A Guide To The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race 2025

Rowing is a famously popular pastime in both Oxford and Cambridge, so why do the rowers descend on London’s River Thames every spring? Here’s everything you need to know about the Boat Race ahead of this weekend‘s action – the very first edition sponsored by Chanel.

Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race 2025: The Ultimate Guide

Image of Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race 2015, illustrating the Oxford Reserve VII (Isis) celebrating after the finish

What Is The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race?

The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race – otherwise simply known as ‘the Boat Race’ – is an annual side-by-side rowing race along a section of the River Thames in London, on the u-shaped stretch between Putney Bridge and Chiswick Bridge. The competitors are students of Britain’s oldest and most prestigious universities: the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

Despite the singular name, six races make up the competition:

• The men
• The women
• The men’s reserves (Isis v Goldie)
• The women’s reserves (Osiris v Blondie)
• The men’s lightweights
• The women’s lightweights

However, the lightweight races take place on a different day. This year, the lightweights will race on Saturday 12 April.

A Victorian engraving of a crowd watching the race at Barnes Bridge. (Getty)

A Brief History Of The Boat Race

In 1829, one Cambridge student challenged an Oxford student to a rowing race at Henley-on-Thames; naturally, they attended Harrow School together. Allegedly, they somehow attracted a crowd of 20,000 spectators, who watched Oxford defeat Cambridge ‘easily’. Disorganisation meant the competition wasn’t repeated until 1836, when the River Thames played host to a new band of men. It happened again in 1839, and then again the year after, and the year after that, and thus began the annual Boat Race. In fact, part of the annual tradition is that the loser challenges the winner to a rematch.

Except for the years 1915–1919, 1940–1945 and 2020, the race has occurred annually since 1856, spanning eras and observing monumental changes in society. Notably, the women’s edition first occurred in 1927 on Oxford’s River Isis, and the crews were forbidden from racing side-by-side and were instead judged on ‘time and style’. It wasn’t until 2015 that the women’s race first occurred on the same day as the men’s race and in the same place; before 2015, the women’s race was usually rowed in Henley.

A poster advertising the first race after World War 1, during which there was a hiatus. (Published by Underground Electric Railways Company Ltd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

When Is The Boat Race 2025?

In 2025, The Boat Race will take place on Sunday 13 April under the title ‘The CHANEL J12 Boat Race’, named for the house’s iconic J12 unisex watch, itself inspired by J Class 12-metre racing boats from the early 20th century.

It’s the first year the race has had an official timekeeping sponsor. Learn more about it here.

Left, Chanel J12 watch in white; right, Gabrielle Chanel on Roussy Sert’s yacht in front of the Lido, Venice, 1936. (© CHANEL Watches/V.H. Grandpierre/Vogue Paris)

What Time Is The Boat Race?

The races will take place at the following times:

• 1.21 pm: 79th Women’s Boat Race
• 1.36 pm: Osiris v Blondie Race (Women’s Reserve)
• 1.51 pm: Isis v Goldie Race (Men’s Reserve)
• 2.21 pm: 170th Men’s Boat Race

Note that the reserve races are not usually televised.

Putney Bridge

Where To Watch The Boat Race

In 2017, more than 250,000 spectators took to the banks of the Thames to catch a glimpse of the Boat Race, with a peak TV audience of 2.63 million in 2023 on the BBC’s broadcast. In other words, it’s a pretty popular affair.

Wondering where is the very best place to watch the boat race? The first question to consider is this: ‘to pub, or to park?’. Otherwise, here’s a run down of the popular viewing spots:

• Putney Bridge: This is the course’s start line, with a bird’s eye view of the boats as they make their splashy start – the perfect spot if you like a touch of drama. Note that the bridge fills up very fast, so this one’s for the early birds.
• Barnes Bridge: Filling up even faster than Putney Bridge is Barnes Bridge, which is basically the finish line. Venture here to be the first to see the winner cross the finish line.
• Hammersmith: While Hammersmith Bridge will, once again, be closed to spectators, leafy Hammersmith has plenty of riverside spots and walking trails to watch the action from. This is a crucial point in the race, just ahead of the bend, when one crew starts to pull ahead of the other. The Thames Reach, in particular, is a path on the north bank, just south of the bridge – a vast stretch of viewing space.
• Mortlake: While Barnes Bridge is basically the finish line, there’s actually a few more minutes of rowing after the landmark, taking the rowers to the real finish line in Mortlake. Spectators can venture to the bank to glimpse those final crucial minutes and the rowers celebrating their win as they paddle just beyond Chiswick Bridge – but make sure to bring your wellies! Or try Dukes Meadows for a drier experience.
• Putney Embankment: If you don’t make it to Putney Bridge in time, join the herds of spectators watching from Putney Embankment, where the tow path has a great view of the race’s early action.
• Furnivall Gardens: Or try Hammersmith’s Fan Park, Furnivall Gardens, for big screens and BYOB galore complete with toilets, street food, and beer from Shepherd Neame.
• Bishop’s Park: At Fulham’s official Fan Park, Bishop’s Park, where visitors can expect street food, a big screen and even a brass band. This year, a special collaboration with the soon-to-open Fulham Pier and its Riverside Market means fans can get a first glimpse of the brand new food hall, with pop-ups, street food, live music and a whopping 14 screens showcasing the action.
• Riverside Pubs & Restaurants: Find special menus and drinks deals galore at these riverside pubs and restaurants, all with views of the action.

Image courtesy of Row360

When Is The Boat Race In TV?

Every year, the Boat Race is broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. In 2025, the programme will kick off at 12.20pm on Sunday 13 April, one hour ahead of the first race. Expect deep dives into each and every rower and live scenes from the riverside, the air and aboard the boats themselves.

Clare Balding returns to host, joined by Rishi Persad, Qasa Alom and special guests including Olympic gold medallist Imogen Grant and Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan. There will also be a special film delving into the environmental state of the Thames, led by husband and wife duo Steve Backshall and Helen Glover.

The coverage will wrap up at 3.10pm.

Image courtesy of Row360

Who Has Won More, Oxford Or Cambridge?

Cambridge has won more Boat Races, leading 87–81 against Oxford after 168 races (the 1877 race was declared a ‘dead heat’). Though the statistics are close, Cambridge has actually been winning the rivalry in cumulative wins since 1930 – so Oxford has a big mission on its hands to snatch the title.

On the women’s side, Cambridge also leads, with 48 wins to Oxford’s 30 after 77 races. If the Cambridge women win in 2025, it’ll mark eight consecutive defeats for Oxford.

How Long Is It?

The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race is a 4.2 mile (6.8 km) rowing race, taking place on the Championship Course on the River Thames.

In recent years, it has typically taken the men’s boats around 17 minutes and 30 seconds to complete the course, while the women usually take a few minutes longer.

Where Does The Boat Race Start And Finish?

The Boat Race starts at Putney Bridge and finishes at Mortlake every year (apart from in 2020, when it was relocated to Ely due to the pandemic).