Timeline
16:55
Grab a coffee and a pastry to take with you. This café is close to the memorial and opens early enough for a pre-sunset start.
17:10
Walk from the café to the Sir Frank Whittle memorial on the A327 Ively Road roundabout. Find a spot on the approach that offers a clear view of the sculpture against the sky. Check the route as directions are not provided from the café.
18:10
Move to King George V Playing Fields. This is the specific vantage point where the sun sets directly behind the memorial during the selected dates. The 44-minute walk from the memorial is long, so consider if you have time. If not, stay at the memorial itself, but the alignment is verified only from the fields.
18:30
Head to The Swan gastropub. It is located near the playing fields and has a beer garden with views of incoming planes, a fitting end to an aviation-themed sunset. Note that opening hours are inconsistent and vary by day, so check if it is open for your evening visit.
Local tip
The walk between the memorial and King George V Playing Fields is nearly 45 minutes. If you prefer a shorter walk, skip the playing fields and view the sunset directly from the memorial area, though the perfect alignment is only confirmed from the fields.
Check before you go
- Verify The Swan's opening hours for your specific day, as they change frequently.
- The sunset alignment dates are specific: 17-20 March or 22-26 September.
Worth knowing
- Sun position is calculated. We have not confirmed the view is unobstructed.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Farnborough (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).