Oxfordshire
Known as "the capital" of south Oxfordshire, the small town of Henley is world famous for its quaint location by the River Thames and its annual regatta.
The town is rich in parkland, Georgian architecture (a period of English architecture, furniture and decorative art between 1714 and 1830) such as the Speaker's House, where the Speaker of the Long Parliament (1640-53), William Lenthal, lived, and traditional inns such as the Red Lion Inn by the River Thames, where William of Orange (King William 1650-1702) once stayed. His stay serves as a reminder of the town's importance as a stop over for coaches travelling between London and Oxford in the XVIII century. Henley also served as an important centre for river transport.
Today the River Thames continues to play an important role in the town's life but is used mainly for leisure and recreation purposes. Although Henley hosted the first boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities in 1829, the town is most famous for its annual Royal Regatta that dates back to 1839. Held in the first week of July, the regatta forms one of the main sporting and social events of the summer. During the event the whole town embraces a festival atmosphere and is well worth a visit.