Organisers announced the annual contest between Oxford and Cambridge universities will be switched from the River Thames to the Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire next April. They cited Covid concerns and the safety of Hammersmith Bridge, one of the two under which rowers pass.
It has been closed for 18 months because of structural problems.
The race has previously been run once at Ely, in 1944, when the Second World War made it impossible to stage in London.
This year’s men’s and women’s races were cancelled due to the pandemic.
Dr George Gilbert, chair of the Boat Race Company Limited’s race and operations committee, said: “Organising sport safely and responsibly is our highest priority and moving the race to Ely enables the event to go ahead in a secure environment.”
