The Thames Path
The Thames Path at Marsh Lock
Warburg Nature Reserve
Set in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, Shiplake is a great place to live – and there are so many places to visit and activities to enjoy in the area. We have chosen just a few of our favourites.
Featured image: Stonor Park
If you enjoy walking, the Thames Path is a National Trail footpath running for 180 miles along the banks of the Thames, starting at the Thames Flood Barrier in Southeast London and ending at Kemble in Gloucestershire.
The path is flat, making for easy walking and there’s plenty to see on the busy waterway from boats to wildlife. The path briefly leaves the river at Shiplake and, joining the path here, you can walk on a more rural stretch to Henley-on-Thames or in the other direction to the pretty village of Sonning, where the path switches banks on its way to Reading.
Around Shiplake Lock, you can see kingfishers, red kites, buzzards and sparrowhawks.
Visit the Thames Path Website >
With woodlands, scrubs and flower-rich grassland, Warburg Nature Reserve is a beautiful place to walk.
Beech trees stretch high above, bluebells carpet the coppice woods in spring, cowslips are the first in a sequence of herbs that flower in the peaceful glades.
The sunny, open glades and chalk grassland are filled with wildflowers in the spring and provide spectacular colours in autumn. Warburg Nature Reserve is found in Bix Bottom, Henley-on-Thames.
The Thames Path
The Thames Path at Marsh Lock
Warburg Nature Reserve
Wargrave and Shiplake Regatta is an annual event that takes place in early August. It’s one of the largest regattas on the Thames with races for skiffs, punts and canoes.
Whilst it’s a local regatta, it attracts people from all over the country and abroad to compete. Each year, almost 1000 competitors take part in 400 races over two days with events for boys, girls, women, men and veterans including dinghy racing for young people as well.
Visit the Wargrave and Shiplake Regatta Website >
Henley Royal Regatta is one of the world’s most famous regattas. It is the highlight of the summer rowing calendar and the social season in the UK.
Each year, Henley Royal Regatta attracts more than 300,000 people who watch over 300 races across a six-day period.
The Regatta includes 12 Open Events which are open to the world’s elite rowers, including Olympians, world champions, national champions and the best in category.
This is an opportunity to see athletes from around the world competing in the sport’s most challenging races.
Rowers on the Thames
The Henley Royal Regatta
Hobbs of Henley is a family-run business with over 150 years of boating experience and the largest fleet on the River Thames.
The boats range in size from three-seater rowboat to the flagship ‘New Orleans’ which carries 125 passengers. There’s a variety of services from self-drive boat hire to themed cruises and specialist boat storage.
Visit Hobbs of Henley's Website >
Henley River Boats provides self-drive boat hire and private, skippered river trips.
If you book a private party of up to 6 or 8 people, you can bring your own food and drink or pre-order catering and join your boat in front of the River and Rowing Museum on Henley’s Mill Meadows.
The company was set up by university friends Andrew and Charles who decided to set up a boating business after working for 25 years in major businesses.
Visit the Henley River Boats Website >
Henley Canoe Hire offers a whole range of experiences from a one-hour hire to a half or full day option to tailor made adventures.
The Canadian or open canoes can accommodate two adults and two children (over the age of 5). For longer, more adventurous trips, there are canoes and kayaks large enough to carry all your gear. It’s also possible to book a stand-up paddleboard.
Hobbs of Henley
Rowers on the Thames
Henley Canoe Hire
The River & Rowing Museum, Henley-on-Thames is located alongside the River Thames and explores the international sport of rowing and much more.
There’s a whole range of events and exhibitions all year round, including workshops, family activities, talks and lectures.
The River Gallery reveals how the river changed the shape of the landscape and the lives of the people who lived alongside it, the unexpected creatures that once roamed the tropical riverbanks and the role of the river as a source of power and transport.
Visit The River and Rowing Museum's Website >
Located on the historic site of Woodley Airfield near Reading, this museum charts Berkshire’s contribution to aviation history.
