The Boat Race Rowing Late March or Early April

The Boat Race needs no further description in its title, as it is one of the most popular and notable sporting events in the United Kingdom, not to mention one of the oldest ongoing sporting events in the world. The Boat Race pits the Oxford University Boat Club against the Cambridge University Boat Club in an annual rowing race on the River Thames in London in late March or early April. The racecourse begins at the Putney Bridge and ends in the Mortlake right before the Chiswick Bridge.

Starting as a race between two friends from Cambridge and Oxford in 1829, The Boat Race has evolved into a highly competitive race of 8-man boats on a just over 4-mile course. Over 250,000 spectators pack the shores of the Thames to watch The Boat Race, while an additional million-plus viewers watch from their TVs.

Both sides in The Boat Race are referred to as “blues” with the Cambridge sporting light blue and Oxford in dark blue each year. The career record between the two clubs remains close to this day. Oxford and Cambridge each have their own official race parties and after-parties, but it’s a safe bet that most pubs in London, especially on the River Thames will be packed with excited spectators of The Boat Race.