Though thiers no obligation to call Farnborough, why miss out on a FIS from 25+ miles out? Especially when the service is closer to an RIS.
Upon rejoin (in my case) from the north, I usualy decend to c2,000' a few miles to the north & decend deadside when in the ATZ. The QNH - QFE swap will lose you 328' so that a good start.
The only precautions I can add are:
- Be wary of feature followers (M3)
- Odiham & Farnborough can be busy mid week
- Most traffic from the S will enter the cct downwind (some may join base)
- Can be a high amount of learner traffic on decent weekends - ATZ will often inform you if any 1st soloers
- Proximity to LHR airspace
As for the local flight, if you can't go house spotting due to its location, go south between Odiham & Farnborough - see the seaside!