Sights and landmarks in Farnborough
27 sights worth seeing in Farnborough: landmarks, galleries, monuments and viewpoints.
Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.
Sights and landmarks in Farnborough
SeeMonumentSir Frank Whittle memorial
A sculpture of Whittle's Gloster Meteor, a pioneering jet aircraft created at the RAE. See the original plane in London's Science Museum.
SeeMemorialSamuel Franklin Cody memorial
A statue of Cody's likeness, unveiled in 2013 on the centenary of the aviator's death in a crash of one of his experimental aircraft.
SeeMonasterySt Michael's Abbey
Abbaye Saint-Michel - Chapelle impériale
Built by Empress Eugénie de Montijo in the 1880s, the abbey's main attraction is its typically French Flamboyant Neo-Gothic chapel, beneath which lie Napoleon III, his wife and their son, Louis Napoléon Eugène. The abbey is home to a small community of Benedictine (Roman Catholic) monks, and also houses a relic of St Alban. The guided tour involves a visit to the chapel, grounds and imperial crypt. The mass and vespers, sung in Latin Gregorian chant, are an unusual experience. The tiny shop stocks handmade religious memorabilia, local history books printed by the abbey press, and produce from the monks' farm.
Public guided tours: Sat 3PM, private tours by appointment; mass Mon-Sat 8AM, Sun 9AM, vespers 4:45PM; shop closed during the pandemic, but open onlineTours £5 pp minimum donation; children free · Heritage listed
.jpg?width=240 "Photo: Simon Boddy from Maidenhead, Uk, CC BY-SA 2.0")
SeeMuseumFarnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum
FAST
Local gem dedicated to retelling Farnborough's extensive aviation history, from early balloons and canvas aircraft, through the world wars, the first jet engines, wind tunnel trials, supersonic flight and space exploration. Static aircraft on display include a Hawker Hunter, Harrier T4, Lightning, Puma and Gazelle, which you can sit inside. Or you can try your hand at flying in one of the cockpit simulators. The Cody pavilion houses a scale replica of the pioneer's first plane and an exhibition on his exciting life. However, the museum's greatest assets are its volunteers, who are genuine experts on the exhibits and are always keen (occasionally a little too keen!) to impart their knowledge.
Sat Sun bank holiday Mon 10AM-4PMFree; donations welcome. Small shop and café on-site · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
.jpg?width=240 "Photo: ThunderingTyphoons!, CC BY-SA 4.0")
SeeScout Experimental SE5A fighter plane
A replica of the first ever aircraft built by the RAE's factory at Farnborough. This model represents that which was flown by World War I ace pilot Edward "Mick" Hancock, who was awarded the Victoria Cross medal posthumously. You can read about his life on a small poster in the centre.
Mon-Sat 9AM-5:30PM, Sun 10AM-4PMFree
SeeSt Peter's Church
This Anglican church's crypt is believed to house the remains of many of the Earls of Anglesey, and it is a pretty Norman church in its own right, probably with Saxon origins. On one of the walls inside is the damaged remains of a medieval fresco depicting Saints Agnes, Eugenia, and Mary Magdalene, which was uncovered by accident in 1880 at roughly the same time the Empress moved into Farnborough; coincidence or Divine providence?
Free
See"First Flight in the UK" memorial
The now rather mundane site of Samuel Cody's first flight is marked by a stone and plaque. You can still look across the airfield from here and admire Cody's legacy.
SeeHistoric siteEnglish Electric Lightning
The English Electric Lightning is a British fighter aircraft that served as an interceptor from 1960 to 1988. It is capable of a top speed above Mach 2. The Lightning was designed, developed, and manufactured by English Electric.
SeeWatch the planes coming and going
For aviation enthusiasts, there is always something interesting going on around the airport. A loyal band of spotters can usually be found there on most days, often with their car radios tuned into air traffic control, and always open to sharing their passion with like-minded visitors from near and far.
SeeMuseumAldershot Military Museum
Aldershot Military Museum in Aldershot Military Town in Hampshire, England, was conceived by former Aldershot Garrison commander Brigadier John Reed (1926–1992). Reed believed that it was essential to preserve the history of the military town and founded the Aldershot Military Historical Trust to raise funds for the establishment of the museum. Reed acquired the two Victorian barrack bungalows in which the museum is still based.
Closed · opens 10 am Wednesday
SeeMuseumRoyal Army Physical Training Corps Museum
The Royal Army Physical Training Corps Museum is the regimental museum for the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC) which is based in Aldershot in Hampshire. The museum is located in the grounds of the Army School of Physical Training on Fox Lines in the Military Town, and tells the story of the RAPTC from its foundation in the 1860s to the present day. The aim of the RAPTC Museum is to "educate the public and members of the Corps in the history and military accomplishments of the Corps and to promote military efficiency and encourage recruitment by public exhibit of the collection in a museum or museums or such other public places as the Trustees may from time to time decide, and to…
Closed · opens 10 am tomorrowFree entry
- SeeArt gallery
Farnborough Gallery
26 Guildford Rd W
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_7175039.jpg?width=240 "Photo: Peter Shimmon, CC BY-SA 2.0")
SeeLibraryFrimley Green Library
Beech Road
Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow
SeeAttractionBasingstoke Canal Visitor Centre
Wheelchair accessible
- SeeLibrary
Farnborough Library
Closed · opens 9:30 am tomorrowWheelchair accessible
- SeeAttraction
Heritage Quarter
Wheelchair accessible
- SeeLibrary
National Aerospace Library
Fowler Avenue
Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow
SeeHistoric sitePortable Airship Hangar
Wheelchair accessible
- SeeMemorial
Cockadobby Hill War Memorial
- SeeMemorial
Edward T Busk memorial
- SeeMemorial
Farnborough Air Show 1952
SeeHistoric siteHistoric 24ft Low Speed Windtunnel
Hall Road
- SeeHistoric site
Historic 4ft x 3ft Windtunnel
SeeHistoric siteHistoric 8ft x 6ft Transonic & 11 1/2 ft Low Speed Windtunnels
O'Gorman Avenue
- SeeHistoric building
Historic Seaplane Testing Tank
Hall Road
- SeeLibrary
Learning Resource Centre Lower Bagnall
- SeeArchaeological site
Tumulus
Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Farnborough (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).