--- title: "Away Day Cost Per Person | Rocket Fuel" description: "Typical UK away day cost per person, with example budgets for half-day, full-day and premium formats plus practical ways to control spend." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Rocket Fuel", "url": "https://rocketfuelevents.com", "logo": "https://rocketfuelevents.com/assets/logo.png", "description": "Find and book unforgettable corporate team building, wellness, incentive, and kickstarter events across the UK.", "sameAs": [] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "How Much Does a Company Away Day Cost in the UK?", "description": "Typical UK away day cost per person, with example budgets for half-day, full-day and premium formats plus practical ways to control spend.", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Rocket Fuel" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Rocket Fuel", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://rocketfuelevents.com/assets/logo.png" } }, "datePublished": "2026-07-27T20:58:18.314292+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-07-27T20:58:18.314292+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://rocketfuelevents.com/guides/company-away-days/how-much-does-an-away-day-cost" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://rocketfuelevents.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Guides", "item": "https://rocketfuelevents.com/guides" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "How to Plan a Company Away Day", "item": "https://rocketfuelevents.com/guides/company-away-days" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How Much Does a Company Away Day Cost in the UK?", "item": "https://rocketfuelevents.com/guides/company-away-days/how-much-does-an-away-day-cost" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is a reasonable away day cost per person in the UK?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A reasonable away day cost per person in the UK is typically £75–£250 for a full-day event with venue hire, refreshments, lunch and one activity. A simple half-day may be £40–£90 per person, while premium or residential formats can reach £300–£600+ per person when dinner, accommodation and travel are included." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is a half-day away day much cheaper than a full-day away day?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A half-day is usually cheaper because you reduce catering, room hire time and activity duration. Typical half-day budgets are around £40–£90 per person, compared with £75–£250 for a standard full day. However, some fixed costs, such as facilitator fees or minimum venue hire, may not reduce by half." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much should we budget for team building during an away day?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "For team building, allow roughly £25–£120 per person depending on the format, materials, staffing and location. A short energiser may be at the lower end, while a structured hosted activity with equipment, facilitators and scoring will cost more. For large groups, ask whether tiered pricing is available." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do away day prices usually include VAT?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Not always. Many venue and supplier quotes, especially business-to-business quotes, are shown excluding VAT. Always ask whether prices are inclusive or exclusive of VAT before comparing options. A quote that appears cheaper can become 20% higher once VAT is added, which can significantly change the final cost per person." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much contingency should I add to an away day budget?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Add a contingency of around 10–15% for most away days. This should cover small changes such as additional attendees, dietary requests, AV extras, transport adjustments or extra materials. For residential events, outdoor activities or events with several suppliers, a higher contingency may be sensible." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the cheapest way to run a useful company away day?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The cheapest useful format is usually a focused half-day using your office or a low-cost local venue, with simple catering and one well-planned internal workshop or affordable hosted activity. Keep travel minimal, avoid premium dates, and spend only on elements that directly support the purpose of the day." } } ] } ] --- [info@rocketfuelevents.com](mailto:info@rocketfuelevents.com) [Host](/become-a-host)[Blog](/blog)[Contact Us](/contact) [![Rocket Fuel](/assets/logo-CHXibbtv.svg)](/) [Team Building](/team-building)[Charitable](/charitable)[Wellness](/wellness)[Incentives](/incentives)[Kickstarters](/kickstarters) [Venue Finder](/venues)[Browse All Events](/browse) Open menu [Home](/)[Guides](/guides)[How to Plan a Company Away Day](/guides/company-away-days) # How Much Does a Company Away Day Cost in the UK? A practical breakdown of typical UK away day costs per person, from venues and catering to activities, facilitation and hidden extras. 