Spectator Sport in London - Dates for the Diary
See below for a taster of spectator sport in London coming up between April to June 2019. Book your tickets now where applicable to avoid disappointment!
APRIL
ROWING. Sunday 7 April - The Boat Race - River Thames
Join the 250,00 spectators who line the banks of the River Thames to watch this iconic race starting at Putney Bridge and finishing by Chiswick Bridge. All eyes are sure to be on two-time Olympic champion James Cracknell taking his seat with the Cambridge men's crew and making history as the event's oldest ever rower. Last year Cambridge completed a clean sweep with the men's and women's boats winning by 3 and 7 lengths respectively while their reserves also triumphed against the Oxford crews. Women's Boat Race at 2.15pm. Men's Boat Race 3.15pm. Spectating free on the route.
TENNIS. 20-21 April - Fed Cup. GB v Kazakhstan - Copper Box Arena
East London stages an international team tennis tie for the first ever time and it promises to be both noisy and memorable. The Copper Box Arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the venue for the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II Play-Off. The tie features Great Britain battling it out against Kazakhstan with GB aiming to return to the World Group for the first time since 1993. Tickets on sale at Ticket Factory.
HOCKEY. 27 April to Sunday 23 June - FIH Pro League - Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
Great Britain's women versus USA on Saturday 27th April is the cue for a summer of world-class hockey action at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. A ground-breaking new global competition for hockey in 2019 the FIH Pro League includes 16 matches in London with Great Britain's women and men competing in both leagues. The matches run through to Sunday 23rd June made up of 8 single internationals and 4 'double-headers' where GB's women's and men's team will play back to back. Tickets from just £7.50 for kids and £18 adults are available to purchase now.
ATHLETICS. Sunday 28 April - London Marathon - Central London
Hold on to your running shoes this year's London Marathon may just be one of the best ever. In the blue corner world record holder Eliud Kipchoge returns to defend the title he won in 2018. In the red corner GB's very own Sir Mo Farah - four-time Olympic gold medallist and six-time world champion - fresh from his first marathon victory in Chicago in October and who finished third behind Kipchoge in London last year. Kipchoge is unbeaten in London with three victories from his three appearances in 2015, 2016 and 2018, holds the course record of 2:03.05 and will become the most successful athlete in the elite men's race in London Marathon history with a win. But Mo writes his own scripts and will be desperate to win on home soil ahead of a tilt at the Olympic marathon title in Tokyo next year. Spectating is free on the route.
MAY
FOOTBALL. Saturday 4 May - SSE Women's FA Cup Final - Wembley Arena
A record-setting crowd of 45,423 fans witnessed last year's final which ended 3-1 in favour of Chelsea FC Women against their Arsenal counterparts. With Chelsea among this year's semi-finalists (who include West Ham and Manchester City) another bumper attendance is guaranteed for the 2019 Women's Cup Final. Tickets on sale from the FA website.
DIVING. 17-19 May - Diving World Series - London Aquatics Centre
Olympic champion Jack Laugher and world champion Tom Daley headline the Great Britain team that will contest the final leg of the 2019 FINA Diving World Series. Returning to London for the first time in four years the event features the best divers in the world at the Aquatics Centre, with a 10-strong British team eyeing silverware in the final major international competition prior to the World Championships in July. Tickets on sale from British Swimming.
SKATEBOARDING. 25-26 May - 2019 SLS World Tour London Leg - Copper Box Arena
The Street League Skateboarding World Tour Series returns to the Copper Box Arena. Many of the world's best skateboarders - including GB star Helena Long - will be in action at the event which acts as a qualifier for the 2020 Olympics when the sport makes its Games debut. Tickets now available online.
CRICKET. 30 May to 14 July - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 - Lord's and The Oval
The eyes of the cricketing world are on England & Wales this summer as the best One Day International sides in the world meet over six weeks in pursuit of the ultimate 50-over trophy in cricket. All 10 teams - including defending champions Australia and hosts England - play each other in a round-robin format with the top four qualifying for the semi-finals. Lord's and The Oval stage various matches, visit the Cricket World Cup website for fixture info and the latest ticket news.
