What to do in Henley on Thames

It struck me the other day that I have never actually done a blogpost highlighting what to do in Henley on Thames, my hometown and a place where I have so many amazing memories. It may nowadays be affiliated with the English elite and the world-famous Royal Regatta, but for me Henley will always be a quaint little town in the Oxfordshire valleys where you really can make the most of a day out. I thought I’d give you guys a local’s guide to what to do, where to eat, and a reason why you should visit this beautiful historic town.

What to do on a Sunny Day

If you have arrived in Henley on a sunny day; you’re in luck! The first thing you just have to do is walk down the river. You have two options. Firstly, you can stay on the ‘townside’ of the river, and walk towards the village of Shiplake. This walk takes you along a small path that follows the river, until eventually (a few miles, a few small bridges and gigantic train-set later) you reach the village. Here, you can either go for a walk around, or treat yourself to a drink in The Baskerville. Obviously, you don’t have to walk this far, and instead could walk a little bit, head back, and go towards The Angel on the Bridge, which has a large decking that sits atop the river, giving you an envious position for views and photographs on the River Thames. The second option of walking is to cross the historic bridge, and turn left towards the world-renowned Leander Rowing Club, where the majority of country’s leading rowers, such as Sir Steve Redgrave, have trained tirelessly to compete in the Olympics. From here you can walk towards Temple Island, which is a much quieter walk and gives you more chances to see the local wildlife, such as kingfishers or wading birds.

Aside from walking, another activity I would thoroughly recommend is to rent out a little boat from a company called Hobbs. For a reasonable price, you can rent out a boat with a small-engine and cruise down the tranquil waters of the Thames. On a summer’s day there is nothing really that beats the experience! Afterwards, why not stop and have an ice cream at Mill Meadows? On some weekends, you may be lucky enough to hear a live band whilst you sunbathe and relax. I would suggest getting here early on sunny days though, it can get pretty busy!

Oh no – It’s Raining!

Fear not reader, I have you covered here. Although river walks are not going to be the most highly recommended of activities, Henley-on-Thames still has lots to offer when the weather takes a turn for the worst. Firstly, Henley has lots of small shops where you can browse some really cool things that you couldn’t find anywhere else! One such shop to treat yourself in is the local Temptation Gifts or, for the children, the locally-famous Bagatelle toy shop which has everything a child could want! A more specialist shop, but still pretty cool nonetheless, is the Asquiths Teddy Bear Shop, where all the cuddly toys you ever have dreamt of live. I would certainly recommend visiting these three shops in particular if you were after uniqueness, you won’t be disappointed! Henley also boasts some chain shops too; Crew Clothing, Joules and Fat Face all have outlets here, each with their own Henley twist. I mean, is there anything more Henley than Crew Clothing??

If shopping just isn’t your thing, there are also other places that you can visit. The River and Rowing Museum by Mill Meadows tells the story of the town, including some fascinating points that you just would not hear anywhere else. To top it off, they also have a great little café where you can enjoy a light brunch whilst overlooking the river – it is certainly not somewhere to miss!

Regatta Season and the Henley Festival

If you are reading this blog, I am pretty sure that you have heard of the Henley Royal Regatta. It is an event that brings thousands of people to the small town every year, and sees many of the locals stay away from the town centre to avoid the madness. If you are planning a trip to Henley for this event, you need to book months in advanced. The hotels book up exceptionally quickly, and although you could stay in a nearby village, with traffic this may not be the best thing to do.

Make sure that you also book an enclosure for the day. Whilst some people are content sitting along the riverbank with their friends drinking Pimms, you don’t get the full experience, and truthfully, it all gets a bit too manic outside the enclosure. When you are in an enclosure, it can be a really unique and fun experience, and is something I would certainly recommend to anyone! There are restaurants and cafés inside them too, meaning that you don’t have to go far to get a scrumptious light lunch. Just make sure you wear a long dress for ladies, and gents don’t forget your blazer or chinos – you won’t be allowed in without either!

