How to Plan an Office Christmas Party Your Team Will Actually Enjoy

It’s October, and someone has just said, “Could you sort the Christmas do?” You said yes. Now you own the office Christmas party.

Take a breath. A good office Christmas party doesn’t need a huge budget or a clever theme. It needs a clear plan, an early booking and a guest list that includes everyone. Here’s a seven-step plan you can follow this week, plus answers to the questions people always ask.

How to Plan an Office Christmas Party in 7 Steps

1. Agree the budget and who signs it off

Start with money, because every other choice depends on it. Ask your finance team or your manager for a figure per person, and ask what it covers. Food? Drinks? Travel home?

Get the number in writing, even if it’s an email. Then ask one more question: is it paid for by the company, or do staff chip in? If staff pay, say so early and keep the cost low. Nobody enjoys a surprise bill in December.

2. Pick a date that suits the most people

Look at the calendar before you look at venues. The Friday before Christmas is the obvious pick, and every other company in town thinks so too. It gets booked first and costs more.

Think about a weekday lunch or a date in early December instead. People with childcare or long commutes can usually make a lunch. Acas advises keeping team socials inside working hours for exactly this reason. In its 2025 YouGov poll of 1,052 British employees, 20% said they disliked after-hours drinks. Check for school events, shift patterns and your busiest work weeks. Then pick the date and announce it fast.

3. Decide who’s invited, and make it easy to say yes

Write the full guest list, then check it for people who might be left out. Three groups need real thought.

Remote and hybrid staff. If they live far away, offer travel costs or an overnight stay. If that’s not possible, run a second event near them, or send a gift box and hold a short video session. Don’t make the home workers watch a stream of other people’s party.

Non-drinkers. Plenty of people don’t drink for health, faith or personal reasons. Make the party work without alcohol. Good soft drinks, a proper mocktail and an activity that isn’t built around the bar all help.

Colleagues who don’t celebrate Christmas. Call it a “winter party” or a “year-end party” if your team is mixed, and keep the decorations light. Hold it at a time that doesn’t clash with other festivals. Ask people about food needs, access needs and any dates they can’t do.

A short form does the job. Ask three things: can you come, what food do you need, and what would make it easier for you to join?

4. Choose an activity people will actually join in with

Here’s the honest truth about a lot of work parties: people stand in small groups with the colleagues they already know. A shared activity fixes that. It gives the quiet person something to do with their hands and gives the finance team and the sales team a reason to talk.

Pick something that needs no skill and no performing. Here are four office Christmas party ideas that tend to work:

• A murder mystery. Moonstone Murders runs improv murder mystery events using “only professional comedy improvisers”. In its words, “you name the place and we’ll bring the case”. Teams work together as the detective team. Moonstone covers England, including London, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.
• A cookery workshop. Migrateful is an award-winning UK charity that trains migrant and refugee chefs to teach corporate cookery workshops. Each booking helps it train more chefs. Cooking together is a good fit for mixed groups, as everyone has a job to do.
• A glass workshop. E3 Creative Glass is an East London business that runs corporate glass workshops. Its listing mentions “alternative Christmas parties”, with “no creative experience needed”, and everyone makes something to take home.
• Christmas baking. Ground Up Cookery School in Devon offers celebrations and seasonal experiences such as Christmas baking. It can combine activities with lunch or dinner.

You can browse more options in the Something Different directory. If food is your angle, start with food and drink experiences. If you want laughs, try comedy and performance.

Need more office Christmas party ideas? Our sister guide, Christmas party ideas for work, goes through more formats, from quiet lunches to full evenings out.

5. Book early and confirm the details in writing

Good venues and suppliers go first. Book now, not in November. Once you have a yes, get these points in writing:

• the date, start time and finish time
• the exact price and what it includes
• food, drink and dietary options
• step-free access and quiet space
• the cancellation terms

Ask suppliers if they can come to your office. Many suppliers can run a session on site. A party in your own space saves travel and costs, and it’s easier for people who need to leave early. If your teams are spread out, our guides to team building activities in London and team building activities in Manchester list local options.

6. Plan the day itself

A little structure stops an office Christmas party from drifting. Send a short message a week before with the time, place, food and finish time. Say how people get home safely. Remind them that taking part is optional but welcome.

On the day, arrive early. Put one person on the door to greet people, because nobody wants to walk into a room alone. Start the activity within the first half hour, while people are still fresh. Serve food before the drinks run too long.

Then keep an eye on the room. If someone looks stuck, introduce them to someone else. Set a clear end time and stick to it. People remember how a party ended.

For a light moment, hand out a few joke prizes. Our list of funny employee awards is a good place to steal from. Keep the jokes kind and avoid anything personal.

7. Follow up while the memory is fresh

The job isn’t done at the final goodbye. Within two days, send a thank-you note and any photos people agreed to share. Ask three quick questions: what worked, what didn’t, and what should we do next year?

Write the answers down and save them with the supplier names, the invoice and the guest list. Next October, whoever gets handed the office Christmas party will thank you. That person might even be you, with a much shorter to-do list.

How Much Should an Office Christmas Party Cost?

There isn’t one right figure for an office Christmas party. It depends on your company size, your location and how much the business wants to spend on staff. Prices also change with group size, so ask for a quote early. Ask your finance team for a budget per head, then work backwards.

A shared activity in your own office is often cheaper than a restaurant night. Get quotes from at least two suppliers, and ask what’s included before you compare prices.

When Should You Book an Office Christmas Party?

As early as you can, ideally in October. Popular dates in the two weeks before Christmas go first. If you can’t get one, ask about a weekday or an early December slot. Both are easier to book and often easier for staff to attend.

How Do You Include Everyone in an Office Christmas Party?

Ask people what they need, and act on the answers. Offer good non-alcoholic drinks, check dietary needs and choose a venue with step-free access. Give remote staff a real way to take part, such as a travel budget or a parallel event.

Pick an activity with no skill barrier. A cookery class, a craft workshop or a team mystery lets people join in at their own pace.

What If Some Staff Don’t Want to Come?

Some won’t, and that’s fine. Make the invitation warm and the party optional. Don’t track who attends or ask people to explain themselves. A relaxed tone does more for turnout than any reminder email.

If numbers are low, a daytime event or a shorter session may suit more people. Ask for honest feedback afterwards and use it for next year.

The Best Office Christmas Party Is the One People Can Say Yes To

A good plan beats a big budget. Set the money, choose a date, include everyone and book an activity people can join without fear. Do those four things and the rest is detail.

If you start now, you’ll have time to enjoy it yourself. The person who organised it deserves a mince pie too.

Team spread across offices, or based in the US? A virtual option such as Escape From The Meeting works for everyone, wherever they log in.

Photos supplied by Moonstone Murders and Ground Up Cookery School.