Henley

Henley is a picturesque little town, but it does suffer from a lack of moorings.  Perhaps the best place to moor is also one of our favourites - Fawley Meadows.  It's on the starboard side as you ascend the stretch, and runs from a tiny bridge over an inlet almost all the way up to Phyllis Court Club.  The moorings are bankside, so don't forget your mooring spikes.  At least the grass is mown for you. 

Henley has been the home of the Regatta and inter-varsity races since 1829.  It became Royal under Prince Albert in 1851.

The town of Henley offers a wide array of delights, from the River and Rowing Museum at the Riverside Cafe, Mill Meadows, Henley  to Asquiths Teddy Bear Shop - who offer an excellent afternoon tea with cream cakes and sandwiches that will have you leaving the diet sheet at home!  The museum is open daily from 10.00 to 17.30, admission is £4.95 adults, £3.75 children, senior citizens, disabled and unemployed, or get a family ticket for £13.95 to cover four.  During the summer they often have feature exhibitions with interactive displays.  Asquiths is found at the junction of xxx and xxx streets, right on the corner.  It's housed in one of the oldest buildings in Henley, built in the 16th Century, and it's a real delight with its low ceilings and warped beams.  Don't forget to watch your head as you inspect the bears.  They do all manner of bears, from old fashioned to modern, and you can get clothes, hats and spectacles for your own bears.  If you've got a much loved teddy that you'd like to know more about, the shop would be happy to date it for you. 

If your passions run to beer, not bears, you'll need to be quick to visit the Brakspears Brewery Shop, as it closes at Christmas.  Unfortunately, due to its imminent closure, all tours round the Brewery have been cancelled.

The Little White Hart Hotel has a restaurant and bar, and if you book in advance you can arrange to use their moorings for the duration of your stay - or to keep a ferry boat whilst you dine as we arranged in 2002.

There is a large Waitrose in the town centre, right next door to one of the best card shops you'll find anywhere.  This lovely little shop is to the right of the entrance to Waitrose, and it's worth a prowl to renew your stock of cards for the year.