Putney to Mortlake · River Thames · London · Spring
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The Boat Race is free, four and a quarter miles long, and takes about twenty minutes from start to finish. From any single spot on the bank you will see perhaps twenty seconds of it. Everything about planning the day is really about deciding where to stand and what to do with the rest of the afternoon.
Roughly what you see from one place on the bank. This is not a criticism, it is the nature of a four-mile river race, and it is why the good Boat Race days are the ones planned as an afternoon out rather than as an event.
The three parts of the course
Each gives you a different race and a different afternoon.
Busiest by far
Boats and crews close up beforehand, and the pubs along the embankment are the whole scene.
The bend
Where the race is often decided. Bridge and riverside pubs, and very crowded.
Quieter
Fewer people, more parking, and you see the result rather than the build-up.
Not a joke
Many regulars watch the middle on a screen and step out for the boats. It is the sensible option.
Kent to the river
South west London, and busier than usual along the towpath areas on race day.
| Pick-up area | To Putney | To Mortlake |
|---|---|---|
| Bromley & Orpington | 45–75 min | 55–85 min |
| Bexleyheath & Welling | 50–80 min | 60–90 min |
| Dartford & Bluewater | 60–90 min | 70–100 min |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 60–90 min | 70–100 min |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 70–100 min | 80–110 min |
| Rochester & Chatham | 80–110 min | 90–120 min |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 80–115 min | 90–125 min |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 105–145 min | 115–155 min |
Making an afternoon of it
The race is twenty minutes. The day is considerably longer, and better planned that way.
| Element | Note |
|---|---|
| Arrive well before | The riverside fills a long time in advance, particularly at Putney |
| Two races usually | The women's and the men's, an hour or so apart |
| Pubs are the venue | Along the embankment and around Hammersmith Bridge. They are full |
| Book somewhere if you can | Rather than hoping. Riverside pubs on race day do not take walk-ins lightly |
| We collect back from the river | On a road that moves, ten to fifteen minutes' walk |
Planning the Boat Race
Decide the spot before you book
Putney, Hammersmith and Mortlake are different afternoons, and the collection point follows from which you choose. Putney is the busiest and has the best atmosphere; Hammersmith is where the race is often won and is impossibly crowded; Mortlake is quieter and easier to leave. Tell us which and we set the whole arrangement around it.
It being free is the point and the problem
No ticket means no allocated space, no controlled entry and no reason for anyone to spread out. The riverside fills hours ahead and the good spots go early. A group arriving forty minutes before the start expecting a view of the water will be disappointed, and there is no way to buy your way out of it.
A pub with a screen is not cheating
A great many people who go every year watch most of the race on a television and step outside when the boats are near. Given that you would otherwise see twenty seconds and a great deal of the backs of other people's heads, it is arguably the better plan, and it makes the collection considerably easier to arrange.
Two races, and a long gap
The women's and men's races are usually about an hour apart, which means committing to a longer afternoon than the twenty minutes suggests. That is fine and it is worth knowing when you set the return, particularly if the group has a mind to stay on afterwards, which most do.
Boat Race questions
Free, short, and crowded.
How much of the race can we actually see?
From one spot on the bank, about twenty seconds. It is a four and a quarter mile race on a river, so no single vantage point shows much of it.
Where is the best place to watch?
Putney for atmosphere and the build-up, Hammersmith for where the race is often decided, Mortlake for a quieter finish and an easier exit. They are different afternoons.
Do we need tickets?
No, it is free to watch from the bank, which is exactly why the good spots fill hours in advance and there is no way to buy a better position.
Is watching in a pub reasonable?
Very. Many regulars watch most of it on a screen and step out when the boats pass. Book a table rather than hoping, since riverside pubs on race day are full.
Are there two races?
Usually, the women's and the men's about an hour apart, which makes for a longer afternoon than the twenty-minute race time suggests.
Where do you collect?
Back from the river on a road that is moving, ten to fifteen minutes' walk. The exact point depends which section of the course you chose.
How long does it take from Kent?
Around forty-five minutes from Bromley to well over two hours from east Kent, depending on whether you are heading for Putney or Mortlake.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking and unaffected by traffic or how long you stay afterwards.
River events and London
The Thames occasions.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the price for Boat Race Transfers fixed?
Yes. Every Rushxo journey is a fixed price agreed before you travel, whatever the traffic or time of day: no meter, no surge pricing, no hidden extras.
How do I book Boat Race Transfers?
Request a quote online, by WhatsApp or by phone, 24 hours a day. Confirm the pick-up time and address and you receive the driver details before the journey; business accounts can book on monthly invoice.
Is Rushxo a licensed operator?
Yes. Rushxo journeys are operated by Get London Transfer Ltd, a TfL-licensed private hire operator (licence 11588). Rushxo Ltd is registered at Companies House (16464640), with DBS-checked drivers and insurance up to £10m.
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