What is Living in Farnborough Like?- A Guide to Farnborough- Keytek

Where is Farnborough?

Farnborough is the most northern town situated in Hampshire, England. The town dates back to Saxon times and was even mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086! Farnborough is relatively close to its neighbouring city of Guildford at just a short 20ish minute drive and is situated just above the South Downs National Park.

Is Farnborough a Nice Place to Live?

Farnborough offers a good lifestyle balance for those who need to commute into London and require good amenities on their doorstep but also is not too far distance from the beauty of the countryside.

As for commuting to London, you can reach London Waterloo in less than 46 minutes during peak times and there is easy access to the M3. Farnborough is mostly known for its biennial Farnborough International Airshow which attracts over 80,000 people from 96 different countries! Farnborough is dotted by parks, play areas and community sports clubs so there are plenty of opportunities to get outside to get some fresh air here. The town centre is not that exciting in Farnborough but it does include all the basic amenities you’ll need. In saying that, the larger city of Guildford as we mentioned earlier is just 20 minutes down the road if you’re looking for more shopping places and eateries!

Farnborough is a nice place to live for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the big smoke but still need to be relatively close to commute to work as it’ll take you just over an hour to reach the centre of London from Farnborough!

What Is the Population of Farnborough?

The 2011 census reported that the Farnborough population was 65,034 people. There is almost a 50/50 split between the number of females to males living within the town with females slightly ahead at 50.1%.

Is Farnborough a Safe Place To Live?

During the month of September 2020 Farnborough saw a low number of 92 crimes reported according to polie.uk. The most reported crime during September in Farnborough was violence and sexual offences at 25 reports, followed by 19 reports of antisocial behaviour reports and 16 shoplifting reports. Over the past year there were 66 reports of burglary in Farnborough, if you’re interested in securing your home to the best it can be check out our Home Security Guide here!

Average House Prices in Farnborough

Properties in Farnborough over the last 12 months sold for an average price of £357,091.

Detached House Average- £556,500

Semi-Detached Average- £406,577

Terraced House Price Average- £329,696

Flat Price Average- £207,094

Renting in Farnborough

According to home.co.uk the average property in Farnborough rents for £951pcm. This number changes on whether you are just looking for a room £538pcm, a flat £940pcm or a whole house at £1,185pcm.

Where is the best place to live in Farnborough?

As with all areas there are more affiliated places to live in Farnborough, below are the top two!

Empress Park

Empress park area is dotted with spacious detached properties along quiet roads. Nearby you’ll find Farnborough train station, an M&S, a rugby and tennis club, Queen Elizabeth park and a handful of good schools! Zoopla estimates the current average value for a property on Empress Avenue to be worth £716,180 (November 2020).

Farnborough Park

Farnborough Park is dotted with grand detached homes with tall private gates and more affordable semi-detached properties in quiet cul-de-sacs. Nearby you’ll find big supermarkets such as Asda and Sainsburys, a couple of aviation museums, King George V playing field and a couple more good schools! Zoopla estimates the current average value of a home in this area (Hilder Gardens specifically) to be worth just shy of £630,000.

What is the Transport like in Farnborough

Travelling in and around Farnborough is relatively easy due to its proximity to London, the M3 and the A331.

Buses in Farnborough

Use this website to find routes and timetables for buses in Farnborough: https://bustimes.org/localities/farnborough-hants

Trains in Farnborough

There are three train stations within the proximity of Farnborough. They are Farnborough, Farnborough North and Frimley. It takes just over half an hour to reach London Waterloo from Farnborough train station.

Airport near Farnborough

Farnborough is known for its aviation but the closest commercial airport to Farnborough is London Heathrow which is 17.9 miles away which is a short 30 minute car journey.

What Schools are in Farnborough

In the Farnborough/Aldershot area there are 44 schools and colleges. An impressive 17 of them received the Ofsted rating of ‘Outstanding’ including Farnborough College of Technology and North and South Farnborough Infant Schools. There are also no schools or colleges with the rating of ‘Inadequate’ the lowest of the Ofsted rating system and just 6 schools and colleges with the rating ‘Requires Improvement’. Leaving the remainder of the schools and colleges in Farnham to receive the rating ‘Good’ or unrated as they are a private institution. Compare schools and colleges within the Farnborough/Aldershot area!

Universities near Farnborough

Within Farnborough itself, there are a few university level degrees available at the University Centre Farnborough (UCF) and slightly further afield is the University of Surrey.

