Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Property in Farnham

The market town of Farnham offers a great combination of rural tranquillity while being just a short train ride away from London. Its green spaces, historic buildings and excellent transport links make it a popular choice for home buyers, and this is reflected in its house prices, which are more than double the national average for England.

Living in Farnham

Situated in the Surrey Hills and close to the North Downs Way, Farnham is perhaps best known for its Georgian streets, historic buildings and craft heritage. Its history can be traced back to Roman times and its castle, which dates back to the 12 century and overlooks the beautiful 320-acre Farnham Park, is just one reminder of the town’s long heritage. However, for today’s homebuyers, Farnham’s more modern amenities are equally impressive, with numerous schools and academies rated Outstanding by Ofsted, easily accessible links to the A3 and M3, and Heathrow Airport only around 30 miles away.

Independent retailers, including antique centres, a milliner, furniture and sports stores, ensure you have everything you need on your doorstep. A monthly farmers’ market only adds to the appeal.

Average property prices

It’s perhaps not surprising that house prices are well above the national average. According to Rightmove, properties in Farnham had an overall average cost of £658,235 in 2021.

Detached properties, which made up the bulk of sales, averaged £944,473. Semi-detached houses sold for an average of £497,557, with terraced properties fetching £402,622.

Where to live in Farnham

Farnham boasts many architectural styles and has many popular residential areas, offering everything from a modern one-bed flat to large, detached homes. You’ll find stunning Georgian townhouses in the town centre, while closer to Farnham Park, you’ll find Victorian terraces. Larger family homes tend to be further out of town. Roads such as Firgrove Hill, Frensham Road, and Waverley Lane offer a great choice of larger period houses and detached properties with extensive gardens. Budgets here could be well over £1 million for more substantial homes.

Also popular are The Sands and Great Austins in the south of Farnham. Again, these are popular with families, in part due to the good schools and transport links nearby.

There are also several charming villages around Farnham, including Rowledge and Frensham. Prices tend to be similar to Farnham itself, with these smaller places offering a quieter location and beautiful country homes. However, prices match this popularity, and larger homes can go for in excess of £2 million.

Schools around Farnham

There are many great schools for children of all ages around the Farnham area. At an infant and primary level, Highfield South Farnham and South Farnham School are both ranked as Outstanding by Ofsted, as is Folly Hill Infant Academy. All Hallows Catholic Secondary School also received the highest rating from Ofsted at its last inspection.

There are several independent schools in the area, including the co-ed Church of England Barfield School, Frensham Heights, which also offers boarding options, and the all-boys More House School.

Ofsted Outstanding rated childcare is also available from Bright Horizon’s Farnham Day Nursery and Preschool and Crown Daisy Nursery.

Things to do in Farnham

As well as independent retailers, Farnham town centre also offers big brands, supermarkets, selling everything you need, banks and more.

Away from the shops, there are many ways to enjoy the beauty of Farnham and the surrounding area with local cricket, rugby and football clubs and nearby Farnham Golf Club, which is open to members and visitors.

Frensham Ponds is great for walks and birdwatching, just a few miles outside of Farnham, while Alice Holt forest boasts everything from an activity centre and play area to Go Ape.

For those who prefer indoor activities, the Farnham Maltings cultural organisation presents a performance and participation work programme and runs the Museum of Farnham. It is home to several creative programmes, including a theatre, cinema, arts, crafts and workshops. Also worth a visit is the Sculpture Park, described as ‘the most atmospheric sculpture exhibition in Britain’. Visitors can enjoy more than 800 sculptures set within ten acres of beautiful arboretum and wildlife inhabited water gardens.

Commuting time, get a season ticket

For those buying a home in Farnham to make the most of its location close to London, the good news is that direct trains into London Waterloo take less than an hour, with multiple trains an hour running at peak times. For regular travellers, a weekly travelcard will set you back around £113, monthly is just over £435, and an annual season ticket is £4,548. For those who don’t work in the office each day, flexible tickets are also available.

Novello has been helping home buyers in the southeast of England for some years and has vast experience of the fast-moving market in and around Farnham. As experienced, RICS-qualified surveyors, we have a thorough understanding of the many different types of properties available and the potential problems that are common with some older homes in the area. We also know how important it is that you get a comprehensive building survey and that you receive the information you need quickly when going through the house buying process. That’s why we pride ourselves on being responsive, accurate and friendly, guiding you through each step and advising anywhere we can in order to take the stress out of the situation. At Novello, we guarantee to listen to your concerns, provide clear, accurate information and keep you informed throughout. With the right survey and the right property surveyors, you’ll be enjoying your new home in Farnham.

To find out more, contact us today or arrange a free consultation.