Known for its Georgian streets, historic buildings and craft heritage Farnham is a historic market town in the rolling Surrey Hills; offering visitors a chance to enjoy quintessential England, just an hour from the capital.
Whatever you are looking for, great locally produced food, beautiful green countryside, fascinating heritage to discover, a wealth of independent and quirky shops, Farnham is the perfect place to visit.
Markets
At heart, Farnham is a market town. Dating back to the Middle Ages Farnham offered a weekly market and an annual fair which attracted visitors from all over Surrey and Hampshire to buy and sell goods.
Today, Farnham has an award winning, monthly Farmers market that give shoppers the chance to buy seasonal produce direct from the producer and food is noticeably fresher and tends to be tastier because it has been grown, raised, caught, baked, picked or processed all within 50 miles of the market. The Farmers’ Market takes place in Central car park on the fourth Sunday of every month, so don’t miss the chance to pick up delicious, fresh locally produced food.
Once a year the Farnham Food Festival a huge bustling market takes place in Castle Street in September bringing together Farnham’s local producers plus a variety of other culinary specialists.
Shopping
Farnham has a wealth of shopping opportunities; with a range of independent boutiques alongside diverse high street shops you can find unique gifts, fashion brands or household essentials here, nestled between a variety of pubs, restaurants and cafes both independent and well known UK chains.
History & Craft
Farnham has a magnificent history, with evidence of Stone Age, Roman and Saxon dwellings found here. Many of the Georgian buildings conceal structures of Tudor or even earlier times. England’s first Cistercian abbey was built near Farnham. The now ruins of Waverley Abbey are situated in a peaceful loop of the River Wey and still give an impression of the solitude experienced by the monks who founded a monastery here almost 900 years ago.
The Town is crowned by a 12th century castle overlooking the heart of Farnham, built in 1138 AD by Henry de Blois, grandson of William the Conqueror and has been occupied for nearly 900 years, mostly by the powerful Bishops of Winchester. Monarchs from King John to Queen Victoria have all visited,