Henley Royal Regatta is one of the highlights of the English summer, five days of world-class rowing, blazers and Pimm's on the banks of the Thames. From the Chilterns it is close, around 30–45 minutes, but a day of hospitality and a strict dress code make being driven the civilised choice. Here is your guide.
- Henley-on-Thames is around 30–45 minutes from Gerrards Cross via the A4155 and local routes.
- The Stewards' Enclosure has a strict dress code: jackets and ties for men, dresses below the knee for women.
- A chauffeur drops you near the enclosures and collects you after the day, no parking, no driving home.
How far is Henley from the Chilterns?
Henley-on-Thames is around 30–45 minutes from Gerrards Cross and the Chalfonts, via the A4155 and country routes towards the river. The drive is short and scenic; the challenge is regatta-week traffic and parking in a small Thames-side town packed with visitors. See our Henley chauffeur service.
What is the Henley dress code?
The Stewards' Enclosure enforces a traditional dress code: lounge suits or jackets and ties for men, and dresses or skirts with a hemline below the knee for women, no trousers for ladies in the Stewards' Enclosure. Other areas are smart but more relaxed. Dress for a long day outdoors by the water.
Why be driven to the regatta?
A regatta day involves hospitality, Pimm's and hours on your feet by the river, none of which mixes with driving home. A chauffeur means everyone enjoys the day, you arrive together without a parking scramble, and you are collected when you are ready rather than queuing for a taxi in a small town.
When does Henley take place?
Henley Royal Regatta is held in early July each summer, running over five days from a Tuesday to the Sunday. Confirm the exact dates for the year you are attending, and book your travel early, as the town and its roads fill quickly during regatta week.
Making the most of a day on the river
Henley is as much a social occasion as a sporting one, long lunches, Pimm's, and hours by the water, so the day rewards a relaxed approach to travel. Arriving without a parking scramble and leaving without a designated driver lets everyone enjoy it fully.
Plan your enclosure and dress accordingly, bring a hat and sunscreen for an exposed riverside day, and let your chauffeur handle the regatta-week traffic in and out of a small town that swells enormously for the week.