Farnham Area Information
Farnham is a bustling, lively town of almost 40,000 people at the western border of Surrey with Hampshire. It is an ancient town but is particularly known as a market town of architectural charm with the 12th century Castle overlooking the Georgian settlement in the valley of the River Wey.
The town is a happy mix of old and new and contains a good selection of shops, offices and houses clustered together in the town centre. Recreation in the town centre if offered by many fine restaurants, Maltings community centre, a thriving sports centre and Farnham park with its golf course and sports pitches.
Slightly further afield, but easily accessed from Farnham is the country park at Frensham with its lakes which are used for small boat sailing and fishing – now designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. Many miles of walks are available near to the town and well marked footpaths in the open countryside and Alice Holt Forest.
Farnham itself has had its share of historic incidents with the 1st Cistercian monastery in England, the Castle playing its part in the Civil War, Charles 1st stopping en route to Westminster Hall for his trial and execution, William Cobbett lived in the town (and is buried in the parish churchyard) and significantly the arrival of the railway in 1848.
The railway offers easy access to London within the hour and complements the good road system which has fast links with the motorway via the Blackwater Valley route.
The Farnham area offers a wide range of good state and private education facilities. The West Surrey College of Art and Design, with its recently opened self-contained student village, is in the town centre and Farnham College offers a selection of courses leading to higher and further education qualifications.
Religion has played an important role in the town’s development, there have been vicars of Farnham since 1249 and today almost all religious tastes are catered for:
Together with the large number of societies and clubs which are open to all and the thriving adult education programme it could be safely said that Farnham offers all things to all men, women and children!
