Discover Henley On Thames

Henley On Thames combines experiences on the river, green paths and a remarkable history. The Thames shapes many impressions: you can combine walks by the water with wildlife observation, boating events, a historic bridge or the traditional Henley Royal Regatta. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore worth deciding first what pace you want for your trip: should it be shaped primarily by activity and scenery, by culture and history, or by special events on the river?

Between the Thames, meadows and nature trails

Mill and Marsh Meadows form Henley’s most important recreational park and have Green Flag status. The riverside path beside Mill and Marsh Meadows is part of the 184-mile Thames Path National Trail. Marsh Meadows also includes a nature area with reeds, shallow ponds and a damp, flower-rich meadow designated as a nature conservation area. For you, this combination offers a clear choice between a riverside walk and quieter observation of nature around the ponds and meadows.

Anyone who wants to get to know Henley On Thames on foot will find several different options. The Henley Short Loop leads from Henley station through Mill Meadows and along the Thames Path National Trail. There are also self-guided walking routes that can be explored independently of a guided event. The surrounding area can also be experienced from a different perspective by bicycle: the short Henley-on-Thames cycling route starts in Henley-on-Thames and returns to the riverside town. From the centre of Henley-on-Thames, you can also follow the signs for the Chilterns Cycleway to Frieth.

Regattas and boat trips on the Thames

The Henley Royal Regatta was first held in 1839 and has taken place annually ever since, except in the years affected by the two world wars and the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 400 races take place over six days during the regatta. These figures demonstrate the special place rowing holds in Henley’s history and events calendar. If you are planning a trip around this event, you should take the character of the regatta as a multi-day sporting event into account when considering a holiday apartment, without overlooking the town’s other aspects.

For an immediate Thames experience, Hobbs of Henley offers regular sightseeing cruises as well as themed and seasonal boating events on the Thames. Alongside the regatta, this provides another opportunity to experience the river from the water. A tour of real filming locations from the television series Midsomer Murders instead focuses on storytelling and leads to well-known locations in Henley-on-Thames.

Historic places in the townscape

Henley-on-Thames also has notable historic points of reference away from the river. Henley Bridge is a Georgian bridge originally built in 1786. The Old Bell in Bell Street was built in 1325 and is considered the oldest building in the town. St. Mary’s Church has existed since the 13th century. The Kenton Theatre is another attraction in Henley-on-Thames. Together with the tour of filming locations, these places provide several cultural points of interest for a town walk and make Henley a destination where interests in nature and history can comfortably coexist.

Which base suits your trip?

Henley station is a five-minute walk from the Thames and the town centre. There are also regular bus services to and from Maidenhead, High Wycombe, Reading and Wallingford. You can take these points into account when choosing your accommodation if a good connection between your arrival, town visit and river experience is important to you. Those who want to focus on walks and cycling routes can compare the routes mentioned when planning their trip. For a culture-focused trip, the bridge, The Old Bell, St. Mary’s Church, the Kenton Theatre and the filming locations offer various themes that can be spread across your stay.

For further places to research, you can also look at Sparsholt, North Stoke, Charlbury, Clanfield, Charney Bassett, Waterstock, Duns Tew and Chesterton.

For the higher-level travel overview: Oxfordshire.