Competition
Crew Accommodation and Boat Hire
Crew Accommodation
Henley-on-Thames is a small town of about 11,000 people. As hotel capacities are limited, especially during regatta periods, it has become a tradition for visiting crews and coaches, whether from around the UK or overseas, to stay with families in the town of Henley or nearby. While this is unusual compared with many other regattas, people often really enjoy the experience, and many crews stay with the same family every time they race in Henley.
How to find housing
Henley Women’s Regatta provides a free-of-charge matching service between prospective hosts and crews.
Please complete our Crew Accommodation Request form to be matched with a host. Early planning helps everyone, so please complete the form even if your numbers aren’t finalised so we can start to assist. Please note that to commit to a housing firm, details will be needed.
If you have any issues, please email Anne Buckingham, Crew Liaison, at crew@hwr.org.uk
Prospective hosts can let us know what accommodation they can offer here.
What are the houses like?
The level of accommodation varies, and hosts set their own prices. Crews are free to reject any introduced housing and request something different for any reason, but note that as it gets closer to the regatta, options may be limited.
Housing options span the full range from sprawling to basic and can accommodate two to 16 people in rooms which are generally shared, though not always. Generally, the closer a house is to the town centre, the smaller the house, although many large houses are within a 15-minute walk of the centre. It is about a 20-minute walk from the market square in the centre of the town to the launching and landing area for the regatta.
Most houses include breakfast in the price, but some do not. Similarly, some houses allow full kitchen access and others do not. If you have specific needs, please confirm them with the hosts prior to arrival and payment.
Financial arrangements for accommodation
All financial arrangements are directly between the crews and the hosts. Some hosts will require a deposit, and almost every host will require payment in full prior to arrival. Henley Women’s Regatta does not accept any money for placing crews.
Camping
There is a permanent public campsite on the outskirts of Henley at Swiss Farm. This offers ‘glamping’ accommodation as well the option to bring your own tent. Please note that this campsite is on the opposite side of the river from the Henley Women’s Regatta site.
HWR has no involvement in bookings with these campsites – please contact them directly to book or if you have any queries.
Boat Hire
Option 1: Hire from a boat manufacture
First, contact the manufacturer of the boat you wish to row in your own country. While this seems counterintuitive, they will be able to coordinate with the UK boat manufacturer and can advise on the likelihood of obtaining a boat for the regatta directly from the manufacturer.
Useful contact emails are:
- Empacher UK – info@empacher.uk
- Filippi – info@wwmarine.co.uk
- Hudson – Ruud Pepping – ruud@hudsonboatworks.com
- Janousek and Stampfli – boats@janousek.co.uk
- RacingYello (international standard boat hire) – racingyello.com
- Resolute – resoluteracing.com
- WinTech and King Racing Shells – rental@oarsport.co.uk
Option 2: Hire a boat from a UK club
The following clubs in Henley or the surrounding area may be able to offer boats for hire:
- Marlow RC
- Henley RC
- Upper Thames RC
- Maidenhead RC
- Reading RC (Boat Manager)
- Leander Club
- City of Oxford – enquiries@oxfordrowingclub.org.uk
Please note that HWR has no formal relationship with any of these clubs and any arrangment you wish to make should directly between you and the club.
Next regatta
19-21 June 2026
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