Farnborough

Author
Discussion

andharri

Original Poster:

166 posts

157 months

Monday 6th July 2020
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Hi,

We are looking to move soon, and we are considering a few areas.

Once place we are looking at is Farnborough, but we don't really know much about it.

Anyone got any insights into the nice areas, things to look out for etc?

Thanks!

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Monday 6th July 2020
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I think the PH Head Bean Counter 'Eric Mc' is your man.

outnumbered

4,067 posts

233 months

Monday 6th July 2020
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Which one though ? Kent, Surrey, Berkshire...

Gareth79

7,628 posts

245 months

Monday 6th July 2020
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Assuming you mean Hampshire, I have lived here for just over ten years now. I picked it because it was close to Guildford and, at the time, had a glut of ex-MOD houses during the bottom of the market.

In general, it's very conveniently located - 2 junctions lead to the M3, and then you are a few minutes from the M25, the train to London is 35-45 minutes, Gatwick and Heathrow are close, and there's a decent amount of outdoor stuff nearby.

It's not exactly a place for shopping, culture or eating out (unless you like Nepalese/Indian, in which case it's outstanding), although it's well-served for chain pub restaurants.

What areas were you looking at? Basically the stuff south of Rectory Road is the best within walking distance of the station, but £££. The Empress estate (around Empress Ave) also seems decent. The GLC estate (Prospect Road) is the cheapest, but kinda rough. Southwood is new and decent I think, but quite far from the town centre. There are LOTS of flats all over the place, when I looked out of interest the service charges seemed very steep.


GT03ROB

13,207 posts

220 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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It's grotty… far nicer areas nearby. But that will depend on your budget & needs.

When I'm in the UK companies offices are there.

ARHarh

3,697 posts

106 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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Cant help with recent info, but i lived in Farnborough from 1964 to 1987, then moved to Fleet till 2012 when i moved to Shropshire. Don't miss the area at all.

Farnborough will be OK in most places, never much more than OK. Fleet is nicer but has no real facilities, If you are a commuter then it will be good value with easy access to that London. Most facilities and a few bigger towns are easy to reach from Farnborough. Avoid the prospect road estate and some of the estates around North Farnborough.

I would be looking at Fleet or the other side out towards Guildford, but you will need a bigger budget.

rednotdead

1,214 posts

225 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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Gareth79 said:
Assuming you mean Hampshire, I have lived here for just over ten years now. I picked it because it was close to Guildford and, at the time, had a glut of ex-MOD houses during the bottom of the market.

In general, it's very conveniently located - 2 junctions lead to the M3, and then you are a few minutes from the M25, the train to London is 35-45 minutes, Gatwick and Heathrow are close, and there's a decent amount of outdoor stuff nearby.

It's not exactly a place for shopping, culture or eating out (unless you like Nepalese/Indian, in which case it's outstanding), although it's well-served for chain pub restaurants.

What areas were you looking at? Basically the stuff south of Rectory Road is the best within walking distance of the station, but £££. The Empress estate (around Empress Ave) also seems decent. The GLC estate (Prospect Road) is the cheapest, but kinda rough. Southwood is new and decent I think, but quite far from the town centre. There are LOTS of flats all over the place, when I looked out of interest the service charges seemed very steep.
This is bang on. I've lived on the very outskirts for 20yrs and in all that time can count on one hand the number of times I've been in to Farnborough for shopping and the like. The town is undergoing some redevelopment but it's still pretty poor. However, you have Guildford, Camberley, Farnham and Basingrad all within easy reach.

Transport links are its big plus point but if you're thinking of commuting the station carpark gets rammed (although that may change following covid and more working from home). Farnborough Main for London and the south, Farnborough North, Blackwater and Farnborough North Camp for Reading and Guildford/Gatwick. Funnily enough, getting to Heathrow from Farnborough is a bh by public transport, you either go into London and out again or train to Woking then bus to the airport.

Lots of outdoors stuff in easy reach, a 5/10min drive gets you into the countryside. Basingstoke canal is very close, and lots of golf courses if that is your thing. Hawley lake for sailing etc and quite a few small parks cropping up.

House prices were rising quickly pre-covid, apart from the rougher areas. Massive new estate being built right on junction 4a of the M3, lots of swanky new flats in the town centre.

Traffic during rush hour through the town can get tedious. I frequently have a journey to do through Farnborough (N to S) during rush hour and a 5 mile journey can take me up to 30/40 minutes.

Dr Interceptor

7,743 posts

195 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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Have lived here all my life... Except for three years when I was at uni in Bristol...

We lived in Osborne Road (North Camp end of Farnborough) when I was younger, and then moved to Farnborough Park. My shop and offices funnily are on Osborne Road, about 150 yards from where I grew up.

Others will have covered transport links etc above, so I'll do a bit more of what the place is like....

The town centre is awful, there's no getting around that point. Rushmoor BC should have bitten the bullet years ago and levelled it and started again. But it is what it is, and it does have some useful shops. It's an easy work around though as Basingstoke (Festival Place) is a short train ride away, as is Guildford. Portsmouth and Gunwharf Quays are an hours blat down the A3.

