Finding the Perfect Setting for Your Next Team Away Day

Some events need more than four walls and flip charts!

If your away day, incentive, strategy day or Q1 kick-off is designed to energise and excite, the venue should do the same. The right location can lift the tone of the whole day and directly influence how people show up.

Here’s how to find a space that inspires, connects and leaves a lasting impression.

1. Think Experience First

What do you want people to feel when they arrive? Energised? Appreciated? Motivated?
The venue sets that tone before the first session even begins.

A sleek city rooftop, an immersive museum space or a countryside retreat all create very different mindsets. Start with the feeling you want to evoke and work backwards; it’s the most reliable way to land on a venue that matches your event’s purpose.

2. Choose Venues That Encourage Energy

Look for layouts that support movement, creativity and connection.
Spaces with natural light, flexible breakout areas, or informal lounge zones can transform a standard meeting into an engaging day.

For kick-offs, these touches help the energy stay high. For incentives, they reinforce that sense of reward and recognition.

3. Plan the Flow

Creative doesn’t mean chaotic.
Think through the rhythm of the day; where will people arrive, mingle, break, and regroup? Can the AV setup adapt between sessions? Is there outdoor access or quiet corners to recharge?

Small details like this keep energy levels consistent and prevent the “mid-afternoon slump”.

4. Check the Practicalities

Even the most imaginative space needs to function flawlessly.
Check the essentials early: capacity, accessibility, catering options, Wi-Fi, parking, and breakout flexibility. A great concept falls flat if the logistics don’t align.

5. Make It Memorable

A venue that feels different stays in people’s minds.
That doesn’t mean quirky for the sake of it, it means choosing somewhere that reflects your brand and your goals.

A modern brewery could be perfect for a relaxed Q1 celebration. A design-led hotel might set the tone for a creative strategy session. A heritage space could remind your team how far you’ve come. The right choice does more than host your day; it enhances it.

Final Thought

Selecting a creative away day venue isn’t about being bold for the sake of it, it’s about alignment. When the space reflects your energy, ambition and objectives, the whole event feels sharper and more memorable.

A Few Ideas to Spark Inspiration

From countryside retreats with built-in wellness activities to design-led city hotels that blend work and style, the UK offers incredible variety for away days. You might look at coastal properties with fresh-air breakout spaces, converted barns for team creativity, or contemporary venues with rooftop terraces and private dining rooms. The right choice depends on your brief  and how you want your team to feel when the day ends.

Need venue inspiration for your next away day or kick-off?

Every great away day starts with the right setting. Tell me what you want your team to feel, and I’ll find a venue that delivers it.

Send me your brief and I’ll share my top recommendations — venues that do more than ✅

About Venue Path

Venue Path offers free, expert-led venue finding for corporate events across the UK and Europe. With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and events industry, I help you find the right space — whether it's for a conference, retreat, incentive, away day, group accommodation or strategy session.

Every venue is carefully matched to your brief, budget, and company ethos, with options for sustainable sourcing, off-the-radar venues, and event management support if needed.