Run as a charitable trust, the museum has a collection of reconstructed Miles and Handley Page aircraft which were once built at Woodley along with fascinating pictorial records and archives.
Visit The Museum of Berkshire Aviation's Website >
The Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology based in the Department of Classics at Reading University houses over 3000 objects and archives including materials from Greek, Greco-Roman, Egyptian and Cypriot civilisations including ceramic, metal and stone artefacts found throughout the ancient Mediterranean.
The museum is free for all to visit including members of the public.
Nuffield Place, now a National Trust property, is a fascinating country house located near the village of Nuffield, approximately four miles from Wallingford.
The house was completed in 1924 by Sir William Morris, later Viscount Nuffield, who extended the house in 1933 and lived there until his death in 1963.
Lord Nuffield was interested in clocks and his bedroom has eight clocks and a miniature workshop in a cupboard.
There’s an Arts and Crafts style garden to explore, and a woodland walk. The shop sells Morris Motors and MG memorabilia as well as books, gifts and edible treats.
Visit the Nuffield Place Website >
Stonor Park & Gardens is one of the oldest stately homes still occupied by the family. Home to the Stonor family for over 850 years, the house is open to the public.
Each room contains art and treasures collected from across the globe along with historic maps and documents providing a walk through history.
The Stonor Pantry café dates from the late 12th century and the chapel from the 13th century. There are so many highlights including the grand Gothic Revival Hall, the atmospheric 17th century library and a dramatic long gallery opening onto beautiful Italianate gardens.
The estate, set in a lush parkland within a sweeping valley, features three gardens – a medieval garden built in 1450, the Italianate Pleasure Garden and the former kitchen garden, now a flower garden. Beyond the walled gardens is an arboretum.
Visit the Stonor Park & Gardens Website >
Grey’s Court, located at Rotherfield Greys near Henley-on-Thames, is run by the National Trust.
Originally built in the 14th century with views over the Chiltern Hills offers a charming series of walled gardens and two waymarked walks.
The Cowshed Tearoom, open daily, has indoor and outdoor seating and there’s a shop, created in the old woodshed, selling homeware, books and seasonal gifts.
The River & Rowing Museum
Grey's Court
Chiltern Valley Wines is a family run vineyard winery and brewery based at Old Luxters in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Henley-on-Thames.
The first vines were planted in 1982 on the slopes of the Chiltern Hills overlooking the beautiful Hambleden Valley and since the first harvest in 1984, the winery has produced an increasing range of award-winning wines with scores of awards and commendations both in the UK and abroad.
The independent brewery has revived the tradition of farm-brewed, full mash, real ales using wooden-clad mash tun, copper, liquor and fermentation vessels. The Master Brewer at Old Luxters blends the finest English malted barley to gain the flavour, fullness and depth of colour in the ales, seasoning with choice English hops for aroma and bitterness. It’s possible to book a two-hour ‘behind the scenes’ Tour & Tasting Experience (available only for over 18s) with a tutored tasting of wines, ales and liqueurs. There’s also a cellar shop and an online shop where you can purchase the products.
Visit the Chiltern Valley Winery Website >
The Henley Distillery is run by a small team of energetic and passionate individuals who love what they do.
Although they were only founded in 2020, they are already producing award-winning gins. The accolades they have received include ‘Best London Dry in England’ at the World Gin Awards 2022 and The New Distillery of the Year in the Gin Guide 2022.
The team runs regular 45-minute adult only tour and tasting experiences which include a guided tour of the distillery, the chance to sample three different gins and three different runs and a large glass of Henley Gin and Tonic.
Visit The Henley Distillery's Website >
Fairmile Vineyard, Henley-on-Thames is run by local couple, Jan and Anthea Mirkowski who, in 2011, recognised that the foothills of the Chilterns would provide the ideal terrain and microclimate for viticulture and, since then, their business has gone from strength-to-strength.
Fairmile Vineyard’s maiden vintage from 2015 was rated England’s only Outstanding Sparkling White Wine by Decanter wine and lifestyle magazine and the sparkling wines still stand against the best in the world, having scored more points than many others in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2024. The non-vintage wines are excellent, enriched by the blending of mellow reserves from previous years’ harvests.
