The Oxford And Cambridge Boat Race, London

The London Boat Show is held each January at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in the heart of London, just opposite the O2 and the centre of London's business and entertainment centre. It is a very large event, now in its 54th year, which uses ExCeL's two 32,500 square metre halls. It is one of the two main annual boat shows in the United Kingdom, alongside the Southampton Boat Show. Both are organised by National Boat Shows, which is a subsidiary of the British Marine Federation, the trade association for the UK boating industry. The 2009 London International Boat Show ran from 9-18 January.

The Show features a wide range of boats, boating equipment and clothing with interactive sections and feature attractions devoted to boating. There is also a display of tall boats and other vessels in the Royal Victoria Dock immediately outside the exhibition centre.

One of the major benefits of ExCeL Exhibition Centre is that it is an on-water location where, every year, the show hosts a dedicated marina and a naval ship (either a destroyer or frigate). ExCeL is also the only exhibition venue in London that can host a regatta.