Henley enjoys many major events during the course of the year, but even when these aren’t on there is plenty to do, below are a few suggestions with more details and ideas.
Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery (Family run since 1980)
Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Old Luxters is home to 'Chiltern Valley Wines', its Vineyard, Winery, Old Luxters Brewery, Liqueur making facilities and cellar shop. Our first vines were planted in 1982 on the slopes of the Chiltern Hills, surrounded by beech woodland and overlooking the beautiful Hambleden Valley near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, UK.
Modern production, bottling and labelling facilities, cellar shop and wine vats are all housed in traditional farm buildings.
Greys Court is a Tudor country house and gardens in the southern Chiltern Hills at Rotherfield Greys, near Henley-on-Thames in the county of Oxfordshire, England. Now owned by the National Trust, it is located at grid reference SU725834, and is open to the public.
The name derives from an old connection to the Grey family, descendants of the Norman knight Anchetil de Greye. The estate or manor of Rotherfield Greys is referred to in the Domesday Book.
Address: Chiltern Hills AONB, Rotherfield Greys, Henley-on-Thames RG9 4PG
Phone: 01491 628529
Architectural style: Elizabethan architecture
The house at Nuffield Place typifies early 20th-century taste and thrift; revealing the home life of Lord and Lady Nuffield. Even with a fortune behind them, they still enjoyed the simpler things in life. Their home and personal possessions are just as they left them, giving visitors a true experience of how they would have lived their lives.
Nuffield Place was Lord Nuffield’s home from 1933 until his death in 1963. Originally named Merrow Mount, the house was designed by Oswald Patridge Milne in 1914 for Sir John Bowring Wimble, a shipping magnate.
When Sir John Wimble died, his widow sold the house to William Morris. Having just been raised to peerage, Morris took his title from the local village and renamed the house Nuffield Place.
The River and Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, is located on a site at Mill Meadows by the River Thames.[1] It has three main themes represented by major permanent galleries, the non-tidal River Thames, the international sport of rowing and the local town of Henley-on-Thames.
It was officially opened in November 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II.[4] Major benefactors include The Arbib Foundation run by local businessmen Sir Martyn Arbib and Urs Schwarzenbach.
Stonor Park is an historic country house and private deer park situated in a valley in the Chiltern Hills at Stonor, about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, England, close to the county boundary with Buckinghamshire.
Stonor Park has been the Stonor family’s residence for 850 years.
Making it one of the oldest family homes still lived in today. When you visit, you will see why. It’s beautiful. Our historic building and sweeping grounds are breathtaking. And our family collection of art and artefacts is extraordinary. It’s fascinating. You can view the work of St. Edmund Campion, created when he was given refuge here in 1581. And outside sits our oldest resident: a perfectly preserved prehistoric stone circle.
Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It differs from the three other regattas rowed over approximately the same course, Henley Women's Regatta, Henley Masters Regatta and Henley Town and Visitors' Regatta, each of which is an entirely separate event.
Henley Royal Regatta is undoubtedly the best known regatta in the world and is both one of the highlights of the summer sporting calendar and the social season.
It attracts thousands of visitors over a 5-day period and spectators will be thrilled by over 200 races of an international standard, including Olympians and crews new to the event.
High up in the Chiltern hills, Warburg Nature Reserve is a remote and magnificent place, rich in exciting plants and animals all through the year.
The flower-rich grasslands in the valley bottom give way to extensive woodlands rising up the valley sides. It is the richest BBOWT site in the three counties for orchids. From April right through to August orchids can be found in all of the habitats, including fly orchid and bird's-nest orchid. Warburg Nature Reserve even has its own microclimate with exceptionally cold temperatures on winter nights.
Hobbs of Henley
Passenger boats cruise the 1 mile 550 yards of the Regatta Course from its finishing point by the bridge in the town centre to the starting point at Temple Island, continuing downstream to turn at pretty Hambleden Lock. Rowing boats and launches can also be hired from Hobbs of Henley's boathouse in Station Road. The Henley Tea Rooms, just yards from the boathouse, will make up a picnic.
The Thames Path National Trail runs through Henley, tempting walkers of all abilities out into beautiful countryside. Heading downstream from Henley, the Path follows the Regatta course to Hambleden Lock with refreshment at The Flower Pot at Aston. Heading upstream, there are wonderful views of the river as it winds through green meadows on a gentle 2½ mile walk along the Thames Path from Henley to Lower Shiplake. First Great Western run frequent train services back from Lower Shiplake to Henley on the Regatta Line.
There are a number of other promoted walks from Henley that explore the Chilterns at first hand. These range from short circular walks to long distance walks such as the Oxfordshire Way.
The Chilterns Cycleway also passes through Henley, making this a popular stop-off for cyclists.
Hambleden – 3 miles from Henley in the beautiful Hamble Valley. This pretty village of brick and flint cottages, medieval church and Stag & Huntsman inn has provided the location for numerous period film and TV productions. Reach it on foot from Henley via the Chilterns Country Thames and Chilterns Walk, following the Hambleden Brook with red kites soaring overhead.
Golden Ball, Michelin Guide recommended for 8 consecutive years, including 2017, Voted Best Sunday Lunch 2013. Extensive catering services
for weddings, parties and hospitality. Golden Ball is right next door from us. Let us know if you would like to book a table.
The Five Horseshoes is a lovely 16th Century country pub with brass, wrought iron, beams, log fires, with fine ales and excellent wines, large conservatory restaurant area and two snug bar areas.
The Croocked Billet. Speciality is taking traditional English dishes and giving them a modern twist to intensify the flavours and textures to produce a delightful dining experience. We strive to make our food really interesting, beautiful to look at and tasty.
The team at Shaun Dickens at The Boathouse have worked under the tutelage of some of the world's finest chefs, in many of the world's greatest restaurants. This knowledge and experience is interwoven with their youthful vibrancy, a determination to bring a creative and modern collection of ideas and flavours to the table.