Things To Do in Henley-on-Thames
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Henley-on-Thames Attractions
The Henley Royal Regatta
The Henley Royal Regatta, held the first week in July, is one of the country's premier racing events. For a close-up view from the Stewards' Enclosure, you'll need a guest badge, only obtainable through a member -- in other words, you have to know someone to obtain special privileges. However, admission to the Regatta Enclosure is open to all. Entry fees are £30 to £100. Information is available by writing to the Secretary, Henley Royal Regatta, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2LY (tel. 01491/572153; www.hrr.co.uk).
During the annual 5-day event, up to 100 races are organized each day, with starts scheduled as frequently as every 5 minutes. This event is open only to all-male crews of up to nine at a time. In late June, rowing events for women are held at the 3-day Henley Women's Regatta.
If you want to float on the waters of the Thames yourself, stop by the town's largest and oldest outfitter, Hobbs & Sons, Ltd., Station Road Boathouse (tel. 01491/572035; www.hobbs-of-henley.com), established in 1870. Open daily from April to October from 8:30am to 5:30pm, Hobbs has an armada of watercraft, including rowboats that rent for £10 to £13 per hour. Motorboats can be rented for £25 to £50 per hour. Prices include fuel. On the premises, a chandlery shop sells virtually anything a boat crew could need, as well as T-shirts and boaters' hats.
- Historic Site
Mapledurham House
The Blount family mansion lies beside the Thames in the unspoiled village of Mapledurham. In the house, you'll see the Elizabethan ceilings and the great oak staircase, as well as the portraits of the two beautiful sisters with whom the poet Alexander Pope, a frequent visitor here,… - Historic Site
Stratfield Saye House
This combined house and country park provides tangible evidence of the fortune of the duke of Wellington and his descendants. The complex's centerpiece is the Stratfield Saye House, the home of the dukes of Wellington since 1817, when the 17th-century house was bought for the Iron… - Park/Garden
Wellington Country Park
Under the same administration as Stratfield Saye, this favorite place for locals to picnic and stroll has a nice lake and miles of well-maintained walking paths. But a handful of attractions are inside as well: The park contains a riding school, a miniature steam railway, a deer…