After Regatta week, the Henley Festival begins. Every year this sees hundreds of people flock to the river to relax and enjoy some great music atop a floating stage. This has seen artists ranging from Elton John to Olly Murs to perform, so you won’t be disappointed at all! At the point of writing this blog, tickets are available on their website, and this year sees Jessie J return to the stage. Dress code here is ever stricter than regatta however, and is exclusively black-tie.

A Foodie’s Paradise

Henley-on-Thames actually has an amazing variety of restaurants, whether that be simple pub-grub or more exotic cuisine. An example of the latter is Henley’s very own Mexican Restaurant, Pachangas. If you like Mexican food and a buzzing atmosphere, look no further. Despite being quite expensive, the food is exceptional here. Make sure that you get the cheese bread for starters, they are amazing. Henley also has a well-renowned Italian Restaurant by the river call Villa Marina. Here, they don’t serve your typical pizza and pasta, but instead deliver the finer cuisine of Italy. It is perfect for date nights, especially if you have a clear night as after you can go for a little stroll around the town. If more typical British cuisine is what you are after, and you are looking for a classic pub lunch or roast, check out my post on the top pubs in Henley.

On top of the independent food places, there are also chain restaurants in Henley too, whether that be your typical Zizzi’s (however, you won’t find another one like it!) or Giggling Squid. You’ll also find the likes of Coppa Club and Cote Brasserie. Both of these do a great plate of food all day, but especially at brunch! If you are looking for the perfect Henley brunch spot, check out this blog post.

Exploring the Surrounding Villages

‘What do to in Henley-on-Thames’ is slightly misleading, as I also want to talk about the surrounding areas. Henley is a beautiful town, but if you venture just a few miles out you come to the beautiful rolling hills of the Chilterns. My first recommendation is that you drive to Stonor just down the road that the locals call ‘the fairmile’. Down here, there is a stunning deer park where you can both explore a historic estate, and see lots of deer! Spring is one of the best times to explore this area and you will find plenty of spring flowers locations around Oxfordshire. My blog post about bluebells around Oxfordshire is a great way to enjoy this season.

Down the road from here is the village of Bix, and the Warburg Nature Reserve. I absolutely love this place, and both Jack and I have spent a lot of time here both now as adults, and when we were younger – Jack was even a volunteer for a few years! In the Spring and Summer, the walks are breath-taking, and you will get fully immersed in the English countryside. If you are lucky, you may even spot an elusive adder or slowworm. Warburg also boasts numerous species of butterfly, and on the right day you will be surrounded by a blizzard of colour as they fly around you. It is an opportunity not to miss! The road here is pretty bad however, so take it really slow and be prepared to use some manoeuvres!

Some nice restaurants just outside of Henley in the surrounding villages are very impressive, and boast a fantastic menu that certainly will not disappoint. One such place is the St. George and the Dragon, a riverside pub and restaurant in Wargrave. The menu here is good, and I really enjoy their location. Another good option is the Cherry Tree Inn found in Stoke Row. Some of the best food however is found at brunch and this blog post will help you plan your outings.

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

Flights

My usual go-to for booking flights is Skyscanner, the flight search engine. What I love about Skycanner is that you have various options depending on your situation. If you know where you want to go it’s easy – all you need is to search for your destination and dates, and you are provided with all flight options to choose from. If you haven’t decided on your next trip yet, you can use the Everywhere tool for inspiration and to find the cheapest places to fly to.

Accommodation

Whenever I plan my travels Booking.com is my best friend. The website is super easy to use and provides a whole range of accommodation from fancy resorts to budget hotels. Jack and I also regularly use Airbnb – in particular, for staycations in the UK.

Things I can’t travel without

As a travel blogger and keen photographer I never travel without my trusty technology. Always packed are my

Canon EOS M3
GoPro Hero5 Black
I’m also saving for a DJI Mavic Pro

Travel Insurance

It is so important to be prepared for all possibilities when travelling and you simply shouldn’t travel without insurance. When looking for cover I would personally recommend World Nomads or the Post Office – both are affordable and certainly won’t break the bank.

What to do in Henley on Thames