Head of the River Race – March Events in London

The short term accommodation in London is often full as the city holds numerous international events throughout the year. One such event is the Head of the River Race, which takes place every March. Over four hundred crews come together to participate in this race, which at four and a quarter miles long is one of the most demanding in the world.

The Head of the River Race starts at Mortlake and finishes at Putney Bridge and about 420 crews take up the challenge. Typical regatta races are usually around a kilometre long, whilst an Olympic course is two kilometres long. The Head of the River Race, on the other hand, is much longer. It is over 6 kilometres long so the challenge is particularly great. The weather can also be against the rowers and it has been known for some crews to take around 2 hours to complete the course.

The Head of the River Race began in 1926 and was the brainchild of Steve Fairbairn, a rower belonging to the Cambridge and Tideway club. The aim of the race was to allow boat crews to practice long rows during the winter. Rowing is primarily a summer sport and that is when most of the regattas are held so the Head of the River Race has become an important way for rowers to get some out of season practice.

With over 400 crews following the course, the starts have to be staggered. The previous year’s winners start first. They are followed ten seconds later by the previous years’ runner up, ten second later come the previous year’s third placed crew and so it goes on. Finally, the new entries start. They start in alphabetical order.

The race is not just an excuse for rowers to get together, it is also a popular spectator event. The race starts at 11am and the constant stream of rowers continues by along a particularly nice stretch of the Thames. The Surrey Bank above Chiswick Bridge is thought to be a good vantage point, as is the north end of Hammersmith Bridge. If you can’t get to either of these points, however, any pub or cafe along the river will also be ideal, though if possible, you might want to book a table.

The route of the race is along one of the nicest stretches of the river so spending a day watching the race is an extremely pleasant activity for both visitors and residents alike. The amount of short term accommodation London can offer is vast but when an event like the Head of the River Race is on, it might be advisable to book in advance.

There are plenty of places to stay along the river and it may be possible to find hotels or similar close to the starting and finishing points of the race. However, short term accommodation in London can be found in a huge range of places throughout the city – whether you choose to stay by the river, in the centre or further afield, public transport is easy to use and runs close to the start and finish of the race so where you stay will not hamper your enjoyment of the river race. Hotels and B&Bs are readily available, as are serviced apartments. Serviced apartments are growing in popularity and can be found in many locations. Marlin apartments in Canary Wharf are typical of serviced apartments in terms of both location and facilities available.

Visitors are increasingly using serviced apartments when they visit London. Offering top end facilities but with greater independence, they are also an affordable option. For those wanting to stay in serviced apartments close to the Thames in order to enjoy the Head of the River Race would do well to have a look at Marlin Apartments Canary Wharf. Close to the river but with easy access to the city, they offer the perfect location on a short London break.

Thinking about visiting London for the above event? Check out the Central London Hotels website for all relevant updates & info regarding availability & rates etc for holiday apartments in London.