It is going to be a truly memorable in Henley over the next few weeks as in addition to the Henley Royal Regatta and the Henley Festival this year we have the Queen visiting and the Olympic Flame coming through Henley. Let's hope that the weather plays ball and the sun shines brightly!

The Queen's visit is next Monday 25th June. She is visiting Henley Business School, hopefully along with the Duke of Edinburgh. There will be a garden party attended by local people who entered a ballot and people invited to attend by the Lord Lieutenants of Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire. On that day the Queen and Prince Philip will travel by boat from Hambleden Lock to Henley Business School. On the Thames there is going to be a pageant.

Starting next Wednesday 27th is the annual Henley Royal Regatta. Henley becomes part of the summer season. The Regatta is  the best known regatta in the world, and is one of the highlights of the summer sporting calendar. There will be over 200 races of international standard. Qualifying actually starts this Friday 23rd June from 4.00pm until 8.00pm

Following on the week after the Regatta from Wednesday 4th July is the Henley Festival. This year sees an eclectic mix of classical music, popular music and comedy. Highlights this year are the first appearance of Sting on Friday, Lulu on Saturday and Ollie Murs on Sunday. The Henley Festival is a fantastic evening on the banks of the Thames. If the sun is shining it can be such a perfect evening as everybody dresses up, with men in black tie and the ladies in long dresses. The firework finale is always well worth seeing.

The Olympic Flame comes to Henley on Tuesday 10th July. Arriving just after 9.00am the flame will make it's way from Northfield End along New Street and Thameside ending at the River and Rowing Museum. Then the flame is transported on a boat along the Thames, up part of the Regatta course, finishing at Leander Club around 10.00am. For full information on the Olympic Flame's visit please click here.

Also don't forget the 35th Thames Traditional Boat Rally on the weekend of 14th and 15th July. An event not to be missed.

For a full list of Events in Henley this summer please see our Events pages on the best of Henley-on-Thames website

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