For more information and to book please visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or let us arrange your whole trip, by calling +44 (0)20 8987 4312 or from the USA dial 1 866 610 3867.
Hotel du Vin Henley
- Style
- Vintage brewery
- Setting
- Leafy Thameside
The stained-glass front door to this former brewery turned hotel in Henley-on-Thames is the first indication that what lies beyond the Georgian exterior is anything but ordinary.
Need to know
- Rooms
- 43 rooms, including five suites.
- Rates
- £145–£425. Breakfast costs £9.95 for Continental; £13.50 for full English.
- Check-out
- 11am.
- Facilities
- Billiards room, cigar gallery, deep baths and power showers in every room. Affiliated with Kubu spa (www.kubuspa.com).
- Children
- Welcome. Extra cots/beds are £10.
- Also
- The hotel has its own skippered motorboat, Bâteau du Vin, which can be hired privately; drinks and canapés on the river can also be arranged. Book at least a year in advance for Regatta week.
In the know
- Our favourite rooms
- Suite La Grande Dame has a 30-foot arched window, twin baths and sitting-room area. Suite Comtes de Champagne has a balcony overlooking the river, with an outdoor bath tub.
- Also
- For regatta week, make sure you book six months in advance.
Food & drink
- Hotel restaurant
- The Bistro serves European cuisine prepared with contemporary savvy, perfect for family celebrations or romantic tête à têtes. Book in advance to be sure of securing a table.
- Dress code
- Regatta regalia or country casual – anything goes.
- Top table
- If the weather is balmy enough, definitely eat alfresco in the courtyard.
- Last orders
- Last orders for lunch are 2pm and 10pm for dinner.
- Room service
- Limited room service from the à la carte menu until 9.45pm.
- Hotel bar
- Champagne bar open 24 hours for residents.
Smith card offer A bottle of champagne on arrival
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Smith concierge
If you’d prefer to talk to someone, or you’re having trouble booking online, ring our travel team on 0845 034 0700 (+44 20 8987 4312 from outside the UK). We guarantee you’ll get the best available rates, and we don’t charge a booking fee.
Local restaurants
The Three Tuns pub on Market Place (+44 (0)1491 573260) won’t let you down for a lunch or dinner of modern British cuisine. Villa Marina (+44 (0)1491 575262), on the riverside, is a great Italian. Grab a table in the far corner for fantastic views of the river.
Worth getting out of bed for
Take to the river – you can pick up boats and oars from Hobbs Boatyard (www.hobbs-of-henley.com). There are plenty of non-aquatic diversions to be had round Henley, though: there are historic homes such as Stonor (www.stonor.com); butterfly-magnet Warburg Nature Reserve (www.bbowt.org.uk); plus top-drawer alco-palace, the Chiltern Valley Vineyard and Brewery (www.chilternvalley.co.uk).
For more tips on great activities in the region, see our destination guides to Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the Cotswolds.
Diary
End of June is Henley Regatta (www.hrr.co.uk), then Henley Festival (www.henley-festival.co.uk) kicks off a week later with concerts in marquees along the river, and fireworks every night. For more details, see our European events guide Smith 52, or buy the book for the full insider lowdown.
Recommended rooms
Reception staff at this child-friendly hotel will advise which room is right for your size and age of family. All rooms are large enough for at least one extra bed (£10) or cot (complimentary).
Activities
There are no special facilities for children, but the concierge has plenty of information on local family-friendly attractions. The famous river is only 50 yards away, so get some fresh air before lunch with a riverbank walk. Children will love watching the rowers do their stuff up and down the river. Get up close by hiring the hotel's Bateau du Vin, a skippered motor launch available for hire from £165 for the first hour, and £100 for subsequent hours.
Meals
Children are allowed in the bistro at all times. There isn't a kids' menu, but half-size and half-price portions are available for children aged under 14. The chef will cook child-friendly food on request, such as chicken nuggets and chips, can provide packed lunches and will also heat up your baby's milk and food.
Babysitting
Babysitters charge £10 an hour; you'll need to put in your request when booking a room.
Baby-listening
Plug in the monitor provided and programme your mobile phone using the instructions provided; the monitor needs to be pre-booked though – there's only one in the hotel.
No need to pack
There are high chairs in the restaurant. Children receive a complimentary set of Arran Aromatics toiletries.
