One of the best-known events on the River Thames is The Boat Race, an annual rowing contest between the crews from Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs. There are plenty of great vantage points where you can watch these two academic titans go head-to-head down a 4-mile stretch of the Thames. Events on the riverbank usually kick off around midday but it’s not until late afternoon that the races get into full swing. First up is the Women’s Boat Race followed an hour later by the Men’s Boat Race with all the action televised from 4 pm.