If you’ve ever wanted to live in a quaint town where history is a stone’s throw away, you will fall in love with Farnborough. This town welcomes you with its historical landmarks, parks, ponds, and more.
It may not be as bustling as the big city, but people who want to get away from the crowds and still be minutes away from London may find their forever home in Farnborough. It’s the perfect place for people that want to retreat to somewhere peaceful at the end of the day.
Where Is Farnborough?
Farnborough is a town that sits in North East Hampshire. It belongs to the Rushmoor borough and the Farnborough/Aldershot Urban Area and is home to about 65,000 residents.
Hampshire has both modern commercial centres and a backdrop of fine Tudor brick buildings that hark back to Saxon times.
Despite feeling local, Farnborough continues to attract travellers worldwide due to its wide variety of aviation-related events.
What to Do in Farnborough
What Is Farnborough Famous For?
If you’re wondering what Farnborough is famous for, the answer is aviation. Every two years, the town hosts the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA), a world-famous airshow that brings together well-renowned names in the aviation world.
For years, the FIA has facilitated in-depth discussions on deep space exploration, the aerospace sector, and more. Through its Delegations Programme, the FIA has paved the way for the private sector and governments to discuss aviation’s military applications.
The FIA, with its 1,500 exhibitors over a vast space that spans 100,000 square metres, welcomes around 80,000 visitors over its five-day run. In fact, the 2015 FIA welcomed a record-breaking 150,000 visitors from around the world!
What Is There to Do in Farnborough?
St. Michael’s Abbey
St. Michael’s Abbey is a gorgeous gothic church that is part of Anglo-French history. The abbey was commissioned by Empress Eugénie, who wished to bury her husband, Napoleon III, in its mausoleum in the 1880s. Today, the abbey is home to a monastic community that has been around since 1895. In the Summer, you can visit the abbey to witness an organ recital. The abbey does not collect a fee, but donations are welcome.
Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum
Brush up on your knowledge of aviation history at the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) Museum. It’s a must-see for anyone who wants to see the first-ever flight suits, airborne cameras, and more innovations in aviation. The FAST also houses scale models and a replica of the British Army Aeroplane No. 1.
The FAST Museum is open to the public on weekends and bank holidays. Admission is free. You can also book a guided tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays for £15 per person – this comes with complimentary tea, coffee, and biscuits.
Frimley Lodge Park
Take your family on a weekend trip to the Frimley Lodge Park, a 24-hectare park that has won Green Flag Award for its well-maintained amenities. Play putt golf, walk through the wildflower meadows, or plan a picnic. You can also partake in the park run on Saturdays. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbours!
The travel time from Farnborough to Frimley Lodge is about 6 minutes by car. The park is open 7 days a week from 7:30 am but closing times vary. Frimley Lodge Park is free, but you need to pay a minimal fee of £5.75 to play in the Pitch ‘n’ Putt.
Fleet Pond
Fleet Pond is a nature reserve (and also a Site of Specific Scientific Interest) that has the largest freshwater lake in the county. If you’re worried about deep water, don’t worry – Fleet Pond spans over 52 acres, but it’s as shallow as 0.82 metres! You can’t swim in the pond, but you can spend your day by the water. In some months it is possible to take a boat out across the pond. Fleet Pond is only a 7-minute drive away from Farnborough.
Princes Mead Shopping Centre
The Princes Mead Shopping Centre is the leading shopping centre in Farnborough, right in the heart of the town centre. It is home to more than 30 shops, ranging from high-street brands to independent retailers. Aside from being the go-to place for retail therapy, it’s the one-stop-shop for all of your banking, gaming, and dining needs. The shopping centre also hosts seasonal events, competitions, and educational fairs.
The Princes Mead Shopping Centre is accessible by car – about 3 minutes from Farnborough Street). It’s surrounded by transport links, with a 3-minute walk away from the Kingsmead North station. Walking to Princes Mead takes about 8 minutes if you take Farnborough Road.
Safety
Is Farnborough a Safe Place to Live?
Farnborough is the second safest town in Hampshire, with an overall crime rate of 74 crimes for every 1,000 people.
Compared to Hampshire’s overall crime rate of 80 crimes for every 1,000 people, Farnborough’s crime rate is lower by about 8 percent. When compared to the rest of the countries in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland), Farnborough is the 39th safest town.
In particular, rates of robbery have fallen significantly in the area.
