[1] There is archaeological evidence of people residing in Henley since the second century as part of the Romano-British period.

As a demesne of the crown it was granted in 1337 to John de Molyns, whose family held it for about 250 years.

[citation needed] The existing Thursday market, it is believed, was granted by a charter of King John.

During the Black Death pandemic that swept through England in the 14th century, Henley lost 60% of its population.

Later, William III rested here on his march to London in 1688, at the nearby recently rebuilt Fawley Court, and received a deputation from the Lords.

The town's period of prosperity in the 17th and 18th centuries was due to manufactures of glass and malt, and trade in corn and wool.

Government commissioners had concluded that Henley's corporation had too few functions and the town was too small to justify the cost of reform.

[9] The old borough corporation continued to exist, but did not qualify for any subsequent new local government powers.

The reformed borough corporation (also known as the town council) took on the abolished local board's functions.

During 2011 the bridge underwent a £200,000 repair programme after being hit by the boat Crazy Love in August 2010.

[14] Henley Town Hall, which occupies a prominent position in the Market Place, was designed by Henry Hare and completed in 1900.

There are express mainline rail services from Reading (6 miles or 9.7 km) to Paddington.

[25] Local rowing clubs include: The regatta depicted throughout Dead in the Water, an episode of the British detective television series Midsomer Murders, was filmed at Henley.

The museum, designed by the architect David Chipperfield, features information on the River Thames, the sport of rowing, and the town of Henley itself.

[35] Henley-on-Thames was represented in the 2010 American drama film The Social Network as the site of a rowing competition between the US and the Netherlands.