‘The Happy Cottage’ is a beautiful, and newly restored, 19th Century Terraced Cottage. It is an 8 minute walk to the heart of Henley’s charming town center, picturesque River Thames, and train station.
Whether you will be attending a Festival, Concert, Fair or simply want a relaxing getaway, our cozy cottage is only a few minutes’ walk to all of this and more. Begin your day waking up from a refreshing sleep and enjoy your morning tea or coffee at the cheerful garden patio table or the tasteful interior Lounge/Dining area complete with watercolor artwork of various locations around Henley.
After a peaceful awakening, take a leisurely stroll down Greys Hill and into town. You will be walking through a 19th century terraced cottage neighborhood, including the quietly beautiful Holy Trinity Church and Graveyard (est. 1848). In town, you will discover a variety of lovely cafes, pubs, restaurants and boutique shops. Then, meander to the river for a lovely stroll past river barges, parks and beautiful scenery. Be sure to stop in at the ‘River and Rowing Museum’ right on the River Walk, and then continue on to the Marsh Lock at the Weir to see how boats maneuver through the Thames. You may even want to pack a picnic and hire a boat excursion for an afternoon!
There are many other things, as well, to do and see nearby: hiking, biking or pub/tea walks through the Chiltern Hills (a UK “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty); tours and tastings at The Henley Distillery or one of Henley’s 3 wine vineyards; fabulous plays, concerts and comedy nights at ‘Kenton Theatre’ or ‘The Mill at Sonning Dinner Theatre’; manor house/country garden tours at ‘Nuffield Place’, ‘Greys Court’ or ‘Stonor Park.’ Also, there are Outdoor Markets, in the Town Centre: The Charter Market (every Thursday), The Farmer’s Market (2nd Saturday and 4th Thursday of the month 8-1:30pm), and the Craft Market (4th Sunday of the month 9-3pm).
You may fancy attending one of the many events, held in Henley, each year: The Henley Royal Regatta, Henley Festival, Thames Traditional Boat Festival, Henley in Bloom, Henley Swim Festival Rewind Festival, Henley Farm and Country Show, Henley Literary Festival, and Henley Christmas Festival … to name a few!
After spending your day exploring the beauty of Henley, meander back home (up Greys Hill) and be sure to stop at one of the quaint pubs along the way: “Bird in Hand” or “Saracen’s Head.” Then, a couple of minutes from there, you come home to the welcoming, cozy environment of ‘The Happy Cottage.’ If you wish to cook, we have a fully equipped kitchen and lovely dining place settings. Listen to your choice of music from 'Google Play' or watch television on the Smart TV as you enjoy a nice beverage. Feel free to peruse our books about Henley’s history while curling up on our comfy sofa or armchairs. Or, perhaps, play cards or other games stored in the lounge.
Feel free to take a nice hot bath or shower – bathtub caddy tray, bath salts, bubbles, candles, shampoos, body wash, towels and hair dryer provided for a spa like experience. You can then look forward to a comfortable and restful sleep in one of the two bedrooms. The beds have mattress toppers, 100% cotton linens, hotel quality pillows and extra blankets if needed. The first bedroom has one King Bed (which is more like a Queen size for visiting Americans) and plenty of closet space for storing personal items. The second bedroom has a double bed and some storage space for personal items. For those with mobility issues, the sofa sleeper is on the Ground Floor (as is the bathroom) and has a double sized pull-out bed. There is some storage, under the stairs, for personal items. Please note that the stairs leading to the First Floor are quite narrow and not suitable for very young children or those with mobility issues.
Our hope is that you will be able to experience a relaxing stay in a gorgeous, cozy and well-appointed English Country styled cottage. Our aim is to create a warm and welcoming environment that you will want to return to again and again!