The Head of the River Race

The Head of the River Race sends more than 320 eights and some 2,800 rowers down the 4.25-mile Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney, one crew after another, each racing the clock for the fastest overall time. Racing starts at 2.45pm and the crews finish on the Putney stretch, where the embankment fills with boats, trailers and supporters.

Steve Fairbairn founded the race in 1926 as a cure for winter boredom, and it ran its 100th edition in March 2026. The fastest crew wins the Fairbairn Trophy. Crews come from clubs and universities across the UK and abroad, and it is a highlight of the Tideway winter season.

Suitable for: All ages. Free to watch from the riverside.

Accessibility: Viewing is from the public riverside at Putney Embankment. Expect crowds, crews carrying boats and boat trailers on the embankment on race day.

Booking: No booking or tickets needed for spectators.