Henley-on-Thames
From World travel guide
Henley-on-Thames, home of the Royal Regatta
Henley-on-Thames is a town on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England. Henley is perhaps most famous as the home of the well-known international rowing tournament, the Henley Royal Regatta [1], held each year in late June and early July.
(NB: Henley-on-Thames should not be confused with Henley-in-Arden).
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Get in
Henley is the terminus of a railway branch line that joins the main Reading to London line at Twyford; however most branch line trains continue on to Reading. Train times can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling 0845-748-4950 from anywhere in the UK.
Alternatively the town is about 6 miles north-east from Reading on the A4155.
Get around
All locations in and around the town are walkable or drivable. During the Regatta, the Thames is teeming with classical launches, which are available for booking well in advance of events.
See
- The River and Rowing Museum [2], Mill Meadows (5 mins walk from town center and rail station), tel 415600, open daily 10am-5pm. Admission £2-3 - an excellent museum which charts the history of both the River Thames and rowing as a sport.
Do
- Henley Royal Regatta [3] - held every summer since 1839 (except during the two world wars), the Royal Regatta is a unique five-day tournament of international rowing that draws top competitors and spectators from around the world
- the Henley Festival of Music and Arts [4] - in the weeks following the Royal Regatta, Henley plays host to a growing music and arts festival, the calibre of the acts increasing in range and importance every year...
Buy
Eat
Hart Street and Market Place, which run inland from the river at Henley Bridge are lined with restaurants, cafes and pubs.
- Catherine Wheel, Hart Street, tel 845790. One of Henley's old coaching inns, this pub now does food and drink at very reasonable prices. £7-10.
- Pizza Express [5], Market Place, tel 411448. Serves good pizzas in a building dating back to 1408. Open M-Su 11:30am-midnight. £7-15.
- Green Olive, Market Place, tel 412220. A locally owned Greek bar and restaurant which has a lively atmosphere and does good-value meze. £10-20.
- Loch Fyne [6], Market Place, tel 845780. This restaurant provides excellent (and apparently eco-friendly) seafood in an attractive environment with a separate oyster bar and (for summer) tables in the market place itself. Open M–Su 9am-10pm. £10-25.
Drink
Sleep
- the Catherine Wheel, Hart Street, tel 848484. The Catherine Wheel (see above) also provides Lodge style rooms. £59 (per room).
- the Imperial Hotel [7], Station Road, tel 578678. Located in an Edwardian building near the rail station and about five minutes walk from the center of Henley, this hotel has been restored and refurbished to 3 star standard over the past few years, sympathetically keeping its many original features to ensure it retains its unique character. The rooms are small but all are en-suite. £60-£85 (standard single room); £90-£110 (standard double room); £85-£120 (executive single room); £100-£130 (executive double room); all rates include breakfast.
- the Red Lion Hotel [8], Hart Street, tel 572161. Located next to the river at the foot of Hart Street, and dating back to the fifteenth century, three kings of England have stayed at this prestigous hotel. The hotels age notwithstanding, all bedrooms benefit from en-suite bathrooms, with many rooms overlooking the river Thames and the views beyond. £110 (single room); £130 (double/twin room); £165 (four poster room); all rates include breakfast.
Get out
Contact
Phone
Henley's area code is 01491 when dialed from within the UK or +441491 from outside the UK.
