London


<p>What could be better than sipping a Pimms by the River Thames this Saturday? Sipping Pimms while watching the Oxford V Cambridge annual Boat Race, that&#8217;s what. Following a route that dates back to 1845, the starting line&#8217;s at Putney Bridge (the men&#8217;s race is 3.21pm) and then winds down the Thames, past Hammersmith Bridge, Craven Cottage, Barnes Bridge and Chiswick Bridge.&nbsp;Here’s where to enjoy the boating fun in the sun along the way.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-white-hart-barnes"><a href="https://www.whitehartbarnes.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">White Hart</a>, Barnes</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="771" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-14.59.35-1024x771.png" alt="The White Hart, Barnes " class="wp-image-10214" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-14.59.35-1024x771.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-14.59.35-300x226.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-14.59.35-768x579.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-14.59.35.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Let&#8217;s begin at the end, the most exciting part of the race. This historic pub&#8217;s sun-trap terrace close to the Boat Race finishing line is<em> the</em> place to be on Saturday. Aside from the fantastic views of the crews, punters are attracted to  the huge Aperol Spritz and tasty food (we&#8217;ll be having the plant burger and parmesan truffle chips). The fact the owners care about the local environment is another major plus &#8211; check out the <strong>Big River Clean Fest</strong> in June if you can&#8217;t get a table for the Gala Lunch on Saturday (booking up fast) or standing space downstairs, which is walk-in only. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ship-mortlake"><a href="https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/ship" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ship</a>, Mortlake </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="620" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-16.28.06-1024x620.png" alt="The Ship, Mortlake " class="wp-image-10222" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-16.28.06-1024x620.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-16.28.06-300x182.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-16.28.06-768x465.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-16.28.06.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The Ship, Mortlake’s pretty riverside pub, is the boat race fans&#8217; in-the-know watering hole because of its prime position by the finish line. Positioned at the end of Ship Lane off the Lower Richmond Road, its white and navy colour scheme, open fires and timber floors are suitably nautical, but the sun&#8217;s going to shine so we&#8217;ll be hanging in the beer garden. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-old-ship-hammersmith"><a href="https://www.oldshiphammersmith.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Old Ship</a>, Hammersmith </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-3-1-1024x683.jpeg" alt="The Old Ship Hammersmith " class="wp-image-10215" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-3-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-3-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-3-1-768x513.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-3-1.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Dog-friendly, family-friendly, foodie-friendly, friend-friendly – this 300-year-old stunner by the water ticks all our boxes when it comes to drinks with friends in the sunshine. Just a stroll from the tube, it lays claim to Hammersmith’s best riverside view (we’re not going to argue) for the Boat Race and this year they&#8217;re really going for it with Boat Race Bites, an exclusive Boat Race lunch club, live music and an after party.. Sounds like an ideal afternoon al fresco by the river to Muddy. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-crabtree-fulham"><a href="https://www.thecrabtreew6.co.uk/boat-race-day" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Crabtree</a>, Fulham</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="574" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-16.09.32-1024x574.png" alt="Crabtree Pub, Fulham " class="wp-image-10217" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-16.09.32-1024x574.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-16.09.32-300x168.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-16.09.32-768x431.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-07-at-16.09.32.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Another iconic pub that gets you in the spirit of things by kicking off the celebrations post-work on Friday and continuing all weekend long. The Boat Race Big Weekender includes live music from the likes of The Hoosiers, food from The Crabshack &amp; Asado Grill and great views of all the action. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coppa-club-putney"><a href="https://www.coppaclub.co.uk/putneyboatrace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coppa Club</a>, Putney </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-1024x576.jpeg" alt="Coppa club, Putney" class="wp-image-10216" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>If you want to sip a vino in the sunshine at the start of the race, best book a table at this stylish hangout, best known for its river views (and igloo dining). Enjoy cocktails and book the Champagne brunch and then work it all off following the crews down the river? You can always return for the DJ sets from 3pm til late. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dukes-head-putney"><a href="https://www.dukesheadputney.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dukes Head</a>, Putney </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-1-1024x684.jpeg" alt="The Dukes Head Putney " class="wp-image-10219" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-1-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-1-768x513.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/Unknown-1.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The Dukes Head on the banks of the Thames is another scenic waterside spot to grab a Pimms or a pint from the outside bar, pick up something delicious from the BBQ, listen to live music, watch Oxford and Cambridge battle it out and then dance into the night. Quite the party for what is essentially an 18-minute race. </p>


All aboard! Where to watch The Boat Race

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