to solve issues.
• Staff feel more empowered
  • Not only does team building increase collective confidence, it also builds individual confidence. When team members take on something new, and are supported to try it, they’ll feel a powerful sense of accomplishment that makes them excited to tackle the next challenge.
• Staff feel more creative
  • Many of the team building activities in Edinburgh on our list focus on increasing creativity, for good reason. Building the skills to think creatively helps staff feel less stressed when they face challenges and lets them know that they can work together to find a solution. 
• Staff feel more engaged 
  • There’s a huge difference between staff who simply do their jobs and staff who are actively engaged with their work. Team building is an excellent way to inspire enthusiasm and make your team feel passionate about their roles.
• Staff feel more productive 
  • Staff that are more engaged in their work are more productive too, leading to better business outcomes overall.
• Staff feel appreciated and happy 
  • Last, but not least, team building activities in Edinburgh let staff know that management recognises their effort and will reward it. Studies have shown that this type of motivation is extremely powerful at increasing staff satisfaction, with the knock-on effect that staff retention increases.

Team building is one of the most important things you can do to make your business prosper. It not only helps your staff to build up important skills including communication, problem solving and resilience, it’s also a brilliant way for colleagues to kick back and relax together. From food tours to go-karting, axe throwing to whisky tasting, there’s a superb selection of team building activities in Edinburgh. Check them out now to bring your team closer and help your business flourish.

For even more team building activities in Edinburgh and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.