Best Viewing Spots For The Boat Race

The Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities is a historic event that has been running for almost 200 years. It's free to watch, and over 300,000 spectators are expected to line the four-and-a-quarter-mile route from Putney to Mortlake along the River Thames in southwest London. The women's race starts at 2:46 pm, and the men's race at 3:46 pm. The best places to watch the race unfold are the Thames' crossing points: Putney Bridge, Hammersmith Bridge, and Barnes Bridge. If you want to watch from the comfort of a pub, The Blue Boat, The Dove, The Crabtree Tavern, and The Blue Anchor are all popular choices.

Hammersmith Fan Park

The Hammersmith Fan Park is located in Furnivall Gardens, London, and is a great place to watch the Boat Race. The fan park is open from 11:00 to 18:00 and offers a giant screen to watch the BBC coverage live, as well as fantastic access to the river to watch the crews pass by.

There is a variety of delicious street food and refreshments available from outlets such as Jim and Tonic, Cheeky Burger, Baked Bird, Hermanos Tacos, and Crepe Salut. The fan park also has full-service bars with a variety of beers, Chapel Down, and gin and tonics.

Picnics, including alcohol, are permitted in the Hammersmith Fan Zone, and you can bring foldable chairs as there is limited seating on the site. The fan zone is wheelchair accessible and has two accessible toilets. It is also dog-friendly, and smoking is allowed as long as smokers are respectful to others and avoid smoking in busy areas and near stalls/bars/vendors.

The easiest way to get to the Hammersmith Fan Park is by public transport. The nearest tube station is Hammersmith (Piccadilly, District, Hammersmith & City), and the following buses also go to the area: 33, 72, 209, 283, and 419.

Fulham Fan Park

The Fulham Fan Park, located in Bishops Park, is one of the best places to watch the Boat Race. The Fan Park is located near the start of the race and is devoted to fun for all the family, with free entry!

Fulham Football Club’s Riverside Stand will provide no less than 14 screens showing live racing action from the BBC, live music, bars, and delicious street food. Official Boat Race Celebration Partner, Chapel Down, will be serving English Sparkling Wine. There will also be exciting entertainment and exhibitions from various partners.

Fans are welcome to take their food and drink out into the Grade II-listed park to enjoy the al-fresco seating and watch the race on the giant screen. There are covered areas beneath the stand, seating, toilets, and lots of stands from official partners. The fan zone is wheelchair accessible, and there will be accessible toilets. The Fulham Fan Zone is also dog-friendly.

You can bring a picnic, including alcohol, into the Fulham Fan Zone, and foldable chairs are allowed. There will be random bag searches operating within the Fan Zone.

To get to the Fulham Fan Park, you can take the nearest buses, 74, 220, or 430, and alight on Fulham Palace Road at Bishop’s Park Road bus stop. It's then a 5-minute walk to the park along Bishop’s Avenue. Alternatively, you can take the Underground to Putney Bridge Station, which is approximately an 8-minute walk to the park.

Putney Bridge

On Boat Race Day, Putney Embankment and the surrounding roads will be closed to traffic, so you can enjoy a fully pedestrianised experience with food and beverage trucks. In the morning, you can watch the crews arrive as well as witness the famous 'Coin Toss', when the Presidents of Oxford and Cambridge toss a coin to decide who will race on which side of the river. The crews also launch their boats from the boathouses along Putney Embankment, so there's a fantastic opportunity to cheer them on before they paddle to the start line just above Putney Bridge.

There are good vantage points along the tow paths on either side of the river in Putney to watch the race from, as well as plenty of shops, cafes and bars to visit. There's also a Boat Race Bonanza with lots of family-friendly activities.

Pubs with a view

If you're looking for a pub with a view of the Boat Race, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some of the best:

The Blue Boat, Hammersmith: This pub is right on the banks of the Thames and will be holding a fête on its front terrace for the Boat Race, including live music, children's entertainment, pop-up bars, and food stalls. It's also one of the only pubs along the route taking table bookings for meals on the day.

The Dove, Hammersmith: A charming, traditional waterside pub with beautiful, uninterrupted views of the river. The Dove will have a BBQ and a pop-up bar on the terrace, and the bar will be well-stocked. This is one of the busiest days of the year for the pub, so there are no table bookings and a special food menu will be in place.

The Crabtree Tavern, Hammersmith: The Crabtree hosts a Boat Race Day festival in its garden, with live music, an asado grill, and Pimm's on tap. It also has a spacious veranda overlooking the Thames and serves great food and ales.

The Blue Anchor, Hammersmith: Home to a terrific terrace overlooking Hammersmith Bridge, which will undoubtedly be packed. The Blue Anchor usually hosts an outside bar for those wanting a riverside view, while indoor screens will show all the action if the weather takes a turn.

The Rutland Arms, Hammersmith: Right next to the Blue Anchor and situated handily on the towpath, the Rutland Arms is well-placed and always very busy. Expect to find a good view of the race, crowds permitting.

The Old Ship, Hammersmith: One of the most historic pubs on the list, likely where the first boat race in 1829 was watched. The Old Ship boasts "the longest (and best) possible view" of the races. Pair fantastic riverside views with a spread of food and drink that is quintessentially British, including Pimm's, gin, sausage rolls, and strawberries and cream.

The Bull's Head, Barnes: A swish way to watch the action—a £55 ticket gets you access to the pub's Melrose Room, with a free glass of Nyetimber wine, canapes, and panoramic Thames views.

Ye White Hart, Barnes: This pub makes the most of its outdoor space by the river and will host a barbecue and al fresco bars, creating a party atmosphere on the banks. It also gets the Boat Race thumbs up for its private balcony view.

The Ship, Mortlake: This pub has a view of the finish line, so expect the Pimm's to be flowing.

Chiswick Bridge

If you want to bag a spot on Chiswick Bridge, it's best to arrive early and wear warm clothes as it can get quite chilly. You can also watch from the paths that run along the river on either side, but remember to bring your wellies or waterproof boots as it can be very wet.

The Ship pub is right on the river here, so you can pair fantastic riverside views with quintessentially British food and drink, such as Pimm's, gin, sausage rolls and strawberries and cream.

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