December may still be a couple of months away, but if you’re tasked with sorting the work Christmas party in London, now’s the time to get those plans going. From alcohol-fuelled immersive experiences to fancy meals, let’s leave the sales targets behind. After all, there’s only one thing every employee is looking forward to in December, and it ain’t the end-of-year All Hands meeting.
1–5. Feast on a fancy meal
There’s no better way to show your team you’ve had a good year than a slap-up meal. No soggy sarnies here, please: only the best for your company’s employees. There is no end to the options for a work Christmas party meal in London, but below our some of our faves:
🍴 The Laundry, Brixton, is one of my favourites for a roast; they also offer two Parisian-themed private dining rooms, which you can book for your work Christmas party. Groups of 10+ will be able to enjoy a special two-course set menu this winter, complete with complimentary pigs in blankets, a main, and a dessert.
🍴 Kolamba East, Liverpool Street, opened just this summer (August 2024), and offers a private dining room for up to 20 people, where your team can indulge in a sharing-style feasting menu that showcases the restaurant’s modern take on Sri Lankan home-cooking.
🍴The Murdér Express, Bethnal Green, is a captivating two-hour theatrical dining event set in a 1920s-style train carriage. As you savour a three-course meal prepared by top chefs, you and your team will become immersed in a murder mystery filled with drama and intrigue. The combination of live actors, exquisite cuisine, and stunning set design promises a fun evening out.
🍴Nessa in Soho – will serve a special festive menu for groups family-style. You can enjoy the likes of sage stuffing brioche and homemade cranberry sauce – a festive twist on Nessa’s signature black pudding brioche; For mains, there’s the option of whole roast chicken served on a bed of truffle potatoes and gravy or seabass pot au feu with roast turnips, onions and chive butter sauce, followed by a sharing Viennessa for dessert! (P.S.- The restaurant can seat up to 14 guests on one table and groups of 30 across several too!
🍴Now, if you’re looking for something fancy, JOIA, the Iberian restaurant and bar led by two Michelin-starred chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, will offer a festive tasting menu priced at £120 per person for groups of 10 or more at art’otel London Battersea Power Station. Diners can also enjoy this experience at JOIA’s 12-person chef’s table, which offers panoramic views of the Grade II* listed Battersea Power Station and a glimpse into the kitchen.
6–10. Hit the bars – but with a difference
Really and truly escape the mundane reality of your day job by attending an immersive cocktail experience. You and your colleagues may be transported to a whole different time, or even planet, with some of London’s cocktail experiences.
🍸 Despite being based in Hoxton, London will be far from your mind if you have your work Christmas party at Avora. The experience takes place in a whole different world; your team will enter the planet of Avora through a ‘laboratory portal’ (in matching jumpsuits, no less), and follow an intriguing storyline that’ll see you drinking cocktails, encountering native ‘Avorians’ and, ultimately, being faced with a moral conundrum.
🍸 Have a wild time with your colleagues (HR approved, obvs) at Wild West-themed Moonshine Saloon in Aldgate. There’ll be no complaints to the company about lack of drinks, as here you’re asked to smuggle in your own illicit moonshine (i.e. BYOB). The bartenders will then transform your booze into four personalised Old West cocktails. Throughout the experience you can roll the dice – quite literally – as you play a selection of games, chat with the local cowboys and cowgirls (actors), and perhaps even opt to embody specific characters. Things may get a little hairy… but will the sheriff foil the operation?
🍸 This unique venue offers a 1940s-themed underground experience, perfect for a nostalgic and quirky work Christmas party. Set in a former air raid shelter, speakeasy Cahoots transports guests back to post-war Britain with its vintage decor, retro cocktails, and swing music.
🍸Located in Covent Garden, Mr Fogg’s Tavern provides a truly festive Dickensian atmosphere for your work Christmas party. The venue boasts a dark wood interior, ample mistletoe, and a selection of seasonal drinks including mulled wine. Its Victorian-inspired decor and whimsical ambiance create the perfect setting for a memorable and cozy holiday gathering!
🍸The Escapologist is renowned as one of the best cocktail bars in London, it offers two distinct spaces for work Christmas parties: The Grand Hall for a more intimate setting, or The Vault for larger groups. This venue combines Victorian-inspired decor with a modern twist, serving up creative cocktails perfect for sophisticated yet fun-filled Christmas celebration.
11-12. Sing your heart out at karaoke
Below are two Secret London team outing-approved karaoke venues in London (i.e. we sang our hearts out here).
🎤 Discover the excitement of BAM Karaoke, the largest karaoke venue in Europe, this Christmas. This luxurious venue in Victoria features 22 uniquely themed private rooms, each equipped with iPads for song selection, and food orders. BAM offers over 40,000 songs to choose from!
🎤 Hotel Mama Shelter Shoreditch offers a unique and playful stay, with its karaoke rooms, French restaurant, and courtyard garden bar. Guests can enjoy singing in two dedicated karaoke rooms, which accommodate up to 15 people each.
13. Unleash your creativity at a sip and paint class
Experience a vibrant art masterclass at Neon Brush, where you’ll join your colleagues in painting under neon lights while enjoying drinks and music. This unique workshop invites you to experiment with colours in a black-lit, neo-futuristic setting. Whether you’re a complete amateur or a seasoned artist, you’re sure to create something beautiful. The closest available dates to Christmas are December 19–22, at Glazier’s Hall, near London Bridge.
14-15. Head on an immersive group adventure
Tis the season for group participation. We love mini golf, gaming bars, and general competitive games at Secret London; however, London is also full of many more unique options, which make for a great work Christmas party or get-together.
👯 Step back to 1605 at the Gunpowder Plot Experience, a unique adventure that combines virtual reality, live actors, and authentic sets to bring history to life in the Tower Hill Vaults. You and your team will find yourself part of a daring conspiracy, interacting with mysterious characters, and even encountering Tom Felton as Guy Fawkes. Also, there are cocktails. Score.
👯 Ever wondered if you could survive a Martian invasion? Well, you can face one with your colleagues at Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience this Christmas. This action-packed adventure on Leadenhall Street brings together talented character actors, heart-stopping special effects, and mesmerising virtual reality of a Martian invasion, all set to Jeff Wayne’s iconic score.
16-17. Keep things light with a fun afternoon
If drinks or evening activities seem a bit too overfamiliar for your liking, have a wholesome afternoon with your team instead.
❤️ Embrace your inner child and make a group booking for Bubble Planet in Wembley. For such bookings, the team at the venue will create a bespoke package for private or semi-private events, including cake, catering and merch. Add on top of that the huge ball pits, the nostalgic joy of blowing bubbles, and the VR experience, and you’ve got yourselves a truly fun afternoon.
❤️ Knightsbridge’s Paradox Museum offers exclusive full-venue hire for corporate bookings, meaning you can take the whole office into a world of optical illusions for a few hours. Tower over your manager in the room with the ‘little and large’ illusion, or perhaps send the HR team into a spin in the Zero Gravity room. The museum can also provide food and drink options upon request.