We invite visitors of all ages to dive into the interweaving stories of the River Thames and its flora and fauna, the international sport of rowing, and the rich culture and history of our local area.
We have incredible resources in our outstanding collections, including the national collection of rowing, our permanent and temporary displays, and our special riverside location. We use these to create a sense of belonging for our local communities, to make people happier and healthier, and to inspire change to help protect our planet.
The Museum Story
Our award-winning building - a take on the boathouses of Oxfordshire - first opened its doors in 1998.
Designed by renowned architect David Chipperfield, this was his first museum design, and won Royal Fine Art Commission Building of the Year 1999. Since then, its inspirational spaces have enabled the Museum’s communities to immerse themselves in the art and stories of the River Thames through learning events, exhibitions, and hands-on holiday activities. The Museum’s collection includes some 35,000 items.
Communities
We serve communities of all sizes, from our immediate area to the international rowing community - all find a home within our doors.
Our communities are hugely important to us and we ensure our work delivers for you. Our dedicated Community Gallery showcases artworks from local community groups, amplifying their messages to our substantial audience. Collaborative work with community groups and local artists is something we value highly.
Organisations like ours rely on being able to amplify the voices of communities both local and global. If you’d like to work with us or share the museum collection, get in touch with us to start up the conversation.
Work with us
We are recruiting!
Would you like to work in one of Henley’s most iconic buildings? Find out more about our current roles and opportunities:
Curatorial Services
Our Curatorial Team work hard behind the scenes to look after our Collections, provide access to researchers and much more.
Do you have an object that you think should be in the River & Rowing Museum’s collection? Would you like to borrow something from the Museum’s collection? Do you have something you would like to research using the Museum’s archives and library?
Events & Space Hire
A riverbank location, an award-winning building.
Hold your event in the quiet surroundings of the River Thames, among the weeping willows of Mill Meadows.
Policies
RRM policies and procedures underpin a safe and effective environment for staff and visitors
Download our museum-wide policy documents or Strategy:
Curatorial-specific policies and procedures are found below:
Contact Us
Have a look at out FAQs for frequent queries:
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the link below:
Never Miss The Boat
Have you seen…
Education
We love welcoming schools to explore the museum’s themes and enjoy the riverside location.
Learn about school visits
Explore
Dive into the art and stories of the river, revealed through the Museum's vast collection.
Explore our galleries
Café
Take a seat on the Museum's terrace overlooking the weeping willows of Mill Meadows.
Discover more
Visit Us
We are open daily, 10am to 4pm.
Please check our What’s On page and social media to see what events we have coming up, and sign up to our e-news for regular Museum events and news updates.
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.