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

Both my husband and I grew up in Henley-on-Thames, and love it so much that we still live nearby. Whilst you might affiliate it with the English elite and the world-famous Royal Regatta, for me Henley will always be a quaint little town in the Oxfordshire valleys. The best part about it is that you can have some incredible days out here. In this post I thought I’d give you my insider knowledge on what to do in Henley-on-Thames, recently updated for 2026.

This ultimate guide features what to do in different seasons, as well as top restaurants and little trips you can take. Whatever you choose to do, a day out in Henley is incredible. I hope that I sell you this amazing town with a special place in my heart.

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.

On this side of the river, 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.

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. Head down a little path and you’ll soon be on the river bank. Then, simply follow the path. 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.

Top Tip: If you fancy walking further, continue to the gorgeous village of Hambleden, so pretty that it has featured in many hit films including Into the Woods and Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang.

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 high-end clothing brands to explore, including Mint Velvet, Crew Clothing, Whistles. If shopping for clothes isn’t your thing, then there are some other lovely shops to browse in. This includes Temptation Gifts, Vinegar Hill, 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.

My personal favourite in Henley is Calvert Jones. It is completely local and independent, and sells some really lovely decorative trinkets. Definitely worth stopping by whilst you explore. On the topic of independent shops, there are also a fair few art galleries dotted about to find the next addition for your home.

Aside from shopping, you also have a really great cinema – The Regal Picturehouse – in the town. Not only is this where you can find all the latest films, but there is a great café here too to arm you with the ultimate movie snacks (or just to grab a good coffee, to be honest).

A Foodie’s Paradise

Whenever we want to celebrate and / or eat out, we head to Henley. It has such a wide-variety of restaurants that it is difficult to go wrong. This has 100% gotten better over the years and now you are really spoiled for choice when it comes to great meals.

Let’s start with the independents of the town. It is a local secret, but Al Forno is my favourite Italian restaurant in the town. It is incredibly modest but delivers a fantastic pizza when you need it the most. The prices are also very reasonable and not what you’d expect from the infamous “Henley prices”. If you are in the mood for an Italian but want something more fancy, I really enjoy Villa Marina, which you’ll find on the banks of the river. You won’t find pizzas here, but the food is fantastico. You also have the locally-owned Shellfish Cow (steak and seafood), The Square (Portuguese), and the small Luscombes.

Many of the best restaurants though are pubs. The Three Tuns is an amazing experience. It was recently purchased by the local butchers next door, and delivers some truly remarkable steaks. If you like your meat, head over to here. You also have The Bull for something a little bit fancy, as well as The Angel on the Bridge for those iconic views. 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.

Lastly, it needs to be said that 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.

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 you aren’t into this, I’d also strongly suggest avoiding it). 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, and be warned that prices do increase.

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.

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 award-winning Imma the Bakery. Make sure you try their pistachio cruffins – they are amazing. Just up the road from this is Blue Tin Produce, which is probably my favourite coffee spot at the time of writing. They have a lovely farm shop too and serve outstanding cakes and cooked breakfast. Another good 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.