Farnham
Historic vibes with a modern twist
Farnham: Officially the Nicest Town in Surrey. It’s the kind of place you can imagine Jane Austen – who lived one town down the Wey Valley – popping in to for a scented candle and an oat milk macchiato. The High Street looks straight off the old Quality Street tins, all bow-fronted shops, cupolas and greengrocers with stripy awnings.
Being on the edge of the Surrey Hills means you can be in unspoilt countryside in minutes, where you can get those new Hunter wellies muddy and give the Cockapoo a little run around. If you are not into wearing Barbour and tweed, then stick to the Town where you will find so much to do and so many lovely neighbours to mingle with.
Mums and Dads love Farnham because the schools are “just so good”, according to one yummy Mummy we chatted to at Gails on Castle Street. I was quick to pick her up on the fact that a lot of schools are actually “outstanding”, but she was too busy chatting to other Mums about which after-school clubs the kids were signed up for this term.
To prove my point, outstanding primaries include South Farnham (inspected in 2012), ranked 11th in The Sunday Times Parent Power guide, South Farnham Highfield (2018) and Catholic St Polycarp’s (2015). St Andrew’s and Potters Gate, both C of E, are Ofsted-rated good. For secondaries, Weydon School is the third-best state secondary in the country without a sixth form, according to Parent Power. All Hallows Catholic School is Ofsted-rated outstanding (2014). Barfield Prep School and Frensham Heights are two of the tip top private school options and local parents only have great things to say about them.
Is this the perfect Market Town? We think so.
Beautifully-preserved Georgian houses in Castle Street — connecting the town centre and castle — are highly-prized and Victorian, Edwardian, post-war and new-build houses are options for buyers.
The need to commute just a couple of times a week means the expanse of green space in and around GU10 has never been so appealing. So is Farnham well connected? Absolutely. Trains: half-hourly to London Waterloo (55-61 minutes). Driving: 20 mins to the M3, 30 mins to the M25, an hour to Southampton, a little over to central London, and 45-60 mins to Heathrow or Gatwick.
There must be a catch I hear you scream. There is no Virgin Media! but Swish Fibre is rolling out full-fibre in the town so speeds much faster than the standard superfast services have started to be available. Apart from the absence of Virgin, we think this is the perfect town to live in.
- Post Office: 1
- Stores: All the big High Street players as well as some lovely independents.
- Supermarket: It's all about delivery from Ocado right? There is a Waitrose and Sainsbury's in town
- Walks: Farnham Park, spread over 320 acres, was originally a medieval deer park and now has paths that wind among ancient trees, a golf course, playgrounds and a cricket pitch