5 min read The short answer A typical away day cost per person in the UK is around £75–£250 for a full-day event, excluding major travel or overnight stays. A simple half-day can start from £40–£90 per person, while premium facilitated away days, central venues or residential formats can rise to £300–£600+ per person. ## What is the typical away day cost per person? For most UK companies, the typical **away day cost per person** sits somewhere between **£75 and £250** for a full-day event. That usually covers a meeting space or venue hire contribution, refreshments, lunch and one structured team activity or facilitated session. A lean internal away day can cost less, particularly if you use your own office or a low-cost community venue. At the other end, a fully facilitated away day in a premium city venue, with travel, dinner or overnight accommodation, can move well beyond £300 per person. As a working guide, use these ranges: - **Simple half-day:** £40–£90 per person - **Standard full-day:** £75–£250 per person - **Premium full-day:** £250–£400 per person - **Residential away day:** £300–£600+ per person These are typical UK planning ranges, not fixed prices. Your final cost will depend on location, group size, venue type, catering level, activity choice, AV requirements, travel and whether you bring in an external facilitator. > The quickest way to budget is to decide the format first: half-day, full-day or residential. Most cost decisions flow from that. For the wider planning process, see [How to Plan a Company Away Day](/guides/company-away-days). ## What does an away day budget usually include? A company away day budget is normally made up of several separate cost lines. Some suppliers quote an all-inclusive delegate rate, while others price venue hire, catering and activities separately. Always compare quotes on a like-for-like basis. Typical cost lines include: - **Venue hire or day delegate rate:** meeting room, breakout space, furniture, basic AV and staffing - **Catering:** tea, coffee, snacks, lunch, dietary requirements and sometimes drinks - **Activities:** team building, wellness sessions, charitable activities, creative workshops or competitive tasks - **Facilitation:** external host, trainer or workshop leader - **AV and production:** screens, microphones, hybrid kit, lighting or technical support - **Travel:** trains, coaches, taxis, mileage or parking - **Materials:** stationery, printed packs, name badges, branded items or prizes - **Insurance and contingency:** often overlooked, but useful for larger events If you are browsing options, Rocket Fuel lists a wide range of [team building activities](/team-building), [wellness events](/wellness), [charitable events](/charitable) and [venues](/venues) that can be matched to different budgets. ## How much do venues and catering cost? Venue and catering are often the biggest part of the away day cost per person, especially in major cities. ### Typical venue and catering ranges Approximate UK ranges are: - **Basic meeting room hire:** £300–£1,000 per day, depending on location and capacity - **Day delegate rate:** £35–£95 per person for room hire, refreshments and lunch - **Premium city venue day delegate rate:** £80–£150+ per person - **Tea and coffee breaks:** £4–£10 per person per break - **Working lunch:** £12–£30 per person - **Hot buffet or seated lunch:** £25–£60 per person - **Post-event drinks:** £15–£40+ per person, depending on duration and bar arrangement A day delegate rate can be easier to manage because it bundles key items into one per-person price. However, check what is actually included. Some venues charge extra for screen hire, flipcharts, room turnaround, service charges, cloakroom support or late access. ### Location makes a noticeable difference London, Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and other high-demand locations will usually sit at the higher end of the range. Out-of-town hotels, business centres and regional venues can be more cost-effective, particularly for larger teams. If your team is based in or around London, location choice can have a major impact on travel time and cost. You may find it useful to compare options in [The Best Away Day Locations Near London](/guides/company-away-days/away-day-locations-near-london). ## How much should you budget for activities and facilitation? Activities vary widely in cost. The right amount to spend depends on whether the activity is a short energiser, the main focus of the day, or part of a wider strategy session. Typical UK ranges include: - **Short icebreaker or energiser:** £10–£30 per person - **Simple hosted team activity:** £25–£60 per person - **Structured team building event:** £45–£120 per person - **Wellness session:** £20–£80 per person - **Charitable team activity:** £40–£120 per person, depending on materials and donation element - **External facilitator or trainer:** £750–£2,500+ per day - **Senior leadership or strategy facilitator:** £1,500–£5,000+ per day For a 40-person team, a £75 per person activity is a £3,000 line item. That may be good value if it supports the day’s objective, but expensive if it is only a filler between meetings. Facilitation is worth considering when the away day has a serious business purpose: strategy alignment, leadership development, culture change, conflict resolution or post-restructure rebuilding. For lighter morale and connection events, a hosted activity may be enough. ## Example away day budgets by format The easiest way to estimate your budget is to build a simple per-person model. Below are realistic examples for a UK team of around 30–80 people. Smaller groups may pay more per person because fixed venue, facilitator and staffing costs are spread across fewer attendees. ### Budget half-day away day: £40–£90 per person Typical format: - Local meeting room or office space - Tea, coffee and snacks - Light lunch or breakfast - One short facilitated activity or internal workshop - Minimal AV and no group travel Example budget: - Room contribution: £10–£25 per person - Catering: £15–£30 per person - Activity or materials: £15–£35 per person - Contingency: £5–£10 per person Best for updates, team reset sessions, planning workshops and smaller departments. ### Standard full-day away day: £75–£250 per person Typical format: - External venue with day delegate rate - Refreshments and lunch included - Morning business session - Afternoon team building or wellbeing activity - Basic AV and event support Example budget: - Venue and catering: £50–£110 per person - Activity: £40–£90 per person - Facilitation or host: £15–£40 per person, depending on group size - Materials and contingency: £10–£25 per person This is the most common format for team away days because it gives enough time for business content and connection without the added cost of accommodation. ### Premium or residential away day: £300–£600+ per person Typical format: - High-quality venue or hotel - Full-day meeting agenda - Facilitated workshops - Team activity - Dinner and drinks - Overnight accommodation, if residential - Transport support Example budget: - Venue, catering and meeting space: £100–£200 per person - Activity and facilitation: £100–£250 per person - Dinner and drinks: £60–£150 per person - Accommodation: £120–£250+ per person - Travel and contingency: £40–£100+ per person This format is better suited to senior teams, annual planning, leadership offsites or incentive-style events where the business value justifies the higher spend. For reward-led events, browse [incentive events](/incentives) for ideas. ## What hidden costs should you allow for? Away day budgets often overrun because the small extras are not captured early. Build in a contingency of **10–15%** for most events, and more if the event involves travel, multiple suppliers or weather-dependent activity. Common hidden costs include: - VAT, if quotes are shown excluding VAT - Venue service charge or minimum spend - AV upgrades beyond basic screen and sound - Extra room hire for breakouts or private dining - Early access, late finish or weekend supplements - Dietary requirements that carry an additional charge - Transport between station, venue and activity site - Parking charges - Speaker or facilitator travel expenses - Materials, printing, prizes or branded items - Wet-weather backup plans - Cancellation or postponement charges A practical approach is to create three budget columns: **essential**, **preferred** and **optional**. Essentials are items the day cannot run without. Preferred items improve the event but could be adjusted. Optional items are the first to remove if costs rise. ## How can you reduce the away day cost per person? Cost control does not have to mean a weaker event. It usually means being clearer about the objective and removing spend that does not support it. Use these practical steps: 1. **Set the objective before choosing suppliers.** A planning day, wellbeing day and celebration need different budgets. 2. **Choose the right length.** A half-day can work well for focused outcomes and lower catering costs. 3. **Avoid peak dates.** Thursdays, Fridays and pre-Christmas dates are often more expensive or harder to book. 4. **Use a venue with a delegate rate.** Bundled pricing can make approval easier and reduce surprises. 5. **Keep travel simple.** Pick somewhere with strong public transport links rather than relying on taxis. 6. **Limit the number of paid extras.** One strong activity is usually better than several short add-ons. 7. **Confirm VAT and service charges early.** This avoids awkward budget gaps later. 8. **Use internal speakers where appropriate.** Save external facilitation for sessions that need neutrality or specialist skill. 9. **Get scalable activity pricing.** Per-person rates can drop for larger groups, but minimum fees may apply. 10. **Hold a clear contingency.** It is better to plan for 10–15% than to request extra budget late. If you want help finding suitable formats within a set budget, you can browse [all events](/browse) or [contact Rocket Fuel](/contact) with your group size, location and target cost per person. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a reasonable away day cost per person in the UK? ### Is a half-day away day much cheaper than a full-day away day? ### How much should we budget for team building during an away day? ### Do away day prices usually include VAT? ### How much contingency should I add to an away day budget? ### What is the cheapest way to run a useful company away day? ## Related reading - [How to Plan a Company Away Day](/guides/company-away-days) - [Away Day Agenda Template (With Timings)](/guides/company-away-days/away-day-agenda-template) - [The Best Away Day Locations Near London](/guides/company-away-days/away-day-locations-near-london) - [Half-Day vs Full-Day Away Days](/guides/company-away-days/half-day-vs-full-day-away-days) On this page - [What is the typical away day cost per person?](#what-is-the-typical-away-day-cost-per-person) - [What does an away day budget usually include?](#what-does-an-away-day-budget-usually-include) - [How much do venues and catering cost?](#how-much-do-venues-and-catering-cost) - [How much should you budget for activities and facilitation?](#how-much-should-you-budget-for-activities-and-facilitation) - [Example away day budgets by format](#example-away-day-budgets-by-format) - [What hidden costs should you allow for?](#what-hidden-costs-should-you-allow-for) - [How can you reduce the away day cost per person?](#how-can-you-reduce-the-away-day-cost-per-person) Ready to plan? 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