Head of the River Course Map

The championship course on the River Thames - home to the world's oldest continuously held rowing race

Course Overview

πŸ“ London, England

The championship course on the River Thames from Mortlake to Putney, featuring the famous Championship Course used for the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race. This historic course has been the stage for rowing excellence since 1829.

Course Details:

Distance: 4.25 miles (6.8 km)
Notable features: Hammersmith Bridge, multiple bends
Water conditions: Tidal river
Start: Mortlake
Finish: Putney Bridge
Official Head of the River Race Course Map showing the 4.25-mile Thames course from Mortlake to Putney Bridge

Source: Β© Head of the River Race - horr.co.uk

Course Strategy & Key Features

Key Landmarks

  • β€’ Mortlake Brewery - Start area
  • β€’ Chiswick Bridge - Mile 1
  • β€’ Hammersmith Bridge - Historic landmark
  • β€’ Fulham Football Club - Riverside marker
  • β€’ Putney Bridge - Finish line

Tidal Considerations

  • β€’ Tide times critical for race planning
  • β€’ Current assistance downstream
  • β€’ Water level variations
  • β€’ Wind exposure on wider sections

Historical Significance

This course is steeped in rowing history, hosting the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race since 1845. The Head of the River Race, established in 1926, sees over 400 crews compete annually on this challenging tideway course.

1829
First Boat Race
400+
Crews annually
4.25
Miles of Thames

Master the Thames with CrewSpeed

Use CrewSpeed's advanced GPS tracking to navigate the tidal Thames, monitor your split times through each section, and optimize your race strategy for varying tide conditions.

🌊 Tide Tracking
πŸ“Š Split Analysis
πŸ—ΊοΈ GPS Navigation