Hotels near Duke's Head

Messing about on the river is all very well but sometimes it's even better to watch others doing it while you get the pints in. And Putney's riverside The Duke's Head, a Young's pub which has an enviable position next to the water nearby Putney Bridge, offers just that. Its riverside terrace is a popular spot from which to watch the boats go by, particularly for the annual Boat Race which sees Oxford and Cambridge universities' 1st VIII rowing teams pitched against each other in one of the world's oldest sporting battles. The Duke's Head gets geared up with an outdoor kitchen as well as three pop-­up bars. For those who don't manage to grab front row seats, plasma screens showing the race throughout the indoor spaces including the pub's historic Rowing Club. And, the celebrations don't end once the race is over, entertainment continues into the evening with live music on this busy day of the year.