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The River Thames

Swan in the River Thames at Henley-on-thames
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The River Gallery

Dive into the stories of the Thames and discover how this mighty river has changed the shape of the landscape and the lives of the people who have lived alongside it throughout its long history.

From the unexpected creatures that roamed what were its tropical riverbanks hundreds of thousands of years ago, through to its crucial role as a source of power and transport that gave rise to the development of Henley on Thames as a prosperous town, there is so much to uncover. Large windows overlook the riverbank, so take a moment to enjoy the surroundings and see if you can spot any of the riverbank wildlife then discover more about it in the gallery.

Image: © David Davidson

A bright, white gallery with sunlight falling on a display of lock keeping objects. Other displays in the midground include a blue display on swan upping with costume, and an orange display about water power with images and text.
A woman and two men are looking at a large map display in a gallery, seen from between blue and white displays about water..

Highlights

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View of the log boat, as seen in the River & Rowing museum's Rowing Gallery
Log Boats

Log Boats

We have two ancient log boats on display that were uncovered locally in archaeological excavations. One dates to the medieval period (c.1030AD) and the other is even older, (c.405-530AD) and made by Anglo Saxons. Both have been hewn from solid tree trunks and would have made effective ways to travel on the water. Although they are simple in design it has been estimated that the Saxon log boat could carry a load of 1432kg, equivalent to one person standing and eight others kneeling, so it could have been used as a river ferry or to transport heavy loads such as wood, turf or stone.

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A woman in a yellow checked top stands looking at a display case with the fossilised bones of ancient animals.
Ancient Animals

Ancient Animals

Archaeology in the Thames region has uncovered the fossilised remains of ancient creatures that once roamed the riverbanks. These included mammoth, but also hippo as the climate has been very different here in the past.

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A man and a woman are looking at yellow displays about war in a gallery. There are military uniforms in the case in front of them.
The River Gallery

The River Gallery

The gallery covers wide-ranging themes around the river, including its role in warfare over the centuries

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A taxidermy badger and other riverbank creatures in a display case
Riverbank Creatures

Riverbank Creatures

Meet the creatures who roam the riverbanks today, from badgers and herons to moorhen and butterflies and much more besides. Have a look out of the windows at the end of the gallery to see if you can spot any out and about from the high vantage point.

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Three wooden boats on display in a gallery. The middle one is highly ornately decorated with inlaid wood and all are varnished.
Rivercraft

Rivercraft

We don’t just have racing boats on display – these are more decorative boats and can be seen in the River Gallery.

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Loved the light airy feel of the museum as a whole. The views are as enjoyable as the exhibits.

Museum Visitor

The River Thames stretches into the distance until it disappears under Henley Bridge's arches. Small boats are moored alongside both banks, and a mixture of old buildings can be seen on the left bank with a church tower emerging from them. Ducks and geese swim on the river, and wooded hills can be seen in the distance.

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Children's hands hold different woven wooden materials

Education

We love welcoming schools to explore the museum’s themes and enjoy the riverside location.

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A lady with glasses and white turtleneck carefully inspects stained glass artwork

Events

Dive deeper into the museum by joining us for exhibitions, talks, children's workshops and more.

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Guests sit at wooden chairs and tables in the sun with willows in the background

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Take a seat on the Museum's terrace overlooking the weeping willows of Mill Meadows.

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Lucy Pocock Sitwell Rowing

Visit Us

We reopened on 1st July 2023 following our closure for repair and refurbishment.

We are open Thursday to Monday, 10am to 4pm.

During school holidays we will be open daily from 10am to 4pm.

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Parking

The parking system is a ticketless, cashless system. Visitors pay at the barrier as they leave by payment card (cash not accepted). Visitors can also pay at the kiosk in the Museum foyer as they exit the building.

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