The Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race: History, Traditions and Where To Watch 2024

Cheese rolling anyone? Believed to be over six hundred years old, this ludicrous tradition takes place in late spring in the Cotswolds, with thousands gathering to watch contestants race down Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire, in pursuit of a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. Some other bizarre sports include egg throwing, pancake flipping and black pudding hurling, to name a few.

Not so humorously food-based – and therefore perhaps a little more sophisticated – is the iconic Boat Race. Certainly the most recognised of all this nation’s eccentric sporting endeavours, the Boat Race is one of our country’s best-known annual sporting events. Follow us on our day out to the Boat Race 2019, and let us tell you how it all started, how we celebrated and why we continue to be devoted, almost two hundred years after the inaugural race.

Dating back to 1829, the rowing race began as a head-to-head match between the Old Harrovian school friends Charles Merivale, who was studying at St John’s College, Cambridge, and Charles Wordsworth, at Christ Church, Oxford. They challenged the boat clubs of the prestigious Universities of Oxford and Cambridge to a race at Henley-on-Thames. A women’s race was later introduced in 1927, dividing the race into two open-weight eight events. Since 1965, reserve crew races have also taken place.

Whilst the first race was held at Henley-on-Thames, the second race in 1836 moved downriver to the stretch of the River Thames between Westminster and Putney in London. This adjustment brought much dispute, with Cambridge preferring the London course and Oxford preferring Henley.

Today, the race is held across a 6.8km stretch of water between Putney and Mortlake in West London. The coin toss to determine boat positioning is crucial: depending on weather conditions and speed of the tide, winning the right to choose between the north ‘Middlesex’ or the south ‘Surrey’ positioning is critical in securing a winning result. So important is this positioning, that 2005 is the last time the south ‘Surrey’ positioned boat won.

Each year, the Czech & Speake team assumes position at our favourite viewing point on Chiswick Pier: a location with incredible views for the final stretch of the race.

London’s many bridges are always a strong bet for excellent views down the river. Whilst Hammersmith Bridge is expected to close on the day, head down early to Putney Bridge or Barnes Bridge for a direct view of the start and end of the race respectively.

Whilst the bridges inevitably fill up early, for those turning up on time, the banks of the river through Hammersmith, Mortlake and Putney Embankment are your best bet.

To make a day of it, head down to one of the official fan zones in Furnivall Park or Bishop’s Park, where street food trucks, Shepherd Neame taps, viewing screens and fantastic riverside vantage points are all available to enhance your experience.

No British tradition would be complete without a mandatory pub visit. The C&S’ team go-to is the 150-year-old Duke’s Head pub in Putney, but your choice for riverside pubs are almost endless. Prime choices include the Crabtree Tavern, The Dove and Blue Anchor in Hammersmith, Ye White Heart in Barnes or the Black Lion in Chiswick.

Should you not find yourself in west London, join the 15 million viewers who tune in globally each year – making the race once of the most watched sporting events in the UK, year after year. For UK residents, the race is broadcast by the BBC, and is available to watch this year on BBC One, the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.

No matter where you find yourself watching, it is the joyous atmosphere this sporting tradition generates that we love so much. What a brilliant notion that two young men, who playfully challenged their opposing university boat clubs to a race all those years ago, have created one of the UK’s most loved and globally observed sporting events. What better inspiration for our traditional lavender and truly British-in-character fragrance, the namesake Oxford & Cambridge collection.

Oxford & Cambridge is drawn from Czech & Speake founder Frank Sawkins’ memories of wandering through these esteemed universities, and from snapshot views through ancient doorways to immaculate quadrangles, with their sumptuous lawns and herbaceous borders of lavender and rosemary.

With a design based on the light and dark blue house ‘colours’ of the Oxford and Cambridge universities, and graphic details that reflects the classicism of these English university cities, Oxford & Cambridge is a lavender-scented scent steeped in history.

To discover the scent inspired by the race between these two iconic institutions, click here to shop Oxford & Cambridge Fragrance, the Bath & Body collection and the Grooming collection.