Our Top River Routes

Henley-On-Thames is not only a beautiful and historical town in Oxfordshire, but it is also one of the most stunning nature spots in the UK. Whether it’s the amount of wildlife, amazing countryside walks, or the amazing river Thames running through it. There is so much to see and do in the area.

In this blog post, we will highlight the three most popular routes that we do at the Henley Boating Company as well as what there is to see and do along with them.

Henley Boating Route 1.

The route from Henley-On-Thames to Sonning is one of our most popular routes and can be done in around 3-4 hours (unless you want to stop off for lunch). Starting off at Henley we will head towards Shiplake, a small little village on the banks of the river.

At Shiplake, there is a small cafe that sells ice creams and beautiful views. Slightly further down the river you will reach Wargrave, where you will be able to stop off at the famous George & Dragon pub and sit outside for a drink or lunch whilst taking in the beautiful river views. The rest of the trip consists of just the river and yourselves. With beautiful scenic views along the meandering river.

Once we reach Sonning you will be able to stop off for a spot of lunch or a quick pint, before jumping back on the boat and heading back to Henley

Henley Boating Route 2

This is one of the longer trips we normally take with a distance of around 9 miles, however, it is one of our favorite ones. Starting off in Henley, we will head down the river towards the Hambleden lock the first of three on the way to Marlow.

Interesting fact | The first-ever Oxford and Cambridge race took place between Hambleden Lock and Henley-On-Thames.

After the Hambleden Lock, we will pass through two further locks, a beautiful meandering river section before reaching the town of Marlow. Here you can stop off for lunch, a drink, or just a walk around this beautiful town. This is one of our favourite stretch of the river and we highly recommend it to anyone.

Henley Boating Route 3

This is one of the shorter charters that we take at the Henley Boating Company with it only taking around 2 hours to complete. This is great for an afternoon trip down the river with family and friends (great for families who don’t want to spend all day on the river).

This Charter takes you down the famous Henley Regatta stretch of the river where you can see (from the water) the section of the river that the rowers take to each year. Additionally, you will be able to pass by Temple Island, a beautiful Island along with the Regatta Course