Planning the end-of-year get together can be harder than it looks! You want something that thanks your team for their work that year, feels festive, and works for everyone, including colleagues who don't drink, don't celebrate Christmas, or find a loud bar challenging.

If you're searching for Christmas team activities in London that bring the whole team together, this guide shares practical ways to make your event inclusive, a few ideas to consider, and how our hands-on raffia embroidery workshop could work for your team.

The best Christmas team activities are the ones people are actually looking forward to attending. Employment law firm BDBF points out that having a work Christmas party that is inclusive takes more than making sure everyone is invited. Their guidance covers the name of the event, the date, the venue, alcohol, and catering. Here are the points I think are most useful: 

BDBF advises that staff should know the event is voluntary and that they won't be disadvantaged if they choose not to attend. They also suggest avoiding dates that clash with religious holidays, thinking about childcare for evening events, and giving staff as much notice as possible once a date is set. A daytime session during working hours is one simple way to include people who can't stay late.

It is important to think about physical access and noise levels. BDBF notes that loud music in a crowded space can make it harder for some people to join conversations, including wheelchair users and colleagues with conditions such as ADHD. Their guidance also suggests asking about dietary requirements before you book a venue, so you know it can cater for everyone. 

For some people, a "Christmas" party can feel like it isn't for them. BDBF suggests calling it a “festive” or “winter” event and swapping traditions like Secret Santa for activities everyone can enjoy regardless of religious beliefs. You can still have a warm, celebratory feel.

Once you know what your team needs, it's easier to choose from the many available Christmas team activities in London. Here are a few formats that tick most of the boxes above. The right choice depends on your group size, budget, and how much time you have.

A beginner-friendly creative workshop is one of the most inclusive Christmas team activities in London because it gives everyone the same starting point. Nobody needs to be an expert, there's a clear activity to focus on, and people go home with something they made. Craft workshops also work well in daytime slots and can come to your office, which keeps travel simple.

A team lunch is one of the most familiar Christmas team activities in London. Pairing it with a short activity, such as a quiz or an awards celebrating the year, gives quieter colleagues an easy way to take part without having to make small talk for too long

BDBF suggests an awards ceremony celebrating achievements over the past year as an alternative to traditions like Secret Santa. It's low cost, easy to run in the office, and puts the focus on the team's work for the year.

Use greeting cards to make the activity feel special. Our card are blank so you can write in a special message to the recipient. 

Of course, I am biased because I teach raffia embroidery, but it does make a great Christmas team activity!

I developed my raffia embroidery technique while designing my graduate fashion collection, inspired by the Caribbean and the Windrush Generation. In 2021, the London Museum acquired an outfit from that collection. Since then, I've taught workshops for the V&A, Imperial War Museum, and Somerset House, and led team sessions for companies including Sage Publishing and Not On The High Street. In 2025, I was named one of The King's Foundation's 35 Under 35, and my book, Raffia Embroidery: Vibrant Designs Inspired by the Caribbean, was published by Search Press in February 2026.

Each in-person workshop usually lasts two hours. I start by sharing the inspiration behind raffia embroidery, including the Windrush Generation, traditional Caribbean crafts, and where raffia comes from. Then I demonstrate the technique step by step. Everyone works on their own hoop at their own pace, choosing between a monstera leaf or a hibiscus flower, while I move around the room to help. At the end, I show everyone how to finish and display their hoop, and there's time to see what everyone has made.

It's completely beginner friendly, and all materials and equipment are included. If someone doesn't finish on the day, they can take everything home to complete it.

Research supports the idea that trying something creative is good for us. The BBC Arts Great British Creativity Test, run with University College London and completed by almost 50,000 people, found that we get emotional benefits from even a single creative session. It also found that trying something new is particularly good for wellbeing, regardless of skill level, and that face-to-face creative activities have the strongest effect.

There are three ways to book a raffia embroidery workshop as one of your Christmas team activities in London:

In-person workshop: 

• - at your office or venue in London
• - for 8 to 25 participants
• - two hours, 
• - from £76 per person.

Studio session

• - at my studio in London SE1
• - for 4 to 6 participants
• - two hours
• - from £142 per person.

Online workshop

• via Teams or Zoom
• for 5 or more participants
• one hour
• from £500 plus £55 per person.

I run every raffia embroidery session myself, so I can only take a limited number of team bookings each year. If you'd like a workshop as part of your Christmas team activities in London, get in touch as early as you can with your preferred date, group size, and location.

The easiest first step is a 20-minute call to talk through what would work best for your team. Email me at hello@tiharasmith.com and I'll reply within two to three working days. You can also read more about the craft in my blog post What is Raffia? or see my public workshop dates if you’d like to try raffia embroidery for yourself first!

If December is already full for your team, a January session is a lovely way to start the year, and you can book ahead for Mental Health Awareness Week in May, Windrush Day in June, Black History Month in October or any other company-specific activity.

Sources

• Is your office Christmas party inclusive?
• UCL News: Creative activities help the brain to cope with emotions
• Crafts Council: Craft can reduce stress, a new BBC survey reveals