Farnborough is part suburban (mainly mid and late 20th century) and part rural. Its Victorian and older buildings are centred on the High Street.

The largest private house, though it was not used as such for long, is Bassetts. It was built by 1914 by the Lubbock family, prominent landowners and politicians. It was a private residence until 1933, when it briefly became the home to a private school.

In 1939 it became a nurses' home to Farnborough Hospital and from 1994 has been a centre for severley disabled children.