Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is arguably one of the most beautiful towns in England and was recently voted by The Times as one of the best places to live in the English countryside. Henley’s riverside location, surrounded by a Chiltern landscape of wooded hills and green fields, lends itself to relaxation, long lunches and 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 is a regular winner of RHS Britain in Bloom medals and the home of a well-known TV detective.
Henley-on-Thames is twinned with Falaise, Leichlingen and Bled. We also have a friendship link with Borama in Somalia.
We are home to the Henley Royal Regatta, arguably the best-known regatta in the world. It is one of the jewels in Henley’s crown. The historic decision to establish the regatta was made in our very own Town Hall.
Henley it's not just beautiful, it's a town that knows how to throw a party. Henley has an international reputation for the world’s greatest rowing regatta, splashes out with the ‘joie de vivre’ of the summer arts festival and gets into the groove with '80's music festival Rewind.
The first recorded history of Henley dates back to 1179 when King Henry II bought land ‘for the making of buildings’.
The first church was mentioned in 1204 and a year later the town received a pavage grant (a toll for road maintenance). A bridge in the town was first mentioned in 1234.
Henley-on-Thames is a pretty riverside market town on one of the most beautiful stretches of the River Thames. The town’s prosperity goes back to the 12th century as river trade developed. Its position gave rise to Henley Royal Regatta, first held in 1839 as a local festival but now an internationally renowned competition. Rowing and the river are celebrated at the world class River and Rowing Museum.
Henley is bounded by the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It offers many opportunities for the visitor including golfing, boating, walking and cycling, and beautiful stately homes such as Stonor and Grey’s Court. The food offer is varied and includes many cafes and restaurants offering a rage of delicious food. Phyllis Court and Leander Club are prestigious member clubs and provide great accommodation offers.
Henley has good schools and a community hospital. Henley has its own railway station with links to London Paddington in under an hour. There is a good bus service with three buses per hour linking Henley with Reading, High Wycombe and Wallingford, with the option to connect onward to Oxford. It is only five miles from the M4, 24 miles from London Heathrow and 38 miles from Central London.
Useful Links to Local Groups and Resources. To take you directly to websites that you might find useful we have set up this page of useful links. If you would like to add your organisation to the list please contact us to let us know the details.
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Henley-on-Thames is twinned with Falaise, Leichlingen and Bled.
We also have a friendship link with Boroma in Somalia.
