7 great things to do near Hurley
Welcome to Hurley! Some of you might know Hurley as the creator or rather eye catching surf gear, but to us it’s a beautiful village just a few miles downstream from Henley-on-Thames.
The Best English Countryside Villages: Hurley
The river is split by about 12 islands by Hurley Lock, making it a fabulous place to explore and the Thames walks in the area are pure bucolic bliss or enjoy a peaceful luxury river cruise. There are beautiful picnic spots which you can make your own.
The lock at Hurley, originally built in 1773, is impressive and is a favourite haunt for kayakers keen to practise their skills. A short way upstream on the Buckinghamshire bank is Medmenham Abbey home of the notorious Hell Fire Club. The river winds through open country and you will see Magpie Island and Culham Court on your way to Hambleden and Hambleden Lock.
Hurley is a traditional English village, and home to The Olde Bell, a lovely coaching inn with a surprisingly large garden at the back, which is just magical in the summer. The Olde Bell is also celebrating its 888th birthday this year! Both Winston Churchill and Dwight D Eisenhower stayed here during World War II, and Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor followed in their footsteps – but for slightly less serious reasons.
For hundreds of years, the ringing of the Sanctus Bell signalled to the monks in the Benedictine Priory that an important visitor had arrived in the village and was on his way to call at their monastic retreat beside the River Thames.
There is a rather wonderful secret passage running from the cellar of The Olde Bell to the Priory in the village which was used by Lord Lovelace of Hurley who was a plotter of the ‘Glorious Revolution’ in 1688 which drove the Catholic James II into exile placing William and Mary securely on the throne.
Jerome K Jerome, author of Three Men in a Boat, said “I often thought I could stay a month without having sufficient time to drink in all the beauty of the scene.” However long you have, Hurley is well worth a visit.
7 things to do if you’re staying near Hurley
Hurley is a picturesque village in the Chilterns. If you’re London based and have limited time to dedicate to the countryside, then a visit to Hurley is for you, in no time at all you can be cruising through the countryside on a luxury river launch or taking aim in an exclusive clay shooting lesson.
Here at Humphreys of Henley we want to share our favourite finds, things we know you will love… make sure you read right to the end, because we have a top Concierge tip to make your luxury holiday in the English countryside extra special!
Stonor Park
One of the oldest English family homes, Stonor has been part of the Stonor family for 850 years. It is well worth a visit, to spend time in this beautiful historic manor and gardens, set with its own serving chapel in the Chiltern hills.
If you are a bird watcher, then Stonor is a must, because they anticipate you may see between five and fifty Red Kites above the property on almost any given day. If you prefer deer, then Stonor has one of the most ancient fallow deer herds in Britain.
Clay or Game Shooting
We have a world class team of instructors waiting to help you learn this English countryside pursuit. Choose from clay pigeon, or game shooting and immerse yourself in this sporting activity.
If you prefer a more personal shooting experience, we recommend a private shooting experience on a country estate where you will feel like lord and lady of the manor for the day while mastering your shooting skills.
Luxury River Cruise
Enjoy the poetry of the river Thames on a relaxing day cruise. Sit back and relax as you cruise through the stunning scenery aboard your luxury river launch. The scene from the river paints the history of the region; from country houses to pretty cottages; picture postcard villages to elegant towns – they all tell a story and have formed the heart of the Thames riverside from the Victorian era.
Foraging
Get wild and enjoy the art of food foraging. Foraging has been popular for some years now, with enthusiasm for gathering food from wild and natural places only increasing as we look to reduce our plastic waste and live more sustainably. Guided by an expert forager, seek out the food that is growing around you that you can access for free. It’s a way to make a connection between your environment and to the food on your plate; to make nature into a treasure hunt for the tummy.
Henley Regatta
Visit the only Royal Regatta and enjoy the five-day festival set on the beautiful River Thames. We recommend taking full opportunity to dress up and attend the Stewards Enclosure to watch the action and quaff champagne during this wonderful summer event.
Garsington Opera
Garsington Opera summer festival is held over seven weeks from the end of May each year and is an intimate experience, with performances from the Philharmonic Orchestra, set in the grounds of a beautiful country house set in the Chilterns. The stunning Wormsley Estate, it is a thoroughly quintessentially English experience.
Windsor Castle
It was the late Queen’s favourite home and was where she chose to spend most of her final years. The castle takes you through 1000 years of our royal history and it’s amazing that one building marks our Norman, Tudor and Georgian heritage so vividly.
We think that Windsor is worthy of a day’s visit. Starting with a regal horse and carriage ride through Windsor Great Park, you will be guided through Windsor Castle, after which you can experience the town from the very different perspective of the river as you relax on a luxury river launch.