The Henley Royal Regatta is an annual event held by the town of Henley-on-Thames in England. The five-day event, spanning from Wednesday to Sunday, is held on the River Thames and ends on the first weekend in July. The races are head-to-head knockout style, completed over a 2112m distance. Originally drafted in 1839, the Henley Royal Regatta hosts international race crews from around the world. Since its inception, the event has come a long way, seeing transformations and changes over the years to give it the shape and face that it has today. Currently, the Regatta hosts hundreds of teams from around the world and is attended by enthusiasts punctually.
The Henley Royal Regatta is considered a major sporting event in the UK but is also considered part of the English social season. The honourable Stewards’ Enclosure has kept a strict dress code for men throughout, while women are allowed to wear either dresses or skirts with hemlines below the knee. The event also plays hosts to several visitors, who come merely to enjoy a mid-summer sunny day by the river. The Regatta was originally held as an event for amateurs, but over the years interest and passion grew for the sport. This led to the Regatta becoming an annual professional event. Now, according to the rules, the participants can range from newbies and first-timers to Olympic athletes, who can compete against each other.
The current cost of hosting, managing and preparing the Henley Royal Regatta is over £3,000,000, and it is one of the few major sporting events that doesn’t rely on commercial sponsorship from brands. It was originally known as just the Henley Regatta, it became the Henley Royal Regatta in 1851 when Prince Albert became the first royalty to be a patron of the event. Until 1993, the Henley Regatta did not have women competing over the full regatta course.
The Stewards Enclosure is the most prestigious place to be when attending the Henley Royal Regatta. The enclosure has an unmatched view of the finish line, where attendees can watch the rowers finish the race. However, to get an admission badge into the Stewards Enclosure, you have to be a member of the body of Stewards or an invited guest. The Stewards Enclosure also has several viewing options, such as Members’ Grandstand, the Fawley Grandstand, and the Floater.
The Stewards Enclosure has a waiting list of six to ten years for new guests, which may seem like a stretch for a lot of people. In that case, you may go for the Regatta Enclosure. Located along the Berkshire bank, it is open to the general public and the views are absolutely stunning. You can enjoy riverside seating and tickets can be purchased online.
When you’re attending an event as prestigious as the Henley Royal Regatta, you must also travel in style. To get to the river Thames, and more specifically, to the Regatta, you can hire yourself a luxury taxi service from Shadow Carriage. Our huge fleet of multiple models of luxury vehicles ensures you get from point A to point B without hassle. Are you a big party? Doesn’t matter because we still have you covered. Our 16-seater executive mini-coach can pick you and your team up, and transport you to the Henley Royal Regatta.
Hosting a fleet of luxury vehicles, fitted with top-of-the-line technology and expert chauffeurs who provide clients with the utmost satisfactory service, Shadow Carriage is a leading company in the luxury transport business. Our services are dedicated to providing comfortable travel, high-standard luxury and 24/7 availability. We also understand that with the tag of a luxury service, comes the expectation of a clean, maintained and hygienic service. Our entire fleet has the requirement of being cleaned and wiped after every client is provided services.
Shadow Carriage proudly serves a fleet of top luxury vehicles, which include the prestigious Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Ghost, Mercedes S-Class, Mercedes E-Class, Mercedes V-Class, and Minibus and Coaches from Mercedes. We provide specific VIP services for event travel in the UK.