My husband and I both grew up in Henley-on-Thames, and still live nearby. Each year in the Summer, we see tourists flock to see one of the biggest sporting spectacles in England; the Henley Royal Regatta.
Having been to the event more times than we can count, we thought that we would compile a local’s guide for the 2025 events. I’ll cover everything you need to know, including where to stay, what to wear and all the options you have for food and drink. It really is your ultimate guide written by locals.
Henley Royal Regatta | Your Local Guide 2025
What is the Henley Royal Regatta?
Henley Regatta is undoubtedly the best known regatta in the world. It is one of the highlights of the English summer sporting season, as well as a special event in the social calendar. The Regatta first appeared way back in 1839 when the people of Henley made it a public attraction with a fair and other amusements. The emphasis on the rowing soon became clear and the competition duration was extended from a single afternoon to a five-day event.
Henley Dates 2025
Regatta takes place annually in the final week of June and attracts thousands of visitors from all across the world. During the 5-day period, more than 200 races take place, with domestic and international crews battling against each other to win one of the several rowing trophies on offer.
In 2025, the dates are:
Tuesday 1st of July to Sunday 6th of July.
The times of the races vary throughout the week. In 2025, the times are as follows:
Tuesday: Races from 09:00
Wednesday to Friday: Races from 08:30
Saturday: Races from 09:30
Sunday: Races from 11:00
Which Days are Best?
All of the days at Henley Royal Regatta offer something different. The quieter days are Tuesday through to Friday. These are the knock-out stages (Heats) and gradually get busier as you move towards the weekend. Given the time of the week, these are less sociable but mean that you can enjoy the event more.
Saturday is the busiest day. You’ll find the entire bank of the river up to Temple Island filled up with people from all over. It is a great, sociable experience, but be prepared for Henley to be busy. If you are going on the Saturday but have not booked into an enclosure, make sure that you arrive early.
Sunday is reserved for the Finals. Usually, this day is relatively quiet after the busy evening on Saturday. It is usually reserved for those who are really keen for rowing.
What to Expect from a Day in an Enclosure at Henley Regatta
When you attend Henley, you’ll have a choice of paying for an Enclosure or not. If it is your first time, I would whole-heartedly recommend paying for one of these. If you can, try and get tickets for Stewards. If not though, there are plenty of others than line the banks of the river.
We are lucky enough to go to the Stewards Enclosure every so often. The atmosphere is what would expect and the entire area is immaculately decorated. To enter any enclosure (but particularly Stewards) you’ll need to dress appropriately. For men, this means a blazer and chinos. For women, a long summery dress, preferably with a hat.
Upon entering, you’ll receive a tag that must be worn at all times. You also have exclusive access to the bars and cafes where you can pick up lunch and drinks. Whilst you have to pay for these, it is always excellent.
The main benefit of an enclosure has to be seating arrangements and the views. Whilst the banks are free, you do have to either sit on the muddy bank or a picnic chair. Stewards has picnic tables and lovely deck chairs right next to the finish line. This also means that there is a lively, competitive atmosphere, which is what the day is all about.
Tickets to enclosures are not cheap. If you are not that fussed about the rowing, but just want an event, check out the Regatta Enclosure on earlier day. Tickets range from £36.00 – £56.00 this year and vary day by day.
Where to Stay for the Regatta
The Henley Royal Regatta sees a drastic increase to the population of Henley, along with all the prices that appear to go up too. This includes hotels and, annoyingly, taxis.
My best advice would be to avoid Henley accommodation if you can. The rates get crazily expensive and are just not worth it. Try staying in either Twyford, Reading, Wallingford or Nettlebed. These places have hotels and are not too far a drive away to Henley. Plus, these will be significantly cheaper than your Henley options.
Getting to Henley During Regatta
If you are not staying in Henley during Regatta, then you have a few options of getting there. The best option (from Reading or Twyford) has to be by train. These run every half an hour and are relatively cheap. Be prepared for them to be packed though and make sure that you get an early one to avoid disappointment.
Your next option is by car. For Taxis, do not use a Henley company. Again, these are all inflated during this time. Instead, call one from Reading. If you want to drive there by yourself, be prepared for parking to be miserable. I would suggest parking outside of the town centre and on to one of the many residential roads near Greys Road or St. Andrews Road. Plenty of these do not have double yellow lines and, whilst it is a good half an hour walk into town, you’ll be able to park for free.
Eating and Drinking at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley has some incredible choices for food and drinks. I have written about brunches in Henley before, along with brunches around Henley. Both of the posts go into some of my favourite restaurants in the area and are good all year round. My ultimate guide to Henley also covers some of my other favourite places.
For drinks, Henley has plenty of good pubs for you to try out. Again, I wrote about the best pubs in Henley for the Regatta before and this post covers all of my favourite places.
Adding to all of these are the pop-up stands along the river banks and in the enclosures. You can pretty much find anything you could want there and they are all good.
Final Thoughts | Henley Royal Regatta
The Henley Royal Regatta is a highlight of the year, whether you are into the rowing or not. Each day offers something different and it is well worth the money to enjoy an enclosure. I hope that you found my local’s guide useful. If you have any questions, please let me know. I always love hearing from you.
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Other posts that may help you:
- What to do around Oxfordshire for the May Bank Holiday: Local Advice
- Spring Time Around Oxfordshire
- Greys Court in the Spring | Oxfordshire
- What to do in Henley on Thames
Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoyed the post! If you have any questions about Henley Regatta OR the area in general please do get in touch in the comments below.
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Happy exploring,
Love Victoria X
