London's River Marathon
Great River Race 2026: dates, start times and bridges
The Great River Race is a 21.6-mile dash up the Thames from Millwall in East London to Ham in Richmond, under 28 bridges. The 2026 race is on Saturday 12 September, with the first boats away at 12.45 BST. This is our local guide to the timings, the route and the best places to watch — written by a Richmond kitchen five minutes from the finish.
Race date
Saturday 12 September 2026
First boats away
12.45 BST (tide dependent)
Course
21.6 miles, Millwall to Ham
Finish
The river outside Ham House, Richmond
Race information published by the organisers. Start times depend on tidal conditions, so always confirm the timetable at greatriverrace.org.uk before you travel.
Race day timings
Friday and Saturday morning
Crews and trailers arrive. Many crews camp at Thames Young Mariners in Ham, close to where boats are craned out after the finish.
Late morning, Millwall Riverside
Around 300 crews and more than 2,500 competitors gather at the slipways off Westferry Road in East London before the start.
12.45 BST
First boats cross the start line. The exact time is set by the tide each year, so check the organiser's timetable in the week of the race.
From roughly 14.45
The quickest crews reach Ham in about two hours. Slower and fancy-dress crews keep arriving for up to four hours after the start.
Late afternoon and evening
Trophies are presented at the Ham finish. Richmond town fills up as crews, families and spectators head for food. Our restaurant kitchen opens at 4pm.
The 28 bridges on the course
The route runs from Millwall Riverside on the Isle of Dogs up to Ham, passing under 28 bridges. Any of them between Tower Bridge and Richmond Bridge makes a viewing point. The best known, in the order crews meet them, include:
- Tower Bridge
- London Bridge
- Southwark Bridge
- Millennium Bridge
- Blackfriars Bridge
- Waterloo Bridge
- Westminster Bridge
- Lambeth Bridge
- Vauxhall Bridge
- Chelsea Bridge
- Albert Bridge
- Battersea Bridge
- Wandsworth Bridge
- Putney Bridge
- Hammersmith Bridge
- Barnes Railway Bridge
- Chiswick Bridge
- Kew Bridge
- Richmond Lock footbridge
- Twickenham Bridge
- Richmond Bridge
Where to watch around Richmond and Ham
Ham House and the Ham riverside
The finish itself. Boats come off the water here and trophies are presented, so it is the best place to see the end of the race and the busiest for crews and support teams.
Richmond Bridge and the towpath
The last mile of the course. Crews pass close to the bank and the crowd is thick from mid afternoon. A few minutes from our kitchen on Ashburnham Road.
Petersham Meadows and the river path
A quieter stretch between Richmond Bridge and Ham, good for families who want space and a clear view of the boats coming upriver.
Any bridge between Tower Bridge and Richmond Bridge
The course passes under 28 bridges, so you can pick a spot anywhere along the Thames — just time your arrival to the tide and the crews' pace.
Where to eat at the Great River Race
Our kitchen at 16 Ashburnham Road, Richmond TW10 7NF is a short drive from both the Ham finish and Richmond Bridge. On race weekend we deliver hot Indian food to crews camped at Thames Young Mariners and to riverside addresses, run buffets for whole crews and clubs from £25 per head, arrange collection by prior agreement, and serve dine-in and takeaway from 4pm as the boats come off the water. Free delivery applies inside ten miles; beyond that we quote a delivery fee.
Order food for your crew or race day party
Tell us your date, numbers and where you need the food — Thames Young Mariners, a riverside address, a club or your home. We reply with a written quote and a reference number, and your enquiry goes straight to our Richmond kitchen team.
Request your written quote
Tell us your date, guest numbers and the tier you have in mind — we'll come back with exact per-head pricing, usually the same working day.