Anyone know Farnborough, Hampshire?

airhostess

I'm having an interview next week for a job based in Farnborough, Hampshire.
If I get the job I will have to relocate.
I haven't got a car, so will be looking to use train, bus or taxi - if only a short distance to work. Does anyone know what areas are nice to live in around Farnborough, as I haven't a clue about the area? Ideally within an hour's traveling time, with good public transport and a market would be nice.
Or does anyone know Farnborough itself? I've had a look on Rightmove and places to rent are pretty expensive for what they are and not very nice...

_bankrupted

If you avoid Farnborough centre then the area is generally ok. Unfortunately it is suffering from 10 years of procrastination about it's redevelopment which is finally underway.

The more upmarket areas are Camberley and Fleet which are approximately 10 minutes drive away.

Guildford is nice, slightly more expensive, 20 mins by car.

This is the SE, 40 minutes to Waterloo, and commuter belt. Typical 2 bed property to rent is £800 per month or more.

If you need to rely on public transport, not sure, but I suspect it's not great.

_bankrupted

Sorry just saw you don't have a car.

I think I would forget about using a bus in this area, it can be done but the time taken to travel any significant distance would be painful. You need time on your hands.

Train to Farnborough main, or Farnborough North if you seriouusly want to live outside the area and not spend most of the day on the bus.

airhostess

Great, thank you very much for that. Very helpful. I will only be traveling to and from work once every three weeks so it doesn't matter if the commute is a bit of a drag as I won't be doing it that often. I will check out the other areas along the train lines. Ideally I'd find somewhere within 10/15 mins drive of the airport and just take a taxi to work.
So I will def check out Camberley and Fleet. Aldershot is cheaper - is that not so nice? An I've seen a nice place in Deepcut...

Just out of interest, what's wrong with Farnborough town centre?

Debt_Free_Chick

airhostess wrote: »

Just out of interest, what's wrong with Farnborough town centre?

Go and have a look ...... 1960s style "shopping centre" with all the resulting development that mushroomed out of that.

Fleet is lovely though - but you have to pay the price. Plenty of other "large villages" around too. You really need to spend a day in and around F'boro, but that's going to be difficult without a car. Perhaps use Rightmove and then see if a local EA can take you to view a number of nearby properties?

_bankrupted

Aldershot owes it's existence to the British Army, it was a former garrison town. Less desirable simple as that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldershot

Not sure that it would be correctly described as that today. Much of the miltary presence has withdrawn. No more Parachute Regiment.

Fleet has a very good high street with many pubs restaurants, it's a place that is buzzing at night. It's an affulent area and is exclusively residential.

Farnborough is the complete opposite. There are absolutely no pub or restaurant you would wish to go into. In fact there aren't any at all. If you want some form of nightlife it terms of Pubs, restaurants then I can guarantee that Farnrorough is not it.

Snarf999

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but just found this whilst searching for something else. Depending upon where in Farnborough you work will depend upon where you want to live. I work in Farnborough but live in Sandhurst and commute in by car, though I know a few people who do bike in from there. Sandhurst is a really nice area compared to some of the surrounding places (which can be hit or miss), it's about 7 miles from Farnborough. There's a mainline from Reading that goes through Farnborough North (hence the question about where you're working), though you'll find other places that are in the Farnborough Main line which is in central Farnborough (walking distance to most places). If you're working at a large company, chances are they might run a shuttle bus from the station (our place has a bus stop) which might make things easier.

Most of Aldershot is a no-no, some bits of Farnborough (around Farnborough North) are ok, Fleet isn't too bad, there's the new development at Elvetham Heath that is nice (but most likely expensive). Other nice areas are Frimley, Ash and Ash Vale, I believe most of these are accessible by bus - you're more than likely to be able to find a car share in the area though which should make things a whole lot easier!

If you need to know anything else give me a shout, people I know live in most of the areas I've listed so will have opinions.

ebdon03

have to say, having grown up in the Aldershot/Farnborough area, that they are both ok without being particularly "posh". The reason the 2 towns are cheaper than Fleet, Farnham, Guildford, etc. is because people have an outdated snobby view.
The reality is that they both have a few council estates that are a bit rough (Totland in Farnborough, North Town and Tices in Aldershot), but also very nice, safe areas - e.g. South Farnborough near Farnborough College of Technology is nice, the area to the south of Aldershot train station AKA Manor Park ward.
Overall, Farnborough is pleasant enough but a bit soulless, except the Leisure Centre there isn't a great deal to do. Aldershot has more character - nice snooker club, a few nice pubs and lovely parks.