Water fight

The 147th Oxford and Cambridge boat race starts at Putney Embankment with the toss of the gold sovereign to determine which side of the Thames each crew will row on. Good viewing points on both sides of the river all the way to Mortlake with plenty of good pubs for refreshments.

• March 24, 1:30pm. Free. Visit www.theboatrace.org for more information.

Seascape

From the Cornish coastline to the underwater gardens of the Mediterranean and the tropical reefs of the Caribbean, the brand-new Blue Reef Aquarium brings to life the sights, sounds and smells of the sea.

• Open daily 10am-5pm. £4.95/£3.95/£12.95. The Blue Reef Aquarium, Towan Promenade, Newquay, Cornwall (01637 878134).

Gorillas in your midst

Get up close and personal to the big cats and one of the largest gorilla families in Europe in their new enclosures at the Trail of the Kings jungle-themed animal experience.

• Opens March 30, 9.30am- 6pm. £19.95/£16. Chessington World of Adventures, Chessington, Surrey (0870 4447777).

Ready, aim, fire

Housed in an 18th-century former armament's depot, the new museum of naval firepower tells the story of all that goes bang, from the Battle of Trafalgar to the Exocet missile.

• Open daily, 10am-4:30pm. £5/£3/£13. Explosion!, Priddy's Hard, Gosport, Hampshire (023 925 05600).

A river runs through it

Go with the flow at the Museum of the River Thames. Follow guided trails exploring ancient water systems, take part in boat-building workshops and watch films inspired by the river at a poolside cinema.

• Until July 1, noon-6:30pm. Free. Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, London (020-7401 2255).

Back to the future

Find out what life will be like for a Canterbury resident in 3001 and what your Kentish ancestors really looked like at a hands-on discovery event.

• From Pagans to Ray-guns. March 24, 10am-12:30pm, 1:30-4pm. Free. Royal Museum and Art Gallery, High Street, Canterbury, Kent (01227 452747).

With compliments

Discover your true colours, delve into your past life and find out how homeopathy can work for you at the 11th Complimentary Medicine Festival, providing everything you need to know about natural remedies, including information, advice, treatments and demonstrations.

• March 24-25, 10am-6pm. £3/£2. Kings Hall & Winter Gardens, Station Rd, Ilkley, West Yorkshire (01943 609454).