Henley Royal Regatta

This annual amateur rowing competition has been a summer fixture since 1839 (only absent during the years of WWI and WWII), and under royal patronage since 1851. Teams from all over the world compete over five days in two-boat races which set off at five-minute intervals. The Henley Royal Regatta course begins at Temple Island and runs for one mile and 550 yards, which takes approximately seven minutes to cover. Getting hold of the coveted badges that confer entry to the Stewards' Enclosure, with its strict dress code, is only a possibility if you're lucky enough to know a Member, but you can see the finishing line (and Saturday night's firework display) from the adjoining Regatta Enclosure, where the ticket price includes unreserved grandstand seats. Picnics are not allowed in the enclosure, but there's plenty of food and drink on sale. Alternatively you can watch the action, including the adrenaline-fuelled starts, from the open river bank beyond. A parking badge system applies with different routes available to specific badges; possible routes include Remenham Lane from the A4130, or the M4 or M40 via Marlow and the A4155.