Henley guide · Updated October 2026
Things to do in Henley-on-Thames
Get out on the river, catch a show in one of the oldest theatres in the country, explore a house lived in by the same family for 850 years, or tour a gin distillery in a farm barn. Here is how to fill a day in Henley.
01 · Station Road
Hobbs of Henley
A family boating firm founded in 1870 and still working from the riverside off Station Road. Hire a self-drive boat or rowing boat for an hour, half a day or a full day, or sit back on a public sightseeing cruise between April and October. Private charters are available too.
- A family firm since 1870
- Self-drive boats by the hour
- Public cruises April to October
02 · New Street
The Kenton Theatre
Open since 1805, the Kenton is the fourth oldest working theatre in the country and a registered charity run largely by volunteers. Its 240 or so seats host touring drama, comedy, music, talks, local amateur groups and a Christmas panto. Look up at the proscenium arch, designed by the artist John Piper.
- Fourth oldest working theatre in the UK
- Volunteer-run charity
- A Christmas panto every year
03 · Stonor
Stonor Park
The Stonor family has lived here for around 850 years, which makes it one of the oldest family homes in the country still lived in. The house, chapel and Pantry Café open on selected days, the gardens can be visited on their own, and the Tumblestone Hollow adventure playground runs events through the year. St Edmund Campion took refuge here in 1581.
- A family home for about 850 years
- Historic house, chapel and gardens
- Tumblestone Hollow for children
04 · Binfield Heath
The Henley Distillery
An award-winning craft distillery in an 18th-century threshing barn on a farm a short drive from town, named New Distillery of the Year at the Gin Guide Awards 2022. It makes gins such as Classic Dry and Rhubarb & Orange, plus the Temple Island rums. The hour-long tour with the head distiller ends with tastings and a Henley G&T.
- Tours led by the head distiller
- An 18th-century threshing barn
- Gins and Temple Island rum
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Things to do: quick answers
The questions people ask most about things to do in Henley.
Can you hire a boat in Henley?
Yes. Hobbs of Henley, a family firm since 1870, hires self-drive boats and rowing boats by the hour, half day or day, and runs public cruises from April to October.
Is the River & Rowing Museum open?
No. The River & Rowing Museum in Mill Meadows closed to the public on 21 September 2025.
What is there to do near Henley for families?
Stonor Park has the Tumblestone Hollow adventure playground, and a boat trip with Hobbs of Henley is a classic family day out.
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