University Centre Farnborough

The University Centre Farnborough offers their students the chance to gain higher education qualifications in a smaller, more personal setting which suits students who enjoy a college-type experience or mature students who may not wish to travel or relocate for their studies. Bachelor degrees on offer include: business, counselling, English, history, photography, sport science and more!

University of Surrey

For those whose preferred course isn’t available at University Centre Farnborough, the University of Surrey is just a 20 minute drive or 30 minute train ride away. The University of Surrey are a leading university and have scored well across the university guides for 2021 including being awarded a gold award for their consistent outstanding teaching levels. Degrees on offer include aerospace engineering, international event management, nursing, food science and sociology.

Eating and Drinking in Farnborough

These are the top three restaurants to visit in Farnborough according to TripAdvisor.

1. Malacca

This Chinese/Thai/Malaysian restaurant, has received over 300 excellent reviews for their service, cleanliness and wide variety of food on offer!

2. Everest Tandoori

This authentic Nepalese & Indian restaurant has been a favourite for over 20 years. With over 400 excellent reviews their tasty food and warm ambiance.

3. Brassiere, Farnborough

The sleek interior and three course dinners that are arranged as pieces of art will have you feeling luxurious here. Over 500 excellent reviewers comment on the fantastic service and more recently how they have made it easier for children during the pandemic by seating giant toy pandas in empty seats… “’panda’emic”.

Some of the most highly rated pubs and bars in Farnborough according to Google reviews are:

1. The Crab and Anchor

Great pub food and a wide range of wines, beers and cocktails are on offer here complete with a heated patio with a view. Over 600 reviews have been left for this pub so far with an overall rating of 4.5* out of 5*.

2. The Prince of Wales

This cosy Victorian pub has received over 300 reviews and currently has a score of 4.6* out of 5*.

3. The Swan

A beautifully designed pub with a nice garden, they have over 600 reviews and an average rating of 4.2* out of 5*.

Shopping in Farnborough

When looking for all you need in Farnborough you should check out Princes Mead Shopping Centre. There are over 30 stores here with developments underway and plenty of restaurants so you can take a rest and grab a bite in between. Princes Mead is conveniently located close to the train station and Asda and Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

Top Hotels in Farnborough

The top three customer rated hotels on Booking.com in Farnborough are as follows:

1. Netley Guest House

Coming in the top spot is Netley Guest House with an overall rating of 9.6 out of 10! The pretty double fronted guest house include comfortably designed rooms, private en-suite, tea making facilities and an English/Irish breakfast available to keep you full in the morning. As well as being close to the Farnborough Air Show if you are travelling down for this.

2. Blue Sky Apartments

If you’re looking for a home away from home, Blue Sky Apartments offer a fully functional place to stay complete with a kitchen and lounge so is more than just a room. It currently has a rating of 9.3 out of 10 and is decorated with a clean, modern but homely approach throughout.

3. Wisteria Guest House

Wisteria guest house is immaculately designed with a luxurious grey scheme throughout the bedrooms. There is a shared lounge, kitchen and garden with terrace. It has been rated 9.2 out of 10 on Booking.com!

Top 10 Things to do in Farnborough

1. Farnborough Air Sciences Museum
2. Basingstoke Canal
3. Frimley Lodge Park
4. St. Michaels Abbey
5. Aldershot Military Museum
6. Queen Elizabeth Park
7. Fleet Pond Nature Reserve
8. The Museum of Military Medicine
9. Royal Logistic Corps Museum
10. Ash Ranges

Where Else Can I Live in Hampshire?

If you don’t feel like Farnborough is the place for you, then there are other places in Hampshire you can find out about. Winchester offers a beautiful place to live with a lively city centre. You could also consider living in Southampton, a stunning water fronted city. Portsmouth also offers a lovely place to live.

Need a Locksmith in Farnborough

When moving into a new home changing the locks is vital as you never know how many keys are out there and risk the keys falling into the wrong hands. Arrange for a Farnborough Locksmith to come and fit a new lock the day you get your keys to provide you with peace of mind. We at Keytek® Locksmiths Farnborough provide a professional local mobile Locksmith service complying with British Standard and Home Insurance policies to ensure your home is as secure as can be! What’s more is all our customers benefit from a FREE home security check on site.

There are many other things you need to consider when moving home in Farnborough so check out our Moving Home Checklist to help you along the way! Once you’re in consider improving the security of your home in Farnborough further still by checking out our Ultimate Guide to Home Security here!

View our Keytek® Locksmiths Farnborough page to find your local Locksmith today or call us on 01252 917882!