Course Map · London, England
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
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.
- Distance
- 4.25 miles (6.8 km)
- Notable features
- Hammersmith Bridge, multiple bends
- Water conditions
- Tidal river
- Start
- Mortlake
- Finish
- Putney Bridge
Map
Click the map to open it full size.
Official Course Map
Course Strategy & Key Features
Key Landmarks
- Mortlake Brewery - Start area
- Chiswick Bridge - Mile 1
- Hammersmith Bridge - Historic landmark
- Fulham Football Club - Riverside marker
- Putney Bridge - Finish line
Tidal Considerations
- Tide times critical for race planning
- Current assistance downstream
- Water level variations
- 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.
- First Boat Race
- 1829
- Crews annually
- 400+
- Miles of Thames
- 4.25
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 TrackingSplit AnalysisGPS Navigation