Big Day Out in Bishops Park

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Fun for all the family on boat race day

Bishops Park is hosting a day of free family fun and games

on Sunday, March 29, the day crews from Oxford and Cambridge engage in another epic battle on the Thames.

As well as offering one of the best views of the

action from its Thames Path, the park is providing an afternoon of entertainment, organised by Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s events team in partnership with the Boat Race organisers.

The Boat Race in the Park will start at 12noon. Kids can enjoy delights such as a bouncy castle, face painting and climbing wall while for adults there will be a beer tent and big screen which will show the entire boat race from its 3.40pm start at the University stone, just upstream of Putney Bridge to the finish by Chiswick Bridge.

A second Boat Race in the Park event is being held at Furnival Gardens in Hammersmith.

The first Boat Race took place in 1829 after Cambridge challenged Oxford to a race on the Thames. The modern race still runs along the same lines and has now become a major sporting occasion, with up to 250,000 spectators lining the banks of the Thames.

The race actually runs through four London boroughs but Hammersmith & Fulham is the only borough to host public viewing on both the Thames path and on large screens.

Councillor Paul Bristow, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “The Boat Race is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar and is particularly special for borough residents,  so why not bring a picnic and make it a great family day out.”  

Following Oxford’s victory last year, Cambridge now leads the overall series by 79 wins to 74, with just one dead heat back in 1877.  

For further information contact the Council's Events Team on 0845 337 0314 or email events@lbhf.gov.uk