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
England, United Kingdom · Europe
Farnham works well as a base: 5 minutes from Rowledge, 32km from South Downs National Park.
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.
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.
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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.
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Farnham is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 51.2144 latitude, -0.8005 longitude.
Farnham has a population of approximately 36,971 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.
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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 Kingdom8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
The famous airfield test track used by BBC Top Gear for its power laps and celebrity challenges.
22 km · about 25 min drive
racetrack
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
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
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
cafe
The Hampshire outpost near the South Downs, 45 minutes from Goodwood and close to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.
29 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Thrill-focused theme park near London catering to older children and adults with intense roller coasters.
29 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Family-friendly theme park near London with LEGO-themed rides, building workshops, and Miniland models.
30 km · about 35 min drive
national park
Rolling chalk downland stretching from Winchester to the white cliffs of Beachy Head, England's newest national park.
32 km · about 35 min drive
April to October
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