Tours and visits for larger groups are available by appointment at any time of year and groups are taken into the vineyard to demonstrate the annual cycle of vines and how wine is made – followed by a tutored tasting. Small groups may be merged into one of the scheduled tours which take about an hour and include a tasting.
Visitors can also enjoy a stroll, a picnic and, of course, a chilled glass – or bottle – of wine. If you don’t want a full tour and taste, it’s possible to book a slot and buy a chilled bottle to enjoy in the vineyard with your own picnic.
Regal Picturehouse, Henley is a characterful three-screen cinema and café-bar in Henley-on-Thames.
The range of films is broad and includes a carefully curated mix of mainstream, indie, family, foreign language and documentary films.
The new Regal cinema was built in 1997, following the demolition of the original Regal that opened in 1937. In December 2005, the Regal joined the Picturehouse Group and was renamed the Regal Picturehouse.
The interior echoes the art-deco style of the 1937 original with sweeping curves, a grand staircase, polished chrome fittings, kiosks with streamliner facings and a sun lounge with a floor-to-ceiling window.
Visit the Regal Picturehouse Website >
The Kenton Theatre, set in the heart of Henley-on-Thames, is the fourth oldest working theatre in the UK and a registered charity.
Seating 240, the theatre offers a varied programme of comedy, drama, music, talks, seminars and more and is available for hire for events. Local amateur companies and children’s shows provide opportunities for up-and-coming actors and actresses to hone their skills.
Kate Winslet was just one of the many stars who performed at the Kenton at an early age. Run by volunteers, the theatre aims to provide enjoyment and opportunity for all – whether in terms of acting or working behind the scenes or front of house.
Visit The Kenton Theatre Website >
The Mill at Sonning Theatre is the UK’s first and one of the only dinner theatres. The building was converted from a flour mill, dating from around 1800, on an island in the River Thames.
Today, the Mill complex comprises a 215-seat, air conditioned, theatre with a restaurant for pre-theatre meals and a bar with a view over the original watermill.
All theatre tickets include a two-course meal, the main course being buffet style and the dessert and coffee being served by waiting staff.
The Mill premiers many new plays by a wide range of writers from young up and coming stars to long established playwrights. Sets are built in the theatre workshop, costumes designed and made in the wardrobe department and fresh food prepared daily in the kitchens.
Chiltern Valley Winery
The Kenton Theatre
The Mill at Sonning
Tumblestone Hollow, a vast adventure playground at Stonor Park, is aimed at 4- to 12-year-olds and is designed to fire the imagination.
There are high level walkways, climbing nets, look-out decks and bridges across multiple levels, connected by a gnarled central tower.
Inside, a double spiral of steps takes adventurers from ground level to a look-out deck, providing views across the whole playground.
There is plenty of seating and picnic tables in and around the playground. Takeaway eatery, The Rumble Hut, offers drinks and wood-fired pizzas, made by Italian chef Salvatore, with other refreshments available at the Visitor Centre.
Visit The Tumblestone Hollow Website >
Henley Adventure Golf is fun for the whole family, providing 18 holes of adventure golf fun on the riverside.
The course comprises a series of themed props including sculptures of the Town Hall, Temple Island, Friar Park, Henley Bridge and a mini-River Thames – so you can play your way around the town.
It has been created on the old putting green at Mill Meadows between the pavilion, adventure playground and the bowls club.
Visit the Henley Adventure Golf Website >
Mill Meadows Adventure Playground in Henley-on-Thames includes a large adventure fort with a slide, rope, tunnel bridge, monkey bars, climbing wall, rope climber and tube slide.
The playground has been newly refurbished, and the latest equipment includes swings, a titan carousel, spider web and a new zip wire as well as an accessible swing and roundabout for wheelchair users, a hammock, quiet corner, buggy parking and nature area.
A great place to spend time without having to spend any money.
Tumblestone Hollow
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