Twickenham Regatta dates from 1923, when it was founded by Twickenham Rowing Club, and known as 'Richmond and Twickenham Regatta'. In 1926, it was handed over to an autonomous committee made up of members of the rowing club and representatives of local bodies interested in upping its profile and widening its appeal.

With the exception of the war years, the regatta continued uninterrupted until 1953, in which year some of the towns along the Thames decided to mark the Queen's Coronation by sponsoring river-based celebrations. A split between what were then the individual boroughs of Richmond and Twickenham was brought about by the desire of each to organise its own event. There was no acrimony, but the one regatta became two from then on; 'Richmond and Twickenham Amateur Regatta', retaining the original title along with all the challenge cups and trophies donated to it over the preceding 30 years, and 'Richmond Amateur Regatta'.

However, it soon became apparent that it was untenable to have two rowing events with confusingly similar names, held on the same part of the river within a month of each other. So in 1955, after 32 years of existence, 'Richmond' was dropped from the original and it was rebranded 'Twickenham Amateur Regatta', shortened further in 1998 to its present title.

Over the years, the course has been shifted up and down this reach, and the regatta enclosure has been moved from one side of the river to the other, but both course and enclosure are, since 2001, the same as those used by Richmond Regatta.