Location: Farnham
Top Things to do in Farnham
The 6 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Farnham, England
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is 34.5 miles (55.5 km) southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire. By road, Guildford is 11 miles (17 km) to the east and Winchester a further 28 miles (45 km) along the same axis as London. Farnham is the largest town in Waverley, and one of the five largest conurbations in Surrey. It is of historic interest, with many old buildings, including a number of Georgian houses. Farnham Castle overlooks the town. A short distance southeast of the town centre are the ruins of Waverley Abbey, Moor Park House and Mother Ludlam's Cave. Farnham is twinned with Andernach in Germany. It is drained by the River Wey (North Branch) which is navigable only to canoes at this point.
Restaurants in Farnham
1. Rural Life Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 192 reviews
The Rural Life Centre is an accredited open-air museum and visitor attraction which collects and preserves objects associated with farming and goods used by local craftsmen circa 1750-1960. Many aspects of village and rural life are displayed recalling a way of life once common to the local people. The museum is distributed over ten acres of field, woodland and barns. The extensive programme of events offers the perfect way to experience the museum as volunteers set about to bring the museum alive by educating and entertaining visitors with crafts, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
Reviewed By Selsea - Herne Bay, United Kingdom
Fantastic place to visit, tucked away off the beaten track. Staff were lovely ate in the cafe sandwiches were delicious. Plenty to see and buildings to go in and experience. Well laid out, extremely interesting some of the buildings were packed with artefacts of bygone days. My only minor complaint was that you had to pay extra for the train ride! But that would have not put me off of going. Definitely will visit again and would most certainly recommend a visit if you’re in the area.
2. The Sculpture Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,110 reviews
Reviewed By jivebanana - Coulsdon, United Kingdom
A friend had recommended The Sculpture Park to me and so it was on my list for this summer. What an extraordinary place to visit. It is situated opposite a gorgeous pub which is great as the park itself has no cafe. The pub is therefore a good option for coffee or lunch and it is possible to leave the trail round the park and stop for a drink and then restart when you are ready. So, important things to know - a) the car parking is quite limited outside the park. b) on arrival it is essential to go straight to the Reception hut to pay your entrance fee and collect the booklet which provides you with a map showing how to follow the three trails around the park. c) Although it is not a long walk (approx 2 miles) the terrain is uneven and there are lots of steps, narrow walkways and bridges and so sturdy shoes are a must. If you have mobility issues it would be worth checking access arrangements before you visit. d) the booklet provided gives the numbers of each sculpture, the sculptor, the name of the piece, the price and the material it is made from. The tour around the park uses each numbered sculpture as a guide to your location. e) The park is suitable for children and dogs are allowed if they are kept on a short lead. f) There are several places where you can stop for a picnic; either in one of the Thai huts or in the gravelled picnic area where there are tables. g) Much of the park is in shade so even on the sunniest of days you might need to bring a jumper. h) there are toilets on site and they are really nice and clean. As for the park itself it is a wonderful showcase of the weird and wonderful. Most are for sale. There are amazing pieces that make you gasp with wonder or recoil with horror. All will amaze and with a selection of about 800 sculptures you will need at least 2.5 - 3 hrs (not including lunch) to see it all. For a modest entry fee this is a great place to visit. There is no gift shop as such but there are indoor exhibits too. Make sure you see the dragon, the tank, the polar bears, the huge tarantula and the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse (creepy!). There is so much to see here and explore. Look once and then look again to see what you’ve missed and enjoy!
3. Waverley Abbey
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 168 reviews
Reviewed By nnmercman - Camberley, United Kingdom
The Abbey’s about half way along main road between Farnham and Elstead. There’s a small car park and it’s only a short walk to the ruins past a lake full of bird and water life with mature trees and bushes on far bank in grounds of the large majestic house (private property). Didn’t realise ruins are part of English Heritage and when you read the main information panel you realise just how big the structure was back in the day before Henry VIII came to power (it was Britains first Cistercian Monastery). There are other information panels dotted around and a beautiful Yew tree sits towards left hand boundary. Near the car park is a WW2 gun emplacement which was a defensive position against any German invasion attempting to take the Hogs Back high ground. There’s a pleasant footpath just across the bridge on left (Moor Park Heritage trail) - it is signposted but it’s obvious adjacent home owners have attempted to hide access with plant pots. Footpath is just under a mile, flat and wide with some interesting views and things to see (Mother Ludlam’s cave and another gun emplacement) - you can also take one of the side trails down and across water meadows. Impressive Moor Park House is at end of trail and you can complete a circular walk along main road but it is definitely not advisable as there’s no verge/hard shoulder and cars drive at speed along it’s windy stretch. Best to visit both Abbey and trail during dry summer months as it can get very boggy under foot!
4. The Antiques Warehouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Two Elizabethan tithe barns in stunning horse farm complex brimming with quality antiques and collectibles. COVID-19 ALERT For everyone’s protection, we have been taking numerous safety precautions and we request the following: • Please wear a face mask to protect our customers and staff. • Please apply hand sanitiser (which we provide for you) on entering the building. • Please ensure you are at least 2 metres apart at all times. We have provided floor markings to show 2 meters. • The number of people allowed inside at any one time will be limited. You may be asked to wait outside if necessary to ensure everyone’s safety. • Please do not touch any of the goods. Arrangements can be made with a member of staff if you’d like to handle something. • We are only accepting card payments. Contactless or Apple Pay is preferred. Thank you for your support during this difficult time. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Reviewed By Sea-love12
This place is a real gem. A must place to visit with real gems to find. A friendly family run business who helped me to choose a beautiful diamond and sapphire engagement ring which proved to be stunning quality when I had it valued. Lovely place and lovely people.
5. Farnham Castle
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 329 reviews
Farnham Castle is an historic wedding, events and conference venue, with stunning grounds, parking and accommodation, located on the border of Surrey and Hampshire. Please visit our website to contact our events team in regards to viewing Farnham Castle for your wedding, event or conference. Guided Tours of Farnham Castle are available on select Wednesday afternoons. Pre-booking tickets is mandatory and ticket sales are available directly via the Farnham Castle website.
Reviewed By Daveattrip - Godalming, United Kingdom
The Bishops Palace,Farnham Castle . Having booked on line to visit the palace for 2Pm tour of The Bishops Palace on a wet afternoon and arriving early we were pleased to receive a very cheerful greeting and invited to sit inside until the tour Started . We could only agree with the enthusiastic guide wha describe it as the hidden gem of Farnham . A very interesting tour and well worth the £5.00 for the hour and bit tour, afterwards you can visit the castle keep, museum & grounds .
6. The Packhouse Limited
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 170 reviews
With so much more to offer than the high street, our ever-changing interior and lifestyle store is full of handpicked items to give your space some soul. Set within the Surrey hills between Guildford and Farnham, our 400-year-old Grade II-listed building sells a huge variety of vintage, antique and one-off buys from furniture and interior finishing touches to gifts and fashion accessories. You won’t find a more diverse mix anywhere else. Next door is our super-stylish restaurant Bears, offering a locally sourced menu from coffee and breakfast to evening meals and everything in between. Parking is free and we also run craft workshops and events throughout the year. It's the ideal place to come for a browse, a catch up with friends, or some serious shopping. We change our stock every single day, so there’s always something new to see.
Reviewed By mc100148 - Farnborough, United Kingdom
great place to visit for range of different items - from antiques, china, fun stuff, quirky items. Always a great choice, also local cakes on sale.
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