Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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&
01628/668561.
Fax:
01628/661837. 39 units. £210-£400 double; £540-£725 suite. There is a National Trust charge of £9 per
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Amenities:
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In room:
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HENLEY-ON-THAMES
35 miles W of London
Henley-on-Thames, a small, affluent town on the river, is the location of the
Royal
Regatta,
one of England's most vaunted high-society events held annually in early July.
Lying on a stretch of the Thames that's known for its calm waters, unobstructed bottom,
and predictable currents, Henley is a rower's dream. The regatta, which started in 1839,
is the major annual competition among international oarsmen and oarswomen, who find
it both challenging and entertaining—though the real action takes place on the river-
banks, where the great and the good mix over Pimm's Cup and champagne.
If you visit at other times, Henley's Elizabethan buildings, tearooms, and inns can
make for an appealing stopover en route to Oxford.
Essentials
GETTING THERE
Trains depart from London's Paddington Station every hour
during the day, but require a change at the junction in Twyford (some also require an
additional change at Reading). The trip takes 40 minutes to 1 hour. Off-peak round-
trip tickets are £15.50.
If you're driving from London, take the M4 toward Reading to Junction 8/9, and
then head northwest on the A404 (M) and A4130. From Windsor you can take the
A308 to the same M4 junction.
5
The Henley Royal Regatta
The Henley Royal Regatta, held the first
week in July, is the country's premier
rowing event. For a close-up view from
the Stewards' Enclosure, you'll need a
guest badge, obtainable only through
a member—in other words, you have to
know someone in order to get special
privileges. Admission to the Regatta
Enclosure, however, is open to all. Entry
fees are £55 to £65. For information,
contact the Secretary, Henley Royal
Regatta, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
RG9 2LY (
&
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 (
&
01491/572035;
www.hobbs-of-henley.com), estab-
lished in 1870. Open April through
October daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm,
Hobbs has an armada of watercraft,
including rowboats that rent for £15 to
£20 per hour. Motorboats go for £26 to
£58 per hour. Prices include fuel. An
on-premises chandlery shop sells virtu-
ally anything a boat crew could need,
as well as T-shirts and boaters' hats.
