| 38th Boat Race | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 8 April 1881 | ||
| Winner | Oxford | ||
| Margin of victory | 3 lengths | ||
| Winning time | 21 minutes 51 seconds | ||
| Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) | 17–20 | ||
| Umpire | Robert Lewis-Lloyd (Cambridge) | ||
| |||
The 38th Boat Race, an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames, took place on 8 April 1881. In a race umpired by Robert Lewis-Lloyd, Oxford won by a margin of three lengths in a time of 21 minutes 51 seconds taking the overall record to 20–17 in their favour.