Experience rowing in Olympic year

London weekend getaway

Event: The Head of the River Race
Dates: March 11th
Venue: Mortlake Stone

With the London Olympics now less than 200 days away, sports enthusiasts may want to sample a bit of action in one of the events Great Britain usually excels in.

The Head of the River Race is the first rowing highlight of the year and could be the star attraction in a family's London weekend getaway.

Rowers have been gathering on the banks of the Thames on frosty March mornings since Cambridge and Tideway oarsman Steve Fairbairn conceived the idea in 1926.

The race now attracts 400 crews from around the globe, who all compete over the four and a quarter mile stretch of water from Mortlake to Putney.

Visitors to London who decide that they want to see this historic event could warm up with some fine dining at Roux and The Landau.

After they have eaten, they can hit the soft pump pillow of a 5 star hotel like The Langham.

Posted by Jessica Fleming