Book a Spring/Summer Break in Henley

Henley’s riverside location, surrounded by a Chiltern landscape of wooded hills and green fields, lends itself to relaxation, long lunches and quirky shopping. There’s a pub where Charles I drank, a Chantry house, a butcher that smokes his own meat and independent shops still offering the personal touch. Henley’s historic heart sits just a few strides from the River Thames. Hire a boat on the river, or one with its own skipper and meander along the river. Take a peaceful stroll in the gardens of nearby Stonor. Try a spot of Nordic walking with A Foot in the Chilterns.

• Get active and create your own adventures on the water. Hobbs of Henley offers a selection of different boats to explore the river. Choose from a rowing boat, a motorboat, Dutch launches, Edwardian launches or a VIP Olympic launch. Book a full day in advance online or turn up and hire by the hour. Or even better hire a skipper for a day on the launches!
• Head across Henley Bridge with its five beautiful arches and walk along the Thames Path National Trail. As you pass along the riverbank you’ll see the Regatta Course where generations of Olympic champions have rowed. Why not enjoy lunch before you go; The Angel on the Bridge or The Little Angel, on the other side. Follow the path to the charming village of Remenham or go further on to Hambleden Lock and cross the river to the village of Hambleden, with its brick and flint cottages and 14^th century church. (Total distance about 3.6 miles each way). Or, continue walking the Path to Marlow and return by bus. Download the walk here
• Hunt down locations featured in top TV series, Midsomer Murders. Take a walking tour of the town centre’s filmed premises, including the iconic market square. Places include the 17th century Argyll pub, where two episodes were filmed and Gabriel Machin, a butcher’s shop since 1861, renowned for the quality of its produce and featured in Rick Stein’s Food Heroes programme. Retaining the façade it has had for over 60 years, it was the ideal location to become Anton Thorneycroft’s butcher in The Magician’s Nephew. Stay at Henley Greenlands Hotel, Henley Business School. The Business School was used as the Belvoir Hotel in the 2014 episode The Flying Club.
• The gardens at Stonor are wonderful. Set within the heart of the Chiltern Hills, there are three gardens to discover – from the ponds and fountains of the 17th Century Italianate Pleasure Garden to the old Kitchen Garden designed and nurtured by Lady Camoys and the eclectically treed Arboretum.  Explore the parkland fringed by a host of centuries-old beech and ash trees and is home to an ancient herd of fallow deer. 
• Discover the history of Henley, the Thames and rowing at the River & Rowing Museum. Its eclectic collection includes artefacts spanning from the ancient world to the 21st-century Olympic Games. In the rowing gallery the display includes a Greek trireme, the boat Sir Sydney Swann used to row across the English Channel in 1911 and the boat in which Sir Steve Redgrave won his fifth Olympic gold medal in Sydney. Visitors to the Henley gallery will find a 2000-year-old hoard of Iron Age gold coins and the remains of the tree where Prince Rupert hung a parliamentarian during the Civil War. The newest gallery, The John Piper gallery and archive preserves and celebrates the career of one of the most popular and prolific British artists of the 20th century. 
• Sit back and let someone else do the hard work. Relax on a Hobbs of Henley pleasure boat offering a chance to see Henley from an entirely new perspective. As well as regular daily sightseeing services, they offer a selection of themed cruises such as Vintage Afternoon Tea, Gin Tasting, Sunday Roast Lunch.
• Have a drink or dine out in one of the historic Henley Brakspear pubs: The Anchor, The Angel on the Bridge, The Little Angel, The Rowbarge, The Three Horseshoes, The Three Tuns and The Bull on Bell Street, one of Henley’s oldest pubs with its very own microbrewery. 
• Fairmile Vineyard in the foothills of the Chilterns is on the outskirts of Henley. The steep south-facing slope helps vines capture the most sunlight and its well-drained soil is the same flinty chalky marl that stretches across South-East England to the white cliffs of Dover, then under the Channel into Northern France. In 2013 they planted the same three grape varieties which traditionally go into the world’s greatest fizz – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay and have now produced award-winning sparkling wine. Pre-booked private tours are available in the Spring.
• You’re spoilt for choice of eateries in Henley: For quirky try the Shellfish Cow Restaurant & Bar with its well-stocked bar. It’s owned and run by two local experienced restaurateurs who simply love good food and entertaining. Lunch and dinner menus focus on the freshest British shellfish landed from around our shores. There's plenty more places to eat out in Henley.

HENLEY – SPOTLIGHT ON WALKING

Henley is now accredited as a Walkers are Welcome town, part of a nationwide initiative, WaW launched in 2007 to encourage towns and villages to be ‘welcoming to walkers’. The Chiltern Society maintain the footpaths which are especially well marked and hugely varied - the river - the steep chalk escarpments such as to the windmill at Turville, there’s quirky places like the Maharaja's well at Stoke Row, beech woodland, bluebells and an abundance of wildlife. This beautiful and varied countryside and its maze of hundreds of miles of well kept footpaths is one of England’s best kept secrets – an area renowned for its sweeping chalk grasslands and wild flowers, its magnificent beech woods – originally planted for the furniture industry, its sparkling chalk streams some of which dry up when the water table is low, its wooded valleys and quiet lanes. The marvellous views, picturesque villages, stately homes, rich heritage and culture, offer unique and varied walking opportunities. There are large areas of National Trust land, a wealth of Follies, landmarks and unusual sights, all in the surrounding area.

• ‘A Foot in the Chilterns’ offers a choice of walks to match your interest and mobility from beautiful bluebell woods to riverside bird watching; from learning about rowing and River Walks. The area was the first place that Red Kites were reintroduced, and you are guaranteed to see these impressive birds flying around in their natural habitat. Choose an energetic Nordic walking experience. What is available will depend on the season and the weather conditions.
• Henley-on-Thames Riverside Wander along the Thames Path National Trail - A wonderful family and dog-friendly stroll along the riverside at Henley-on-Thames. There are sensory and healing gardens on route for pleasant stop offs and the option of a trip to the River and Rowing Museum for fun and refreshment options. This route offers plenty of rest spots and scenic views across the river and Mill Meadows. Distance: 1.5 miles. Duration 1 hour.

Stay for a while...

Henley Greenlands Hotel is set within the 30 acre Henley Business School estate in the Oxfordshire countryside, providing well-appointed accommodation on the banks of the River Thames. Bedrooms are situated in the Thames Court building adjacent to the main house. Fully equipped with all the comforts you would expect from a high quality hotel including Molton Brown toiletries and Nespresso coffee machine, perfect for a weekend away in Henley-on-Thames.  Some rooms have balconies and dinner packages are available.

Book a 3 or 4 night break at Henley Greenlands Hotel with chocolate, beer and rowing!

Find out more about Henley on Thames