The Great River Race 2011

An annual race to find the Traditional Boat Champions. Around 300 craft take part, including gigs, skiffs, Chinese dragon boats, Hawaiian war canoes, Viking longboats, Irish curraghs, shallops, wherries and whalers. The race starts at Millwall Riverside, Westferry Rd, E14, at 1.40pm (crews arrive from 10.20am), passes Tower Bridge at 2.10pm, Westminster Bridge at 2.25pm and ends around 4.40pm at Ham House, Richmond (all times are approximate). Spectator boats, operated by Destination Richmond, depart from Isle of Dogs and Richmond (from £27, children £12; see www.destinationrichmond.co.uk for details).