Things to Do in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire: A Pretty Village

In Warwickshire, south of Birmingham, is Henley-in-Arden, a picturesque place to visit. Henley-in-Arden is best known for its historic buildings. Some of these buildings date back to medieval times. The Warwickshire town has a wide variety of preserved architectural styles, so much so that they have classed the High Street as a conservation area.

In the High Street is the Heritage Centre, a museum of the town’s history from the Norman Conquest to the present day. The Guildhall is a distinctive building with 600 years of history.

Henley-in-Arden Heritage Trail

The heritage trail of Henley-in-Arden is widely publicised in the town with a few maps dotted around, including in the train station. This trail lists 15 items, all in close proximity, so they are easy to find.

• St Nicholas Church
• Heritage Centre
• The Guild Hall
• Riverlands
• The Mount
• St John the Baptist church
• Jubilee Gardens
• Methodist Church
• Henley Train Station
• Henley Ice Cream
• Market Cross
• Baptist Church

Things To Do In Henley-in-Arden

St Nicholas Church & The Mount

At the foot of the hill, known as the Mount, is the pretty Norman church of St Nicholas. They estimate that the church was built around 1170. They think that Thurstan de Montfort, who was Lord of the Manor, probably built the church. He also built a Norman castle on the Mount.

St John the Baptist church

They built the original church on the site in 1367; however, they built the present church in about 1443. St John’s Church was built in the Perpendicular style. The building housed the Chapel of the Guild of St John in the north aisle. Unlike some churches, the exterior of this church remains as it was in the 15th century; however, the interior has undergone significant changes over the centuries.

Jubilee Garden

The Jubilee Garden is behind St John’s Church and the guildhall. They have benches to sit on, and in the summer months, delicate flowers bloom. It used to be called the Guildhall Garden; however, to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, it was renamed in 2012.

The Guild Hall

Henley-in-Arden’s guild hall is one of Warwickshire’s historical and architectural treasures. This is a timber-framed building that Sir Ralph Boteler built in 1448. The Guild survived the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. Under the reign of Edward IV, the Crown confiscated the property and its treasures. The Guild Hall is a Grade II-listed building, available for venue hire, and hosts events in the town.

Riverlands Park

Riverlands is a park on the banks of the River Alne that runs through the town. The park has a children’s play area and other seating areas. The River Alne has a bridge, a ford and a gravel beach to see. There is also a pond with a small jetty, ideal for spotting wildlife. The Riverlands area is teeming with wildlife. Some of the more notable species include newts, frogs, kingfishers, grass snakes and much more.

Henley-in-Arden Baptist Church

Henley-in-Arden Baptist Church has been meeting since 1688; however, that was mostly in houses until they built the original chapel in 1822. The current church building dates from 1937. They built this after a fire damaged the original.

Methodist Church

Another historical place in the town is the Methodist church. They built the chapel in 1894; previously, they had used a house at the rear of the current building. It’s a small church with a small congregation, and nowadays it doubles as a not-for-profit local library.

Enjoy a Walk in the Warwickshire Countryside

The town is small, surrounded by countryside, and near waterways, making it a good place for a walk. There are many options for circular walks from the town centre. You can find route suggestions on the Komoot website.

Pubs, Cafes & Restaurants in Henley-in-Arden

There are lots of restaurants and cafes, including The Nags Head, where I had a splendid meal in their beer garden.

The Nags Head: A Dog-Friendly Restaurant

The Nags Head pub is a fantastic place to eat out, particularly on a sunny day, as they have a big beer garden. They have drink options, including lagers like Moretti and some interesting wines.

The pub also has some cask ale options, such as St Austell Brewery Tribute, Proper Job, or London Pride. They were completely dog-friendly during my visit, and others had brought their dogs as well.

The food at The Nags Head was delicious and very well presented, too. The menu had a range of options that piqued my interest. However, I opted for a pâté for the starter and a big chicken burger for the main course.

Three Tuns

The Three Tuns is a pub on the high street that has a range of beers and ciders for visitors to choose from. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and are the winners of the 2024 Warwickshire Pub of the Year.

Dolce Cafe

Dolce Cafe is a lovely place to stop for coffee or lunch while visiting the town. They are an Italian cafe that serves excellent coffee and some delicious Italian foods. This includes cheese and charcuterie boards. Dolce Cafe also offers a range of wines, including special Italian varieties. They also welcome dogs to their cafe.

Henley Kitchen & Deli

Henley Kitchen and Deli serves a variety of dishes, including an amazing breakfast menu featuring locally sourced ingredients. They are also a bakery and sell a range of delightful cakes. As a bonus, they are dog-friendly, making it a great place to have coffee with your pet.

How To Get To The Warwickshire Village?

Henley-in-Arden is on the railway line that connects Stratford-upon-Avon with Kidderminster. This goes via Birmingham and thus is pretty easy to reach by train from most of the region. You can find other transport options on the Omio.com website.

Is Henley-in-Arden Worth Visiting?

I really enjoyed visiting the small Warwickshire town and mooching around. The old timber-framed buildings, the nearby countryside, and the nice places to dine out certainly appealed. Overall, I think it’s a lovely place to visit if you are based nearby or fancy a quiet time when visiting Warwickshire.