What to do in Henley on Thames | Your Ultimate Guide 2026

It struck me the other day that I have never actually done a blogpost highlighting what to do in Henley on Thames. My husband and I grew up here and still live nearby. Nowadays, it is mostly affiliated with the English elite and the world-famous Royal Regatta. For me though, Henley will always be a quaint little town in the Oxfordshire valleys where you can have some incredible days out. I thought I’d give you guys a local’s guide to what to do, where to eat, and multiple reasons to visit this beautiful historic town.

What to do in Henley on Thames

What to do on a Sunny Day

If it is sunny in Henley, winter or summer, then the first thing to do is walk down to the river. When you ge here 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, and towards the weir. At the time of writing, the bridge over to Shiplake is closed. This is a relatively short walk, but it is really nice. My favourite time has to be in the autumn morning where the colours of the trees are just stunning against the mist.

The second option of walking is to cross the historic bridge, and turn left towards the world-renowned Leander Rowing Club. A fun fact is that this is where the majority of country’s leading rowers, such as Sir Steve Redgrave, trained tirelessly to compete in the Olympics. This walk can be as long as you like, but I would suggest that you go towards Temple Island. This 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 recommend is to rent out a little boat from a company called Hobbs. This is something that you must do in Henley-on-Thames and you can explore the river in your own time. Afterwards, I would suggest a stop and have an ice cream at Mill Meadows.

What to do when it’s raining!

Henley-on-Thames still has lots to offer when the weather takes a turn for the worst. The town has lots of small shops which will keep you busy. You can find lots of clothing brands (Mint Velvet, Crew Clothing, Whistles) and there are some lovely shops to browse in, including Temptation Gifts and Calvert Jones or, for the children, the locally-famous Bagatelle toy shop. A more specialist shop, but still pretty cool nonetheless, is the Asquiths Teddy Bear Shop.

Aside from shopping, you also have other things to do to pass the time. I would definitely recommend The River and Rowing Museum by Mill Meadows. This tells the story of the town, including some fascinating points that you just would not discover anywhere else. To top it off, they also have a great little café where you can enjoy a light brunch whilst overlooking the river. You also have the Picturehouse cinema in the town centre, which is the perfect place to watch the newest films.

Regatta Season and the Henley Festival

The Henley Royal Regatta is an event that brings thousands of people to the small town every year. If I am honest, many of the locals stay away from the town centre to avoid the madness. If however you are planning a trip to Henley for this event in 2026, you need to book months in advance. The hotels book up exceptionally quickly around the area.

If you do decide to go, make sure that you also book an enclosure for the day. When you are in an enclosure, it can be a really unique and fun experience, and is something I would recommend to anyone! There are restaurants and cafés inside these too, meaning that you don’t have to go far to get a light lunch or a drink. Just make sure you check about dress-codes first!

After Regatta week, the Henley Festival begins. Each year this sees hundreds of people flock to the river to relax and enjoy some great music atop a floating stage. The Festival has seen artists ranging from Elton John to Olly Murs to perform, so you won’t be disappointed at all! The dress code here is ever stricter than regatta however, and is exclusively black-tie.

A Foodie’s Paradise

Henley-on-Thames has an amazing variety of restaurants. First up, there are a tonne of different pubs to try. I couldn’t possibly write about them all here, so check out my top pubs in Henley post to fill you in. You can also find plenty of chains here too, including Zizzi’s, Giggling Squid and Coppa Club.

My favourite restaurants though have to be the independent places and Henley has some incredible options. For Italian, you have Al Forno, which serves classic cuisine, alongside the more fancy Villa Marina. You also have some great places to brunch, many of which are independent. If you are feeling inspired, check out my blog post on the best places for brunch in Henley-on-Thames.

Exploring the Surrounding Villages

Henley is a beautiful town, but if you venture just a few miles out you come to the beautiful rolling hills of the Chilterns.

Stonor

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.- in fact it is one of the best places to see bluebells around Oxfordshire. If it leaves you wanting more, check out my blog post on the different spring flowers locations around Oxfordshire. In the Summer, make sure you check out the local Sunflower Farm.

Bix and Warburg

Down the road from Stonor 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. In the Spring and Summer, the walks are breath-taking, and you can see all the best British wildlife. If you are lucky, you may even spot an elusive adder or slowworm. Warburg also boasts numerous species of butterfly and bird species. The final part of the journey here is littered with pot holes, so take it really slow.

The Villages of Midsomer

Exploring the Villages of Midsomer takes you all around the Henley area. You can find some of the prettiest villages in England and cover most of them in a morning. As well as these, there are some good places to visit along your journey. One place that is a must is Greys Court, which actually featured in Downton Abbey. The house itself is quite small, but interesting, however the gardens in particular are just incredible.

Nearby Food

There are some fantastic options for food outside of Henley. One place is the St. George and the Dragon, a riverside pub and restaurant in Wargrave. The menu here is good, and their location by the river is breathtaking. If you fancy brunch, then H’Artisan nearby is one of my favourite places around.

On the other side of Henley is the village of Stoke Row, where you’ll find the Cherry Tree Inn, and the award-winning Imma the Bakery. Make sure you try their pistachio cruffins – they are amazing. Another awesome choice, especially for location, is the Barn at the Bottle and Glass in Binfield Heath. If you want further inspiration, check out my post on the best brunches around Henley-on-Thames.

Christmas in Henley-on-Thames

The festive period in Henley-on-Thames has to be one of my favourites. Whilst Christmas time around Oxfordshire is always good, there is something extra magical about Henley. The decorations are exquisite, there are multiple events (including Late Night Shopping at the start of the month) and, in 2024, there was even a small German-inspired Christmas Market. With the weather turning cold, you can also head out to the villages once more to enjoy some walks. Here are some of my favourite Christmas walks around Henley-on-Thames.

Once again, the food in Henley has to be highlight. Each year, we make a point of enjoying a Christmas lunch in one of the local pubs (or two) to treat ourselves. If you are looking for the best places for Christmas lunch in Henley, check out this post.

Final Thoughts | What to do in Henley-on-Thames

I hope that I’ve given you a taste of what Henley-on-Thames has to offer, no matter the season or weather. Let me know if there are any questions about this post or Henley in general. I always love hearing from you.