JUNE
HOCKEY. Various in June - FIH Pro League - Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
The FIH Pro League action continues throughout June with no less than six different fixtures to choose from involving GB teams in action against global opposition. Five of them are at Lee Valley with the finale on 23 June - featuring Great Britain’s men’s & women’s teams both in action against New Zealand - at Twickenham Stoop on a specially laid artificial pitch. Tickets from just £7.50 for kids and £18 adults are available to purchase now.
HORSE RACING. Saturday 1 June - The Derby - Epsom Downs Racecourse
Expect a carnival atmosphere on Epsom Downs as a jewel in the crown of the horse racing calendar makes its annual return. There will be picnics, there will be top hats and tails, not to mention an after-party to savour by the Grandstand. And taking centre stage is the one and only Investec Derby with a prize pot of £1.5 million. In 2018 Goldolphin-owned Masar, ridden by William Buick, took the spoils. Who will be the next horse to join a roll of honour that includes equine legends such as Sea-Bird, Nijinsky, Shergar, Galileo and Sea The Stars? Tickets on sale at the Jockey Club website.
KORFBALL. 1-2 June - Korball Grand Finals - Copper Box Arena
The greatest korfball show in the UK returns to the Copper Box Arena. The only truly mixed team ball sport in the world, korfball takes aspects of netball, basketball and handball to create an all-action spectacle. Teams consist of eight players, four male and four female, in a game relying on quick passing and movement. Head to the Olympic Park for the Grand Finals sponsored by Legal & General to find out more. Tickets on sale at the England Korfball website.
POLO. 7-9 June - Chestertons Polo in the Park - Hurlingham Club
World-class polo meets a party atmosphere at the Hurlingham Club for Polo in the Park which celebrates its 10th year. Three days of action - International Friday, Ladies Day and Family Finals Day - featuring three matches a day accompanied by bars and music, food, kids activities and a shopping village make this a summer event for all and the perfect way to enjoy polo live for the first time. Tickets on sale via Ticketmaster.
SUPERBIKES. 14-16 June - British Superbike Championship - Brands Hatch
The Bennetts British Superbike Championship arrives at the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit where two BSB races will headline this summer sizzler known as the 'Big Brands Bash'. There's also support from the Dickies British Supersport Championship and off-track entertainment featuring a live rock concert on the campsite on Saturday night. With practice and qualifying preceding the races stand by for three days of 180mph wheel-to-wheel action. Tickets on sale at the Brand Hatch box office.
CANOEING. 14-16 June - ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup - Lee Valley White Water Centre
The world's best paddlers continue their preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games as Lee Valley White Water Centre - the venue constructed for London 2012 - hosts the first leg of the 2019 series of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup. 4 individual events - Kayak (K)1 men, K1 women, Canoe (C)1 men, and C1 women - take place alongside the C2 mixed competition. Also featuring is the emerging discipline of Extreme Slalom involving four paddlers racing against each other in boats down the white water course. Tickets are available online.
TENNIS. 17-23 June - Fever Tree Championships - Queen's Club
The serene surroundings of the Queen's Club in West Kensington is the venue for this men’s professional ATP World Tour event. Always a key tournament in the lead up to Wimbledon expect a stellar cast of the world's best players to be on court at the Fever Tree Championships aiming to win the coveted trophy previously held aloft by the likes of John McEnroe, Lleyton Hewitt, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Marin Cilic. Tickets on sale from the Queen's Club.
And there’s plenty more to look forward to in the summer of 2019 including …
ATHLETICS. 20-21 July - Müller Anniversary Games
This Diamond League event at the Olympic Stadium will feature a host of world stars. Confirmed for the women's 100m on the Sunday are none other than Dina Asher-Smith, Dafne Schippers, Elaine Thompson and Marie-Josee Ta Lou who hold 18 Olympic and world medals between them. Tickets on sale from Ticket Factory.
Check back here for more spectator sport in London 'dates for the diary' throughout the year. And in the meantime for daily fixture updates, ticket giveaways and more follow our @sportonspecLDN social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.