The 165th Boat Race in April 2019 was another fantastic display of sheer grit and determination as the Oxford and Cambridge crews gave their all in this annual battle on the Thames. The Cambridge men and women were victorious in their respective races and the exhaustion and delight were there in equal measure.
The Thames became an increasingly important navigational route and in the late eighteenth century canals were built, linking London by water to the Severn
and south coast, the Midlands and Bristol, making it the primary artery at the heart of a vital network.
The Thames has so many personalities from a country stream to a powerful waterway; to many London residents it plays a big part in their lives, and they may not be aware of its importance many miles away. Not only does it play host to the most famous rowing regatta in the world in Henley, it also forms the heart of the leisure and tourism industry further downstream in beautiful riverside locations such as Goring and Pangbourne.
HMS Belfast, moored in the heart of London and The Cutty Sark, whose home is in Greenwich are two of the fabulous highlights on the imposing River Thames in London and, as you follow the course of the river to the west, you will see the magnificent Hampton Court Palace as just part of the stunning London skyline. A river cruise in the heart of London gives a wonderfully different perspective of the city, and you have a great choice of public or private charters.
The style of the river changes as you move further west - the pace is slower, the river launches are smaller and you start to experience how the river became so critical to communication and trade in days gone by.
