Humphreys of Henley - Henley-on-Thames

Sarah C.

Helen was a delight and so knowledgeable. Our tours were well- planned and we had superb guides. The organization was tops. There is great care to detail and to the desires of the visitors. A wonderful time. Thank you, Helen!

Kathryn C.

Humphreys of Henley did a fantastic job for our group of 19 with a very specialized itinerary exploring all things C.S. Lewis in Oxford and surroundings. They were the perfect professionals from the very beginning, from suggesting the right events to include, confirming and reconfirming all details all along the way, and the logistical support needed during the trip. Helen, specifically, was there every step of the way and was an amazing support as needed. Our trip came off seamlessly and we would not hesitate to work with them again in the future.

Jackie A.

Humphreys of Henley planned our trip to Oxford, UK. Originally we were traveling in May, 2020, but because of COVID 19 our trip was postponed many times. Finally, we were able to travel from the US to Oxford and the surrounding area in May, 2022. Humphreys of Henley provided transportation to and from Heathrow, secured our hotel in Oxford, and planned tours for us throughout our 7 day stay. Each tour was excellent with knowledgeable and interesting guides. We stayed at the Old Bank Hotel and both the service and location was superior. Our drivers were prompt. This was our first trip overseas since 2020, and every aspect of our holiday was excellent. The only thing I would change is that we could have stayed in Oxford longer! I would highly recommend using Humphreys of Henley.

Kaelyn L.

I booked Humphreys of Henley for my employer and the entire process was seamless. The communication was great with their team - they were accommodating and very responsive during the entire process. The tours were sheer perfection and the guides top notch. We will sing their praises to anyone traveling to the British Countryside.

STUART B.

**Review for Humphreys of Henley - Shameful**
⭐☆☆☆☆ (1 Star)

To celebrate our tenth anniversary, we decided to throw money at a cruise down the River Thames with traditional afternoon tea. Experiences, rather than ‘objects’ are of great importance to my wife and I, as I suffer from Advanced Complex Parkinson’s, and our quality time is somewhat limited.

The cost of this four-hour cruise along the River Thames with a skipper and a “sumptuous afternoon tea” was a staggering £700. We queried this from the outset, but were assured Humphreys of Henley is “a luxury concierge service, offering the best suppliers for premium experiences” and that they would “handle the entire organization of the day including arranging the mooring, delivery, setup of the food, and providing a skipper”.

However, what we actually got was an abysmal experience, a horrendous waste of time and money, without any finesse, attention to detail or any attempt to mark a celebration. The day before, our four-hour cruise was cut down to three hours, and no discussion was forthcoming regarding a reduction in the cost of the boat. The promises made of a seamless, and flawlessly executed afternoon on the river were nothing but a facade, shattering our expectations and leaving us both disappointed, frustrated and profoundly dissatisfied.

First and foremost, let’s talk about the "sumptuous afternoon tea" they promised. There was NO tea! That's right—not a single drop! To make matters worse, they failed to provided cutlery, napkins, and not even a bottle of water. Seriously, how can a company claim to offer afternoon tea without the absolute essentials? It’s not just laughable; it’s downright discourteous.

And don't even get me started on the lack of presentation. The food was piled into a white cardboard box from a local company (Pavilion). The skipper brought two small plates but there was no setup, no tablecloth or any semblance of effort to create a façade of an afternoon tea experience. It was as if Humphreys threw a few snacks on a table and hoped no one would notice. Well, we noticed, and the lack of attention to detail is simply unacceptable for a company that purports to provide a premium experience.

As for the cost: the box of food retails at £35, the bottle of High Hills Sparkling English wine at £42 and the boat at £295. So, a total of £372. Basic maths £700 - £372 = a greedy £382 profit to Humphreys of Henley. So, is Helen and Sam’s time worth £382? I would strongly argue NOT….especially as Helen admitted she “delegated” the tea on the day, and didn’t even bother to check all was as it should be.

This utter failure to deliver on the commitment of luxury and impeccable organization is disrespectful to the customers who place trust in their services. The blatant disregard for attention to detail and quality control tainted what was supposed to be a memorable afternoon…it’s now memorable for the wrong reasons! It’s clear that Humphreys of Henley does not value its customers or take pride in the service it claims to offer. Spending over £700 for this shambolic experience was an absolute waste of money.

Postscript: I refuse to accept such incompetence and negligence lightly. We negotiated a refund, but after waiting two weeks for Humphreys of Henley to reimburse £500 of the £700, it took a County Court Civil Money Claim for Humphreys of Henley to demonstrate they would take our complaint seriously and honour the agreed refund.

One last point I think is relevant to this review is that I am a retired Royal Marine, who spent 12 months on board the Royal Yacht Britannia as the Royal Marines detachment Sergeant Major. I think this gives me a unique insight into the word luxury and what constitutes 'celebratory afternoon tea'.

Laurel K.

If you haven't visited the English countryside, it's a must! We continue to find interesting, fun and different things to do with every visit to the UK. We learned about Humphreys of Henley from out hotel. As Samantha Evans (founder) explains on the website, there are a vast array of experiences and services they can help you with. I typically do a lot of my own research and planning but now that I know what Humphreys can do, I plan to use more of their services in the future.

I was late in doing the planning for the trip due to the uncertainty of travel these days. But Humphreys was able to make arrangements for me in a short period of time. Samantha takes the time to meet with you and understand your needs, likes and dislikes, in order to help you plan your trip. She makes recommendations and suggestions that can work for your budget. Both Samantha and Maisie were very responsive to the many questions I had along the way.

Humphrey's planned two events for us, a private tour of Kensington Palace with Lord Maurice Fermoy, and a day at the famous Henley Regatta. My daughter is a huge Royals fan and the experience with Maurice (cousin of Diana) was something she will never forget. He was engaging, friendly and knowledgeable and we had great fun with him. In addition to Kensington Palace he also took us to the Horse Guards parade and for drinks afterwards. We both enjoyed the time so much we didn't want the day to end. We plan to take a carriage tour of the Great Park at Windsor with him on our next trip. We also enjoyed the Regatta as it is a unique experience for an American, something very British! They arranged for a boat to take us into Henley due to the high volume of traffic with the Regatta. The skippers were very friendly and told us all about the Regatta on the trip in. Samantha met us at the dock when we arrived. It was wonderful to meet her in person. We shared a relaxing visit and glass of champagne. The food was delicious at the private club and it was a relaxing day just people watching (in addition to the race).

I highly recommend Humphrey's to help you plan your trip to the English countryside!

Sue B.

We had never been to Henley regatta before but Humphreys ensured we had the best day! We were so impressed with everything from the warm welcome on arrival, champagne boat trip, delicious meals and excellent viewing. It was a day none of us will ever forget! I would not hesitate to recommend them and we will definitely use them again. Their attention to detail is amazing and they made it such a special and personal occasion for us. Thank you!

Victoria P.

The Windsor Castle experience was an unforgettable one for my daughter and I. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with the extremely knowledgable Amanda who seemed to know every intricate detail about the castle. Seemingly tailored specifically to ourselves, the tour was enlightening and very professional. Humphrey’s ensured every aspect of our trip was well organised. Wouldn’t hesitate to use for further trips in the area.