film location
Bourne Wood, Surrey (Gladiator opening battle)
The Forestry England woodland near Farnham is where Gladiator's Germania battle was shot, and later Robin Hood, Thor and the Harry Potter finale.
3 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Farnham
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Farnham
Farnham works well as a base: 5 minutes from Rowledge, 22km from Dunsfold Aerodrome (Top Gear Test Track).
Farnham is a town located in England, United Kingdom. With a population of 36,971, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Farnham sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Farnham to your route.
About Farnham
Farnham is a market town and civil parish in Surrey, England, around 36 miles (58 km) southwest of London. It is in the Borough of Waverley, close to the county border with Hampshire. The town is on the north branch of the River Wey, a tributary of the Thames, and is at the western end of the North Downs. The civilRead more
parish, which includes the villages of Badshot Lea, Hale and Wrecclesham, covers 14.1 sq mi (37 km2) and had a population of 39,488 in 2011.
Among the prehistoric objects from the area is a woolly mammoth tusk, excavated in Badshot Lea at the start of the 21st century. The earliest evidence of human activity is from the Neolithic and, during the Roman period, tile making took place close to the town centre. The name "Farnham" is of Saxon origin and is generally agreed to mean "meadow where ferns grow". From at least 803, the settlement was under the control of the Bishops of Winchester and the castle was built as a residence for Bishop Henry de Blois in 1138. Henry VIII is thought to have spent part of his childhood under the care of Bishop Richard Foxe and is known to have lived at Farnham Castle when he was 16.
In the late medieval period, the primary local industry was the production of kersey, a coarse, woollen cloth. In the early modern period, the town's weekly corn market was said to be the second largest in England after London. Between 1600 and the 1970s, the area was a centre for growing hops and for the brewing industry. The town began to expand in the early Victorian period, stimulated in part by the opening of the railway in 1849 and the arrival of the army in nearby Aldershot in 1855. Farnham became an Urban District in 1894, but under the Local Government Act 1972, it became part of the Borough of Waverley. The civil parish and town council were created in 1984.
The Farnham area has long been associated with the creative arts and with pottery making in particular. One of three campuses of the University for the Creative Arts is to the west of the centre and there are numerous works of public art on display in the town. Notable buildings in the civil parish include the ruins of Waverley Abbey and the 18th century Willmer House, now the location of the Museum of Farnham. Politician William Cobbett and writer George Sturt were both born in Farnham, as was Maud Gonne, the Irish republican suffragette. More recent residents have included the watercolour artist William Herbert Allen, Formula One driver Mike Hawthorn, the England cricketer Graham Thorpe, and the England rugby union captain Jonny Wilkinson.
Where to Stay in Farnham
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Farnham?
Farnham offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
How do I plan a road trip to Farnham?
Plan your road trip to Farnham with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Farnham as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Where is Farnham located?
Farnham is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 51.2144 latitude, -0.8005 longitude.
What is the population of Farnham?
Farnham has a population of approximately 36,971 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 36,971
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.2144, -0.8005
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Farnham
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
film location
Hankley Common, Surrey (Skyfall Lodge site)
The Skyfall Lodge exterior was built and burned on this MoD heath in Surrey; the location is walkable, though only the ground remains.
8 km · about 15 min drive
landmark
Dunsfold Aerodrome (Top Gear Test Track)
The famous airfield test track used by BBC Top Gear for its power laps and celebrity challenges.
22 km · about 25 min drive
film location
Virginia Water Lake, Surrey (Forbidden Forest)
The lakeside and woods of Windsor Great Park doubled for the Forbidden Forest and the Hogwarts grounds in Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire.
26 km · about 30 min drive
racetrack
Brooklands
The world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, opened 1907, where surviving sections of the towering concrete Members' Banking rear up out of the Surrey woodland. The museum holds racing cars and aircraft on the original site.
27 km · about 30 min drive
cafe
Loomies Moto Cafe
A beloved biker cafe on the A32 in Hampshire that draws motorcyclists from across southern England with its welcoming atmosphere and hearty food.
28 km · about 30 min drive
cafe
Caffeine & Machine: The Hut
The Hampshire outpost near the South Downs, 45 minutes from Goodwood and close to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.
28 km · about 30 min drive
museum
Brooklands Museum
The birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, featuring the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit from 1907.
28 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Farnham
- 30 kmLeith HillThe highest point in south-east England at 294 m, its 18th-century tower taking visitors just above the 1,000-foot mark.
- 34 kmBox HillA steep chalk escarpment above the Mole valley, the Zig Zag Road on its flank made famous by the 2012 Olympic road race.
- 39 kmGoodwood Festival of SpeedThe hillclimb course on the Goodwood estate driveway where Formula One cars, prewar Grand Prix machinery and rally legends run flat out past a country house each summer. The 1.16-mile course is estate road year-round.
- 56 kmCrystal Palace CircuitA parkland racing circuit in south London that ran until 1972 and still hosts occasional sprint events. Sections of the old track survive as park roads and footpaths, complete with original kerbing among the Victorian terraces.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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