Aldershot is referred to as the ‘Home of the British Army’ and is located in North Hampshire. It is just a 10 minute drive from both the M3 and the A3 providing easy access to the M25, Central London, the South Coast and the West Country. It is close to traditional towns such as Farnborough and Fleet and the market town of Farnham. Larger towns such as Guildford, Woking, Basingstoke and Reading all have excellent shopping centres, restaurants and leisure facilities and are easily accessed by road and rail. Aldershot train station has direct trains to London, Guildford and Woking and you can get a connecting service to many major destinations in the South and throughout the rail network. Regular bus services operate throughout Aldershot and there is a set down and pick up coach service to London at Aldershot bus station.
There is a wide range of local services and facilities in Aldershot Garrison. These include a leisure centre, a bowling alley, two theatres, a golf club and the Wellington Shopping Centre and all are close to service families’ accommodation areas. There are two Community Centres in Aldershot and one in Church Crookham and all offer many activities for the local community including mother and toddler groups and both adult and children's clubs and activities.
There is an excellent range of sporting facilities available in the Garrison. The Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre has an Olympic sized swimming pool, squash courts and a fully equipped fitness studio. Other facilities in the Garrison include the St Omer Barracks Physical and Recreation Training Centre (P&RTC), the Aldershot Army Golf Club, the Hawley Lake Sailing Training Centre and the Aldershot Garrison Angling Club. Canada House houses a Combat Centre which has judo, boxing and martial art facilities as well as the Regional Rehabilitation Unit.
There are many other facilities available in Aldershot Garrison and these include the Aldershot Centre for Health which is the largest facility of its type in the South of England. Schools are plentiful for choice and adult educational facilities are located in Wellington House and the Connaught Community Centre. In addition to community libraries in the local area, there is the Prince Consort Library on Knollys Road which is of National significance. The Garrison has three Churches and additional places of worship for Nepalese and Fijian personnel.