Every spring the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race takes place along the Thames in London. The race dates back to 1829, when the first boats from the rival universities took to the water to start an annual tradition.

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

The Boat Race has since become an institution that attracts thousands of fans from all over the UK. They line the banks of the river in Putney to watch the 4-mile-and-374-yard race and cheer on their teams.

Balloons at the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race in London

I have a number of friends in London that rowed at Oxford, some of whom have rowed in the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race in the past. Every year they go to the race, and every year I’ve lived in London, I’ve been out of town for it.

While I love to travel, it’s been my goal to stay in London for The Boat Race weekend one year. This year it finally happened.

Sign for the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race

The Boat Race

A friend and I arrived at the Duke’s Head pub in Putney on Saturday just before 4pm, and found ourselves in a huge crowd. All along both sides of the Thames, people had gathered to spectate.

Crowds on the Thames at the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race in London

After battling the four-deep line at the bar, we got ourselves drinks and re-emerged from the pub in search of our rower friends. They were at the Westminster boat house, which was Oxford’s headquarters for the race.

There we found our group, many of whom were sporting the signature blue Oxford University Boat Club blazers that identified them as Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race alumni.

Oxford Sign

The Reserve Race

The first race started shortly after we met our friends. The race was between the universities’ reserve boats, which were called Isis (Oxford) and Goldie (Cambridge).

We stood on our toes to watch as the long, thin boats started off from Putney Bridge and passed in front of us.

The Boat Race on the Thames

Cambridge had a slight lead as they rounded the bend and rowed out of sight down the Thames, but 17 minutes and 38 seconds later we heard that Oxford had won.

There was much celebrating at the Westminster boat house, which was full of the families and friends of the rowers.

Boat House in Putney

The Blue Boats Race

After the reserve race finished we made our way up a small set of winding metal stairs to the balcony of the house. There we had a great view of the starting line for the Blue Boats race, which started a few minutes later.

Start of the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race in London

The boats took off from the bridge and rowed past us as a host of speed boats followed in their wake. The teams of rowers glided down the river as we watched and cheered until they were out of sight.

Oxford Cambridge Boat Race in London

After the boats rounded the bend we moved inside the boat house to watch the rest of the race on TV. Unfortunately a crowd of impossibly tall rowers had reached the interior before we had, and we couldn’t see much.

However, we could hear the cheering as Oxford pulled ahead. Eventually they gained a comfortable lead, and I started to think that I had never seen a room full of English people get so loud and excited about anything before.

Rowers on the Thames in London

In the end Cambridge wasn’t able to close the gap. Oxford won the race by 12 seconds with a time of 17 minutes and 32 seconds.

With a double victory under their belts, the fans in the boat house were in a celebratory mood, and everyone enjoyed drinks and ultra-British finger sandwiches as they savored their wins.

Rowers on the Thames in London

Oxford Boat Race Ball

They didn’t have much time to do so, though. Most of them—and all of us—were off to get changed into black tie attire for the Oxford Boat Race Ball at the nearby Hurlingham Club.

I went to my friend’s flat in Pimlico where I had dropped off my dress earlier in the day, and she and I got ready together before heading back to Fulham for the festivities.

Rowers at the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race

I had heard good things about the Hurlingham Club before, and despite the fact that it was dark when we arrived for the Oxford Boat Race Ball, I could tell that the grounds and buildings were gorgeous as we walked in.

Perfectly manicured croquet lawns and neatly arranged tennis courts were flanked by duck ponds spanned by pretty bridges. Everywhere there were daffodils in bloom.

We were directed to the building where the ball was taking place, and walked into a large room with a high blue-lit glass ceiling.

The space was buzzing with tuxedos, evening gowns, and cocktail dresses. We immediately ran into our friends and enjoyed a glass of champagne with them before dinner.

Oxford Cambridge Boat Race on the Thames in Putney, London

The meal divided our group in half, with the day’s victorious rowers and their fellow Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race alumni in one dining room and their families, friends, and fans in another.

We sat down for a three-course meal of painfully mediocre food, and spent the next hour catching up and meeting the rest of the people at our table.

Table at the Oxford Boat Race Ball at the Hurlingham Club

After dinner we made our way back into the main hall and rejoined the rowers, at which point we ran into more friends and had another round of drinks.

The plan for the evening was a long night of drinking and dancing, and an after-party at a club on the King’s Road in Chelsea.

Unfortunately, I had to wake up early for a flight to Jordan, so I didn’t get to stay the whole time. When I left, the party was in full-swing and I tore myself away to go home, pack, and fall into bed with enough time for three hours of sleep.

The Boat Race

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Races

Despite waking up the next morning feeling less than stellar, I was glad to have finally gone to the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race and the Oxford Boat Race Ball after missing them for three straight years.

And now I can look forward to next year, when I will certainly be back and will hopefully be able to stay for the entire evening. I just hope Oxford wins again.

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.

Pin it!
Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

4 Comments on Lady’s Guide to the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

  1. Having grown up with an English father, I know what the boat race means to high society – that’s so neat that you could go both to it and to the ball. Next up, Ascot?

  2. I’d never even thought about going to the races before. Just one of those things you take for granted about being brought up here and not realising I could experience it. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.