The Boat Race 2011

The traditional rowing race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge began in 1829 and now attracts around 250,000 spectators every year. The four-and-a-quarter mile course runs along the Thames from Putney Bridge to Mortlake and takes around 16 to 18 minutes (Cambridge holds the course record of 16 minutes 19 seconds, set in 1998). The Boat Race website has detailed information for spectators, including a section on walking the course. See www.timeout.com/boatrace for our guide to the best vantage points.