Trains to Farnborough

Built in 1848, Farnborough station is now more a commuter's paradise, with trains running to London Waterloo, Woking and Southampton at least twice every hour. A real gem lies a stone's throw from the station - hidden amongst woodland, St Michael's Abbey houses a community of Benedictine Monks and also contains the tombs of Napoleon III and his wife, Empress Eugenie. The station was revamped in 2011, with lifts to the platforms and a transport interchange of taxi rank, bus stops and bike shelter added. Unlike many other inland British towns, however, historically Farnborough's transport allegiance resides with air travel rather than rail. Farnborough Aerodrome was at the forefront of aviation advances throughout the 20th century - pioneering the first powered flight in Britain in 1908 - and the biennial Farnborough International Airshow is a worldwide attraction, putting this quaint Hampshire town well and truly on the global map.