Essential Hotels > England > Oxfordshire > Henley on Thames

Nestling deep in the Thames Valley, Henley-on-Thames is one of the county’s most picturesque towns; peaceful and self-contained; yet it is only a few miles from the hustle and bustle of motorway traffic, en route to Oxford and London. Meander downstream, on the water or on the towpath, towards Hambleden Lock, and ahead of you is one of the finest serene views in England; wander around some of Henley’s ancient streets, past the historic Henley Brewery, the home of Brakspear’s ales. The upmarket Henley is found in the south-eastern corner of Oxfordshire and is just 10 miles or so from regional giant Reading. London, meanwhile, is approximately 35 miles to the east.

Combine the old and new by visiting the quaint Kenton Theatre, said to be the fourth oldest in the country. The Henley Festival of Music and Arts in July is an important date in the town's calendar, and it has a symphony orchestra and numerous art galleries. When it comes to shopping there is something for everyone: fashion boutiques, some selling clothes by top designers; two premier supermarkets; old-fashioned butcher shops and privately-run bakeries.

Henley Royal Regatta, held each year at the beginning of July, has made the pleasant Thames-side town internationally famous. This rowing regatta along a straight stretch of the river has been part of the high-society season since late Victorian days, developing from the first Oxford-Cambridge boat race held in 1829. The course runs between Temple Island and the town’s bridge.

The town is well provided with old coaching inns, and many of the houses in the main streets have Georgian frontages. Altogether more than 300 buildings in the town are listed as ‘of special architectural or historic interest’. Particularly interesting is the Chantry House which dates back to the 15th century. Gabled Elizabethan Greys Court, two miles west, retains part of a medieval castle.

Henley-on-Thames’ history dates back to the 12th century, with the first recorded mention of the setting in 1179. After this year the town’s size and reputation began to grow, with a market in existence since 1269, a church first mentioned in 1204 and a bridge erected by the year 1234. Henley experienced prosperity during the 17th and 18th centuries thanks to glass and malt manufacture and the wool and corn trades. The first Henley Regatta took place in 1839 and has taken place ever since, contributing to the high-profile reputation of the town.