The basics
Forget everything you think you know about down-and-dirty summer fests: this refined riverside party calls for champagne and suits over cider and wellies.
The festival
The antithesis of your standard mud-caked, cider-soaked, shower-free music fest, the Henley Festival is a black-tie soiree by the Thames that takes the basics of a summer bash - live acts, flowing booze - and adds a dapper dash of class.
Ergo, in place of the beer tent you’ve got the Lanson Champagne Lawn, instead of a burger van there’s Roux at the Riverside (yes, that Roux), and smooth crooners gracing the floating stage in 2014 included Roxy Music legend Bryan Ferry and Burt Bacharach. Oh, and The Jacksons (that’s Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito to you). Every day ends with an elegant fireworks display, too. Think ‘Glasto goes posh’.
Our tip
Everyone will be wearing their finest tuxedos and cocktail dresses - make the effort to look your best, or you’ll feel veeeery underdressed.
Watch
Lineup
Getting there
How do I get there?
Travelling by car:
London/Heathrow Airport: Take M4 west towards South Wales, leave at Junction 8/9, join A404 (M), signposted Henley. Take third exit from A404(M) onto A4130 and into Henley.
Bristol/South Wales: Leave M4 at Junction 10, join A329(M), follow signs for Rveading. At end of motorway, follow signs to Henley via the A4, join A321, pass through Wargrave. Join the A4130 just outside Henley, turn left into the town.
London/Oxford/Birmingham using M40: Leave M40 at Junction 4. Take A404 signposted Marlow/Bourne End. Leave first exit into Marlow centre, take A4155 to Henley.
M25 North/South: Leave M25 at Junction 16. Take M40, signposted Oxford. Follow directions above for arrival from the M40. For M25 South, leave M25 at Junction 15. Take M4 West. Follow directions for M4 as above
Car Parks: The Festival site and car parks are situated on the London side of Henley Bridge and are clearly signposted.
Travelling by Bus: There are regular bus services operating between Henley and Reading, High Wycombe, Marlow, Maidenhead and London. For London's Heathrow airport, there is a bus from Heathrow to Reading and then take the bus from Reading to Henley.
Travelling by Train: The closest station is Henley-on-Thames
Tickets
Pricing
(2014)
Ticket price includes: floating stage concert, all performances in the Salon, admission to art galleries, the sculpture lawn, Indigo nightclub and all non-bookable restaurants and bars.
Grandstand tickets start from: £65
When can I get them?
Tickets on sale now
Where can I get them?
Tickets will be available via the website.