Population and Density
If you’re wondering if Farnborough is a big town, the answer is yes! Towns with a population of 10,000 to 100,000 are considered large towns and considering that Farnborough has about 65,000 residents, it’s safe to say that it’s far from a small town.
However, when you compare it to larger cities such as Southampton and Reading, its population is a lot lower. For that reason, those who want the bustle of the big city may find themselves moving away from Farnborough.
Transportation
Travelling to and from Farnborough is a no-brainer. From Farnborough, you will be able to access the motorways fast and the rail links take you to London in under an hour.
Although there are no direct flights to Farnborough, you can take your car through the M3 or A31 Motorway, or take the train from Waterloo.
In terms of getting around, you will probably find you’ll need a car for the best mobility, unless you live very close to the town centre.
Farnborough is also home to the Farnborough Airport, serving private flights.
Is Farnborough a Commuter Town?
Trains in Farnborough
Farnborough has two railway stations, Farnborough Main and Farnborough North, the busiest being Farnborough Main. The main railway station is on the South West Main Line. It takes around 51 minutes to go from Farnborough to Waterloo by train with about 76 direct trains per day.
A one-way ticket to Waterloo costs around £18.90. It would be more economical to buy a weekly ticket for around £109 if you need to travel to London every day of the week. However, remote workers that need to pop into the office only two or three times a week can purchase a train ticket at the standard rate.
With that said, if you plan to live in Farnborough but work in London, make sure your salary is sufficient. It would be impossible to regularly go to London on a minimum wage. You could buy a season ticket, but expect to pay around £4,600 – for one person’s season pass. This is an expensive rate, considering that the average transportation cost per household is £4,243.
Buses in Farnborough
The buses in Farnborough are operated by the Stagecoach Group. You can plan your commute by checking Farnborough’s bus timetable on the Stagecoach website.
Airports in Farnborough
There is no commercial airport in Farnborough, but you can take off from London Heathrow Airport – a trip that will take about 30 minutes by car.
Schools
There are two private institutions in Farnborough – Farnborough Hill for girls aged 11 to 18 and Salesian College for boys aged 11 to 16.
Furthermore, there are about 52 schools and colleges in Farnborough, 16 of which have an impressive Ofsted rating of “Outstanding”. Examples are the Farnborough College of Technology, Henry Tyndale School, and The Sixth Form College.
Farnborough students who don’t want to move away from home can enrol themselves at The University Centre Farnborough. They can complete two-year or three-year courses in criminology, sociology, creative arts, education, literature, and more.
An alternative is the University of Surrey, one of the top-rated universities in the UK, which is a 30-minute train ride from Farnborough to the town of Guildford. If you want to study at the prestigious Oxford University it is only 1 hour away by train.
Home Prices
According to Zoopla, the average price of properties in Farnborough was £351,049. Although this is higher than the national average, bear in mind that its price tag is the average home price. When the data is broken down further, it’s clear that existing homeowners are paying a whopping £430,000! Fortunately, if you’re a first time buyer the average purchase price has been £285,000.
Detached
The average price for detached homes in Farnborough is £532,392.
Semi-Detached Homes
Semi-detached homes are the most popular option in the area, priced at around £379,059.
Terrace Homes
Terraced homes or townhouses are sold for around £313,851.
Flats
Flats are priced at £213,126 per unit.
Best Areas
Farnborough Park
Farnborough Park is a massive private estate with a park-like appeal. It has 230 detached homes and 10 private roads and is governed by Farnborough Park Estates Limited. Farnborough Park is surrounded by a wide range of restaurants, cafes, and retail stores, as well as the King George V playing field and playground. One of the noteworthy spots near the area is Gurkha Palace Nepalese Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in Farnborough. If you’re ever craving Nepalese cuisine made from fresh herbs and spices, it’s the place to be.
Empress Avenue
Empress Avenue is dotted with traditional homes and traffic-free roads. It’s more suitable for people who want a peaceful life and who want to be as connected to nature as possible. Nearby, you’ll find Queen Elizabeth Park where you can partake in litter-picking and “working parties”. The town centre is a four-minute car ride away, where you’ll have access to a wide variety of restaurants like Prezzo and Beefeater, as well as pubs like The Tradesman Arms and Thatched Cottage.
Should You Move to Farnborough?
Farnborough is the perfect place for people who want to be far from the big city, but still close enough to enjoy its many amenities and travel to and from their jobs in Waterloo. With its top-rated schools, historic places, and outdoor areas, it’s the ideal place for people who are looking for proximity to the city, but who also want to experience the charm of small-town living.