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If you\u2019re looking for a classic London day out with a bit of atmosphere, a riverside stroll, and an excuse to stop at a few great pubs<\/a>, The Boat Race is hard to beat. <\/p>\n Every spring, crowds line the Thames<\/a> to watch one of the city\u2019s oldest sporting traditions, but for most people, it\u2019s less about the rowing and more about soaking up the vibe.<\/p>\n The event sees crews from University of Oxford and University of Cambridge go head-to-head on the Thames, a rivalry that dates back nearly 200 years.<\/p>\n Two crews of eight, featuring top student rowers from the UK and around the world, will race along the 4.2-mile Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake, all chasing victory on one of rowing\u2019s biggest stages.<\/p>\n Zac Goodwin\/PA Wire<\/p>\n Last year, University of Cambridge<\/a>, in their signature duck egg blue, secured a clean sweep. Their wins marked a record-extending 88th triumph in the men\u2019s race and a 49th in the women\u2019s, strengthening their lead over University of Oxford <\/a>in the overall standings.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s race is expected to draw large crowds to the south-west London stretch of the Thames, as well as viewers tuning in from across the UK and around the world.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s everything you need to know to plan your day for The Boat Race 2026.<\/p>\n When is the Boat Race 2026?<\/p>\n The 2026 edition of The Boat Race is set to take place on Saturday, April 4.<\/p>\n The Boat Race starts at 2:21pm with the women\u2019s heat, and continues into the evening.<\/p>\n The exact timings are below:<\/p>\n 2:21pm \u2013 Women\u2019s Boat Race 2:36pm \u2013 Women\u2019s Reserve Race 2:51pm \u2013 Men\u2019s Reserve Race 3:21pm \u2013 Men\u2019s Boat Race<\/p>\n Where to watch the Boat Race in London<\/p>\n The race runs along a scenic stretch of the Thames from Putney Bridge to Chiswick Bridge \u2014 and the beauty is, you can watch it from anywhere along the route.<\/p>\n However, here are a few of the best spots to watch the race.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth arriving ahead of the first race so you can catch the full build-up and enjoy the atmosphere along the river.<\/p>\n Hammersmith – for best views of the action <\/p>\n Hammersmith Bridge is a great spot to watch the event<\/p>\n Matt Writtle<\/p>\n The stretch around Hammersmith Bridge is often considered the best viewing point.<\/p>\n The river bends here, meaning crews are working hard and it\u2019s often where the race is decided. It\u2019s a great balance between atmosphere and actually seeing what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n Putney is where the race begins, so it\u2019s the liveliest (and busiest) spot. Expect big crowds, plenty of energy, and riverside pubs filling up early.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a great choice if you want that \u2018event day\u2019 feel but just be prepared to arrive early to secure a good place.<\/p>\n Barnes & Chiswick – for a relaxed afternoon <\/p>\n Closer to Chiswick Bridge, things are a bit calmer.<\/p>\n This is ideal if you want a more laid-back experience: think picnics, quieter pubs, and space to wander. You might not feel the same pre-race buzz, but it\u2019s perfect for a slower-paced day.<\/p>\n Even if you don\u2019t know much about rowing, The Boat Race is one of London\u2019s best free spring events.<\/p>\n Go for the riverside walk, the pub stops, the people-watching, and the excuse to spend a few hours outdoors. If you happen to catch the race as it goes past, that\u2019s a bonus.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d rather enjoy it from the comfort of home, or continue the day after heading back, the race will be broadcast live on Channel 4.<\/p>\n The programme begins at 1:30pm, and you\u2019ll be able to watch it not just on TV, but also online and across various devices including smartphones and tablets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you\u2019re looking for a classic London day out with a bit of atmosphere, a riverside stroll, and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4298,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[2537,27,1731,2538,2177],"class_list":{"0":"post-4297","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-london","8":"tag-boat-race","9":"tag-london","10":"tag-thames","11":"tag-the-boat-race","12":"tag-university-of-cambridge"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/116334923789983289","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4297"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4297\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"<p><\/p>\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI197649581.jpg.jpg\")
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