Location: Aldershot, Hampshire, UK
Date of Visit: 25th August 2025
Explored with TrevBish
The History of Aldershot Garrison
Often referred to as the “Home of the British Army”, Aldershot Garrison in Hampshire has been at the heart of British military life since the 1850s. Established as the country’s first permanent military training camp, the garrison rapidly expanded into a vast military town, complete with barracks, administrative buildings, churches, hospitals and training facilities.
Over the decades, countless regiments have passed through Aldershot. Troops destined for conflicts including the Boer War, both World Wars and more recent overseas operations all spent time within the garrison. As military requirements changed, however, many of the older buildings became surplus to requirements.
The Clayton Barracks and former Headquarters buildings are among the structures now facing an uncertain future. While some parts of the wider garrison remain very much active, these sections have been left standing empty, awaiting redevelopment or eventual demolition.
Exploring Aldershot Garrison
A Quick Dash to Hampshire
This one came together pretty quickly.
After receiving a tip-off that a fence had been cut, there wasn’t much deliberation involved. We did what any explorer would do and immediately headed over to see whether the information was still good.
Thankfully, it was.
Before long we were wandering through one of Britain’s most historic military sites.
First Impressions
For what was a relatively easy explore, the site was surprisingly busy.
Throughout the afternoon we bumped into several other groups of explorers making the most of the opportunity. That’s often the downside of a fresh access point; word travels fast.
Even so, the size of the site meant there was more than enough room for everyone to spread out and enjoy it.
The Barracks
The former barracks buildings were easily the standout part of the explore.
Years of abandonment have left them with an incredible atmosphere. The smell of damp hangs heavily throughout many of the buildings, but nowhere was it more noticeable than in the old dormitory blocks.
Opening some of the doors felt like walking into a wall of damp air.
The smell was almost knockout strong.
Yet despite this, the barracks are incredibly photogenic. Long corridors, peeling paint, abandoned rooms and signs of military life combine to create exactly the sort of environment urban explorers love.
The Headquarters Building
The former Headquarters building sits a few roads away from the main barracks and was equally intriguing.
Security vehicles were parked out front for much of our visit, but thankfully they didn’t appear particularly interested in moving anywhere.
That allowed plenty of time to explore and photograph the building at our own pace.
Like the barracks, the HQ retains a surprising amount of character despite its abandonment and serves as another reminder of just how much military history is hidden away within Aldershot.
Final Thoughts
Aldershot Garrison isn’t the most challenging explore you’ll ever undertake, and on this occasion it proved remarkably straightforward.
Sometimes, though, that’s no bad thing.
Spending an afternoon wandering through abandoned military buildings, photographing decaying dormitories and soaking up the atmosphere of one of Britain’s most historic garrison towns made for an enjoyable and surprisingly productive explore.
The fresh access won’t last forever, and neither will the buildings.
For now, however, the former Clayton Barracks and Headquarters remain an intriguing snapshot of Aldershot’s military past and a reminder that even in one of the country’s most active garrison towns, history occasionally gets left behind.