Farnborough is pretty urban, but has lots of green areas. There are parks and walks up behind the Abbey, there's the newly created Southwood Woodland where the old Golf Course was, and actually some of the urban bits near the airfield round the old airship hanger are nice to walk through. It's also very easy to get out into the countryside... Newlands Corner, Silent Pool, Chobham Common, Fleet Pond etc are all very close.

Hotels if you're having friends down are plentiful from the budget (Travelodge, Premier Inn) through the mid-range (Village) to the high end (Aviator).

Air quality... Well its not great. Farnborough is bordered by the M3, A331, A31, it has railways, and an airport. When lockdown kicked in, the increase in air quality was incredible. It was fantastic to turn up at work at 7am, and not be able to smell a bit of aviation fuel as there were no planes flying - mind you I do quite like the smell of fuel laugh

Driving... The bit we all enjoy... There are some great roads round here, okay its not the Evo triangle but its easy to find a good drive. The Tweseldown Road, Pirbright, plus all the roads down to Goodwood through either Midhurst or Petworth.

Crime... Its a pretty safe spot. Don't believe all you read on the local Facebook groups! Outside of the problem areas, there aren't many issues.

Hope that helps... If you have any specific questions, just ask.

Jon

ARHarh

3,697 posts

106 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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One thing i really noticed moving from fleet to the north wales border was the air quality. We used to have to dust every few days, now we hardly get any dust at home. The air got better in cove when they shut down the national gas turbine establishment. Before that there was always a faint smell of aviation fuel. This is where that swanky new estate is going up, plenty of contamination in the ground there I would guess. Thye often got prosecuted for leaking fuel into the water courses.

But then saying that on a hot day you can still see the haze hanging of that London if you find the right viewpoint. So its probably not that bad.

8.4L 154

5,520 posts

252 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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The town centre is dire, on the other hand if you live in Fleet, Camberley etc you will find yourself going to Farnborough if you want DIY, Carpets, Sofas, Kitchens, Electrical, or costco, basically all the big box shops for the area are in Farnborough. Camberley, Fleet and Aldershot seem to have turned their back on that type of business and let Farnborough mop up.

Housing is odd with old/new rough/pleasant all within a stones throw of each other scattered about all over the place. Pick carefully.

8.4L 154

5,520 posts

252 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
GT03ROB said:
It's grotty… far nicer areas nearby. But that will depend on your budget & needs.

When I'm in the UK companies offices are there.
There is far worse also though.

rednotdead

1,214 posts

225 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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8.4L 154 said:
There is far worse also though.
<cough> Aldershot <cough>

Nickbrapp

5,277 posts

129 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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I grew up there and left 15 years ago, it was a st hole then, whenever I go back it’s still a dump.

I lived very close to the private girls school in a apparently nice area. That was good but the town was a dive and the retail parks awful goo

andharri

Original Poster:

166 posts

157 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

We are looking at a place on Napoleon Avenue, which seems like a nice part of town. Although not too far from a bad part of town, fair to say?

Andy

danpalmer1993

507 posts

107 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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Napoleon Avenue is in one of the better parts of town. Just off Farnborough road which can get quite busy if you need to pull out onto it and head towards the town centre.

ARHarh

3,697 posts

106 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
andharri said:
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

We are looking at a place on Napoleon Avenue, which seems like a nice part of town. Although not too far from a bad part of town, fair to say?

Andy
Nice road or it used to be, not been there in years, School friend lived there so spent a good part of the 70,s there. nice houses. Very close to the roughest part of town, not sure the druggies will be able to walk that far though.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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Lived in this part of the world for a fair few years now, what is the reason you have chosen the area? Farnborough (Aldershot) is pretty crap all things considered plenty of better places nearby you could live depending on what your factors are

David A

3,602 posts

250 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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I lived around the corner from Napoleon Avenue and even closer to the "bad estate" smile

I bought there as the house size/quality for price was very good. Everywhere I would go to I would drive or taxi/train (now uber) so walking to a local wasn't a must have.

We've moved to Camberley for many reasons not least upsizing and schools.But nothing wrong with that part of Farnborough if you want easy access to M3/A3 or walkable to the station for London routes. I'd say its good value property in that area as Farnborough isn't as "posh" as other areas around.

Also yes ask Eric Mc believe he is close too.

Dr Interceptor

7,743 posts

195 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
Napoleon Avenue is fine, we look after a pool down there.

It’s not far from the rough bit, but far enough away. You won’t get passing trade of the wrong variety.

Only PITA with it is no right turn in or out of it off the A325, so you have to go round the back, or loop round the old Ham & Blackbird roundabout. Many do turn right, but it’s signposted as no right turn.


Gareth79

7,628 posts

245 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
andharri said:
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

We are looking at a place on Napoleon Avenue, which seems like a nice part of town. Although not too far from a bad part of town, fair to say?
Pretty much. I've cycled through there a bit and it seems quiet, I think it's far enough away to be ok. The naming of the roads is because it was sold off from the estate of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. They lived in what is now Farnborough Hill school (over the A325).

edit: I think the people recommending Fleet have not checked the prices - you'll need a LOT more money to get like-for-like.



Edited by Gareth79 on Tuesday 7th July 23:33