Henley Royal Regatta 2027 runs from Tuesday 29 June to Sunday 4 July, according to the official Regatta website, with tickets going on sale in spring 2027. From Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield or the Chalfonts, Henley-on-Thames is one of the shortest trips on the summer social calendar. The travel questions are local ones: where a car can set you down, how the town's one-way system works during the Regatta, and what time the car parks lock. The answers are below.
- 2027 Regatta: Tuesday 29 June to Sunday 4 July, raced on the Thames at Henley.
- The main taxi drop-off is on the A4130, about a five-minute walk from the Enclosures.
- The official car parks open at 7.30am and lock at 9pm, and cars without a valid car park label are not admitted.
How do you get from the Chilterns to Henley?
By car the trip usually takes around 30 to 45 minutes from Gerrards Cross, depending on traffic and where in South Bucks you start. The standard route is the M40 west to Junction 4 at Handy Cross, the A404 south, then the A4130 into Henley-on-Thames. The Regatta itself describes the town as 16 miles from Junction 4 of the M40 and 13 miles from Junctions 8/9 of the M4.
The Enclosures are on the Berkshire bank of the river, within walking distance of the town centre and the station. To limit traffic, the Regatta encourages visitors to use public transport where they can, and it runs a one-way system through the town centre during Regatta week.
Where does a taxi drop you at Henley Royal Regatta?
The Regatta's travel and parking page names the A4130 as the main taxi drop-off point, a short five-minute walk from the Enclosures. That is the natural set-down for a car from South Bucks, since the A4130 is the road you arrive on from Handy Cross. Collection works the same way in reverse, at a time you agree with the driver.
Our Henley Royal Regatta chauffeur service uses that drop-off, which means no car park label, no symbol-based route to follow and nobody in the party watching the clock for the 9pm lock-up.
How does parking work if you drive yourself?
The official car parks are on the Berkshire side, postcode RG9 2LP. As you approach Henley you follow the signs for the RECTANGULAR or CIRCULAR symbol printed on your permit; hospitality guests heading for Fawley Meadows (RG9 2HY) follow the TRIANGULAR symbol. Because of the one-way system, the route in and out of the car parks varies with the time you arrive and leave, and the Regatta publishes maps for each.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Open daily from 7.30am; gates locked at 9pm; no overnight parking |
| Booking | Daily parking bookable in advance up to 23 June, or bought at the gate if spaces remain |
| Labels | If you chose to collect your label, do it before the day of your visit; no access without a valid label |
| Vehicles | Not suitable for coaches, caravans, motorbikes or commercial vehicles |
| Minibus and disabled parking | Arranged through the Badge Office on 01491 572153 |
Is the train a good option from South Bucks?
For some visitors, yes. Great Western Railway runs a special timetable to Henley-on-Thames from London Paddington for the duration of the Regatta, and the station is within easy walking distance of the Enclosures. From Gerrards Cross, though, there is no direct rail link towards Henley, so a rail journey means heading into London or across to the Great Western main line first. For most Chiltern addresses, a 30 to 45 minute drive to the A4130 is the simpler choice. Bus users will find the town centre bus station about a 10-minute walk from the Enclosures.
What is the dress code in the Stewards' Enclosure?
The Stewards' Enclosure checks dress at the gate. Men wear lounge suits, or jackets or blazers with trousers, plus a tie or cravat. Women wear dresses or skirts with a hemline below the knee, or jackets or blazers with trousers, or trouser suits; hats are customary but not required. Shorts, leggings, tracksuits and jeans are not allowed, and the same rules apply to children aged ten and over. The Regatta Enclosure has no dress code.
A driver does not change the dress code, but it does mean you arrive with a pressed blazer and dry shoes rather than after a walk from a grass car park.
What else should you know before the day?
Bags are limited. Only small bags and baby-changing bags are allowed into the Regatta Enclosure, and the Stewards' Enclosure limits bags to aircraft carry-on size. Neither enclosure accepts outside food or drink, apart from small bottles of water in hot weather. Mobile phone calls are not permitted in the Stewards' Enclosure, although texts are, so arrange your collection by message. If you plan a picnic outside the Enclosures, the hamper can wait in the car until you need it.
Can you visit on several days?
Yes. The racing runs across six days, finishing with the finals at the weekend, and we can repeat the same morning pick-up and afternoon collection across several days and quote the journeys together. Corporate hosts can put the whole week on a corporate account, and larger parties can share a Mercedes-Benz V-Class with up to seven seats.
Planning the rest of your summer
In 2027 the Regatta overlaps with the first week of Wimbledon, and Royal Ascot comes a fortnight earlier. Our guides to getting to Wimbledon and Royal Ascot cover those trips, and our executive cars suit any of them.