With a famous global air show, and therefore predictably linked with the aerospace industry, Farnborough rightly holds a big business reputation despite having a small Hampshire town status.
Farnborough is a town based in the northeast of the Hampshire county. The population of just under sixty thousand also live under the borders of the Borough of Rushmoor, whose council offices are based in the town. Together, with the town of Aldershot slightly southwards, Farnborough makes up the ‘built-up’ area of northern Hampshire.
Business travellers coming to stay in Situ’s Farnborough serviced apartments will find the town easy to reach, within walking distance. Just a short distance from the M3 motorway and a little over half an hour from London Waterloo on the train, travelling from Farnborough to other major destinations can be straightforward. Surrounding Southampton, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports also means that overseas travel to-and-from accommodation in Farnborough can be within touching distance. Businesspeople can also appreciate having Farnborough Airport on their doorstep, providing one of the best business aviation services on offer in the country.
Corporates staying in Farnborough furnished short lets will be able to have the town’s excellent transport connections within reach, as well as the area’s range of greenspace, historic attractions and business facilities.
Farnborough’s historic, proud union with the aerospace industry means there is an enormous amount of aerospace business in Farnborough. These include BAe, Lockheed Martin, AgustaWestland and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch. That said, Farnborough corporate housing provides homes not just for travellers involved in the aerospace industry. In fact, for a small town, there is a lot of business going on in and around Farnborough. The council and community have also shown resolve to push Farnborough in other directions.
Farnborough Business Park is a prime example of this, just outside of the town’s world-leading business airport. The Park is comprised of a range of different business types, ranging from small start-ups to the largest global corporations. The Royal Bank of Scotland, Fluor and TI Media are all based there.
2018 also saw the opening of the adjoined Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre. The £30 state of the art, purpose-built event space provides ample room to support business activity. It includes an exhibition hall, conference venues and function rooms. Across both these sites, there is a range of amenities. There are plentiful shopping options, gyms, cafes, restaurants and even a nursery, meaning conducting business here is hassle-free.
Attention has also been drawn towards improving the state of the Farnborough town centre. At the heart of this is the Rushmoor Borough Council. As well as detailing a range of potential grants, free advice for startups and funding options, the council has outlined how plans to further improve the town centre are underway. This includes working with landowners and existing businesses, extending the shopping centre and investing in a project for the Meads Business and Shopping Centre.
Guests staying in centrally located Farnborough corporate accommodation can best reap the benefits of the town’s prosperous business climate.
The name ‘Farnborough’ supposedly derives from details found in the Domesday Book of 1086. It describes the town an Anglo-Saxon settlement as ‘Ferneberga’ or ‘Fern Hill’. It was from this point that the name of the isolated village changed through the generations; to ‘Farnburghe’, ‘Farenburg’, ‘Farnborowe’ and then 'Farnborough' in the sixteenth century.
It was from then onwards that things began to change for the town, leaving its former isolated village feel. Developments in surrounding locations and London essentially forced Farnborough into development. The arrival of the railway and town centre expansions exemplify this.
However, it is hard to overlook the importance of aviation history in Farnborough. After all, the town was home to the UK’s first-ever airfield and the country’s first powered flight. Since being the birthplace of British aviation, the airport itself has only continued to grow. It is now a modern-day major business flight hub.
The town also plays host to one of the most highly regarded aviation events worldwide, the Farnborough Airshow. Since opening to the public in 1948, the event has become more and more popular. Collected deals worth up to £150bn in aircraft produce orders have been calculated at recent events.
To be within proximity of the event, the town’s museum or any historic attractions in the town, be sure to book stays in fully furnished Farnborough accommodation.
As well as being a place where business people can live a corporate lifestyle comfortably, Farnborough also has plenty of tourist attractions. For one, those staying long term in Farnborough extended stay apartments could get a membership for Farnborough fitness Centre, just off the Sulzers Roundabout. Parks and greenspace also surround Farnborough. On the other side of the A331 is the Frimley Lodge Country Park, which sits next to the Basingstoke Canal, the Blackwater River and several beautiful lakes. Most of these spots are accompanied by nearby pubs and restaurants, making it easy to enjoy the natural countryside.
There are also places to learn more about Farnborough’s history and heritage. In fact, one of the more popular tourist sites is the Air Sciences Museum, just east of Alexandra Road in Farnborough. The historic aviation site sits next door to Farnborough Airport and is dedicated to displaying the town’s proud contributions to air and science research. Visitors to the museum (only open on weekends) will be able to see parts of historic aircraft, ‘landmark’ artefacts reflecting important achievements and displays of invaluable research.
Finally though, if you happen to be in the town for the Summer, be sure to attend the week-long, biannual Farnborough Air Show. The event really is an occasion, demonstrating the flights civilian and military aircraft to a typical crowd of around 200,000 people. Ultimately, people from across the country travel to see this one of a kind event. Those who book stays in Farnborough short term accommodation can enjoy the four-day airshow from the comfort of their own ‘home away from home’ living areas.
All in all, Farnborough may be a relatively small town, but its recognition as a place for business as well as tourism is significant.
Offering a portfolio of business and corporate services, Farnborough Airport is considered a major UK business jet hub. Its dedication to exclusively serve business aviation is favourable for corporates. What's more, it is also ideally just a five-minute drive from the town centre and Farnborough temporary housing.
Otherwise, Farnborough could be reached from other nearby business aviation airports. There are Blackbushe and Fairoaks airports, as well as the closest major facility, London Heathrow (LHR). It is only around twenty-five miles northeast of the town.
Operating as the main railway facility in the town, Farnborough Main station sits along the South Western Main Line. The station is often actually named Farnborough Main. This is to ensure it is distinguished from the other station in the town, Farnborough North. This station operates train services along the North Downs Line.
Running services across a variety of routes, both stations sit between Brookwood, Woking, Clapham Junction, Fleet, Basingstoke, Blackwater and North Camp stations.
The closest underground facilities to Farnborough are based at London Heathrow Airport terminals and Uxbridge. Both are around thirty miles northeast of the town.
There are at least eighteen bus routes which pass through the town of Farnborough, operated mainly by bus service company Stagecoach.
As well as enabling internal travel throughout Farnborough (to around thirty different bus stops in the town), passengers on buses in the area can also travel externally to locations such as Aldershot, Camberley, Chobham, Deepcut, Eversley, Fleet, Frimley and Wrecclesham.
Those visiting town can choose Farnborough furnished housing, offering easy access to bus routes and services which suit them.
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