There’s nothing worse than a team-building activity that feels awkward and like a chore rather than something that you’re meant to enjoy. That’s why we’ve pulled together this guide with 15 of the best team-building activities Manchester has to offer.
From escape rooms to axe throwing, skiing to shooting and more, there’s plenty of entertaining activities to keep everyone happy. Ditch the typical work pub crawl and give everyone the chance to feel included, leaving you with lasting memories and a stronger team bond instead of a hangover (unless you decide to hit the town afterwards, too – we’re not judging).
Use our search function to find even more things to do in Manchester and beyond.
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Book Now Salford Quays
11 Central
11 Central is another venture for Seven Bro7hers, only this time their Sis4ers are on board too so the bar is a fantastic mix of craft beer and craft gin.
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Spinningfields
Chaos Karts
Chaos Karts puts you in the driving seat of an immersive augmented reality experience, bringing real-life karting and gaming together.
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Trafford Park
Chill Factore
With 180m of downhill skiing and snowboarding, Chill Factore is the UK’s longest indoor real snow slope. And though you can’t compare it to the glistening slopes of Chamonix, it offers enough action to make a day trip there a must for anyone interested in snowsports (or just larking about on a sledge).
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Castlefield
The Crystal Maze Manchester
It’s a dream come true for kids of the 90s: a chance to show off your skills on the legendary TV game show, The Crystal Maze.
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Manchester City Centre
DNA VR
DNA VR is a virtual reality arcade with three different gameplay options. You can communicate with your friends through the VR headsets as you play and it’s all private. You play with your friends, not some randoms. Everything is overseen by your own VR wizard so you don’t succumb to the zombie apocalypse too quickly.
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Manchester City Centre
Escape Hunt | Corn Exchange
The ultimate rainy day activity (and Manchester certainly has its wealth of those), Escape Hunt at the Corn Exchange places you in a locked room for 60 minutes for fun.
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Manchester City Centre
Immersive Gamebox Manchester
Put down those phones, switch off your screens, and, er, stand in front of another one . . . but this time in your own personal gamebox at Immersive Gamebox in Manchester Arndale.
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Trafford Park
Inflata Nation Manchester
This indoor inflatable playground is an excellent way to tire out hyperactive kids on a rainy day and for that we thank them. The other fab thing about it is that adults are welcome too. Inflata Nation Manchester believes all ages can have fun bounding around and burrowing through ball pools. We can’t disagree.
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Manchester City Centre
Junkyard Golf Manchester
Junkyard Golf is Manchester’s original crazy crazy golf. There are imitators and imposters but this was the city’s first day-glo, booze-fuelled, loud, throbbing take on the traditional seaside game for kids.
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Manchester City Centre
Lane 7 Deansgate
With its glowing neon graffiti, low lighting, and hip hop soundtrack, Lane 7 in the Great Northern on Deansgate looks more like a punky 1980s nightclub than a wholesome, All American bowling alley.
As well as bowling, there is fancy-pants bowling with neon zig zags. A bit of a cross between a new restaurant opening and Blade Runner. All the bowling is pretty sleek and shiny though with the standard graffiti décor.
Non-bowling entertainment includes just about everything that could possibly be construed as competitive with the exception of tiddlywinks.
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Manchester City Centre
Point Blank Shooting Manchester
Point Blank Shooting is an interactive virtual shooting range designed to test yours and your teammates quick-draw skills.
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Book Now Manchester City Centre
Pong & Puck | Great Northern
Get your game face on with an afternoon of pool, shuffleboard and table tennis at Pong & Puck in The Great Northern.
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Manchester City Centre
Roxy Ball Room Manchester Arndale
With its ten pin bowling, pool tables, beer pong, and shuffleboard, Roxy Ball Room Manchester Arndale will keep you entertained for hours.
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Manchester City Centre
Sixes Social Cricket | Corn Exchange
Sixes Social Cricket opened in the Corn Exchange in August 2021, bringing a different kind of sporting experience to Manchester City Centre. Already a popular concept down south, Manchester might not be quite as bowled over with Cricket as it is with football, but don’t let that stop you.
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Trafford Park
TeamSport Go Karting: Trafford Park
TeamSport Go Karting: Trafford Park has 450 metres of adrenaline-fuelled GP circuit and a new fleet of Biz Evo3 adult karts so you can whizz round at speeds of up to 40mph.
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Prestwich
Treetop Trek Manchester
If you’re looking for a fun way to get outside and get active, try Treetop Trek Manchester at Heaton Park. It’s a chance to feel the breeze on your face and face your fears on a high-rope aerial adventure in the woods.
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Manchester City Centre
Urban Playground Manchester
Urban Playground Manchester is the place to go for an adrenaline-fuelled, ultra-competitive night out. Located in Manchester Arndale, it brings together high-tech games with bars and big-name dining from gourmet burger brand The Butcher.
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Manchester City Centre
Whistle Punks
Hearing the thud of axes can be a little unnerving as you leave the cinema in the Great Northern – especially after a slasher film – but the axe throwing at Whistle Punks is about letting off steam not cutting off limbs.
It’s competitive and a bit like darts really, only you’re throwing whacking great axes at the target instead. A bullseye with an axe is very satisfying indeed.
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Book Now Media City
Seven Bro7hers Middlewood Locks
Seven Bro7hers in Salford at the Middlewood Locks development is the ideal place for some al fresco eating and drinking by the canal, it’s scenic in a gentrified industrial waterside way. The inside is done out well too – handsome and high-ceilinged but with board games and a cosiness that bely the concrete and brick finish. It’s the perfect distance from town too as it’s short enough to be a pleasant stroll (about 7 minutes from Chapel Street) but far enough that you feel like you deserve a pint and a burger when you get there.