Farnham

Farnham sits where the River Wey cuts a gentle valley through the Surrey Hills, close to the Hampshire border and within easy reach of the North Downs and the Wey and Arun countryside beyond. It is a working market town rather than a museum piece, but its centre has changed little in outline since the Georgian era, when hop merchants and coaching traffic on the old road to Winchester filled its wide main streets with money and ambition. That legacy survives in terraces of red brick and mellow stone that still line Castle Street, said to be one of the finest Georgian streetscapes in the country, climbing gently towards the castle that gives the town its skyline.

The surrounding countryside is part of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a patchwork of heath, pine woodland and farmland that has drawn walkers and artists for generations, Farnham itself has a long association with the Arts and Crafts movement and was named England's first UNESCO World Craft Town in recognition of its pottery, furniture-making and textile heritage. Today the town balances that creative, slightly bohemian character with the practical business of a busy commuter hub, giving visitors a genuine sense of Surrey life alongside the historic sights.

Top things to do in Farnham

Farnham rewards a slow wander as much as a checklist of sights, but there is plenty to aim for.

• Farnham Castle — a Norman keep begun around 1138 for the powerful Bishops of Winchester, with nearly 900 years of continuous occupation and panoramic views over the town from its motte.
• Castle Street and the Georgian town centre — a broad, tree-free Georgian street running from the castle gates down to the town, lined with listed buildings that often hide older Tudor timber frames behind their brick facades.
• Museum of Farnham — housed in Willmer House, an elegant Georgian townhouse, telling the story of the town from its hop-growing and pottery past to its craft present.
• Waverley Abbey — the atmospheric riverside ruins of England's first Cistercian abbey, founded in 1128, a short drive or walk from town and free to visit.
• Birdworld — a long-established bird park just outside Farnham with penguins, flamingos, owls and an extensive outdoor adventure playground, popular with families.
• The Sculpture Park — a large outdoor gallery near Churt, on the fringes of the Surrey Hills, showing contemporary sculpture set among woodland and lakes.
• Surrey Hills walking country — footpaths and bridleways fan out from Farnham towards Crooksbury Hill, the Bourne and the wooded commons that make up this stretch of the North Downs Way network.

Getting to Farnham

Farnham lies just off the A31, close to its junctions with the A3 and the M3, making it a straightforward drive from London, the south coast and Hampshire. Farnham railway station, a short walk south of the town centre on Station Hill, has regular direct South Western Railway services to London Waterloo, taking a little over an hour, as well as connections towards Alton. The station car park and nearby town centre car parks make it easy to combine road and rail for a day trip.

Best time to visit Farnham

Spring and early summer bring blossom to the town's parks and gardens and good walking conditions across the Surrey Hills, while autumn colours the wooded hills around Crooksbury and Waverley particularly well. The town's Georgian streets and independent shops make it an enjoyable destination year-round, and Farnham's markets and craft fairs, reflecting its World Craft Town status, run through the year, though a dry day is best for exploring Waverley Abbey and the surrounding footpaths.

Where to stay in Farnham

Options range from characterful town-centre coaching inns to countryside hotels on the edge of the Surrey Hills, plus a growing choice of bed and breakfasts in the Georgian streets near the castle. Those wanting a rural base can look towards Waverley's villages and the Hampshire border, while the town centre suits visitors keen to walk everywhere without a car.

Food and drink in Farnham

The Wheatsheaf, in the heart of town, is a long-standing pub restaurant built around locally sourced produce. The Castle Pub & Dining on Castle Street pairs its historic setting with an award-winning kitchen, while The Mulberry offers a large pub garden and a solid range of craft beers. For something different, The Third Monkey gastropub has a rooftop terrace, and Caffé Piccolo has served Farnham's Italian food since 1995. The town's markets and independent cafés add to a food scene that punches well above its size for a town of this population.