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We love Henley, and we should know we used to live there! It has been a few years since we resided there but you will often find Foxy taking a nostalgic walk around! We caught up with our friends at Mr Hobbs Gin, part of Hobbs of Henley for their recommendations of 10 very cool things to do here!
Take a boat trip on River Thames
What better way to enjoy Henley than by river and boat? You can hire diverse styles of boat from Hobbs of Henley who have been hiring boats out for almost 150 years now. Costs start at £15 an hour and will allow you a unique perspective of this prestigious town. There are numerous other cruises you can book via the website also.
While away the afternoon at The Angel on the Bridge
The Angel on the Bridge has got pride of place next to Henley Bridge with a jetty over-reaching the water. It’s a traditional British pub, serving all the classic food and drink choices you should expect from such. They have lots of local ale and, naturally, our very own Mr Hobbs Gin – big supporters of all local events as well.
Sample the local delicacies at Shaun Dickens Restaurant
Shaun Dickens at The Boathouse is a very special type of restaurant, bringing together fresh, local British produce, an unparalleled riverside setting, and the very highest standards of service. They have recently been awarded their much coveted AA 3 Rosette Award, which will come as absolutely no surprise once you’ve sampled their cuisine and atmosphere. Once sourced, the finest, local ingredients are placed in the hands of their dynamic team resulting in their dishes being all about the flavour. Check out the menu which speaks for itself.
Walk along the beautiful Thames Path
There are many wonderful self-guided walking tours which can be found on the Visit Thames website. Brakspear Pubs have also come up with some great circular walks which start and end at some of their lovely town and country venues, known as their ‘Pub Trails’. They give you the option of whether you want to take a short amble with a spot of nature or go full Bear Grylls on the ’road less travelled’ for those seeking more adventure.
Soak up some history at The River and Rowing Museum
This family friendly day out was originally opened by The Queen back in 1998 as a way of celebrating all that our beautiful river has to offer. From 2004 there was a permanent Wind in The Willows gallery in place, and today you will find many various lectures and activities throughout the year attracting some 20,000 visitors per annum. The building itself is by David Chipperfield and was awarded Royal Fine Arts Commission Building of the Year in 1999 built with oak, glass and steel to reflect the local boatyards and Oxfordshire barns. Read more at River & Rowing Museum
Spend an evening sipping the Henley local tipple at The Anchor
Think quintessential English pub, think home made wholesome food, think homely atmosphere full of character and history (just look at this transformation). That is exactly what The Anchor so beautifully achieves. Town centre location with oodles of outdoor space to get accustomed to whilst drinking anything from fine wine to aged whisky- or, dare I say, a Mr Hobbs Gin & Tonic to quench the thirst after basking in the south facing garden whilst devouring one of their gorgeous sharing platters with friends.
Get involved in some of the towns mystery on a Midsomer Murder Tour
Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a DCI Barnaby? You can follow in his footsteps by going on one of the upcoming Midsomer Murder tours where you will be guided through filming locations in Henley. You will discover the real-life locations of Causton Auction Rooms, Anton Thorneycroft’s butchers shop, and tonnes more. Their enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guides can answer all your burning questions and may also be able to share a few new stories you won’t have heard before. They run weekly and can be booked online.
Take a trip through time whilst wandering around Greys Court
Come visit this Tudor country house and gardens in the southern Chiltern Hills at Rotherfield Greys for the perfect day out with family and friends. Suitable for all ages there’s something for everyone, whether it’s the ideal sunny day for a wander in the gardens or a cold Winters one where you want to spend an afternoon in the historical house followed by a cup of something hot in the tea rooms. They have talks/ storytelling/ exhibitions on throughout the year which you can keep up to date with on their ‘What’s On’ section. Grey’s Court stand for many wonderful causes as well such as raising awareness for wildlife, creating a greener future and have an overall sense of connecting with special people and places.
And although you have just missed these two, get them in your diary for 2019!!
Take in our royal heritage at Henley Regatta
Established in 1839, Henley Regatta is of world class status and is arguably our most famed production of the year. Over the 5 day period, more than two hundred races take place in 565 boats on the 2112 metre course, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators dressed in their finery. Glasses of Pimm’s are sipped among the stripy blazer wearing community, and more recently Mr Hobbs Gin has been thrown into the flurry of beverages on offer. We were present at various bars and restaurants in the town, as well as being one of the gins at Fever-Tree’s set up down at Barn Bar. Remenham Club also poured our cherished family tipple at their famous enclosure whilst we had our very own pop up bar down at the Hobbs of Henley Boat Yard. Watch out Moet & Chandon, there’s a new kid on the block.
Dance the night away at Henley Festival
Forget the eco loo’s and mud splattered wellies, Henley Festival is not your ordinary festival. Dress code: ‘’Strictly Black Tie….but think James Bond!’’, casual attire is simply not permitted. Whilst the visitors may not resemble those of, say, Glastonbury, the headlines acts do. 2018 sees Rita Ora, Grace Jones and Nile Rogers take to the stage and tickets are always a sell-out. There are restaurants, bars and grazing options throughout with the event which is being sponsored by Volvo and American Airlines. Check out their gallery to see how Henley on Thames does festival-chic.