It is located at about 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level in the North Pennines, the River South Tyne, and shares the title of 'highest market town in England', with Buxton, Derbyshire.

Despite its relative isolation, the town has road connections to the Tyne Gap to the north, Weardale and Teesdale to the south-east, and Penrith to the south-west.

Alston was historically a centre for mining, with lead, zinc, iron, copper, and coal found in the vicinity.

Alston lies within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, more than 16.3 miles (26.2 km) by road from the nearest town, Haltwhistle, and is surrounded by moorland.

The area is rich in minerals, in particular lead deposits, and the landscape has been heavily influenced by the effects of varying methods of mining over the centuries.

The earliest evidence of population in the area comes from pottery fragments, a gold basket-earring and flint tools found in one of two barrows located 2 miles (3.2 km) NNW of Alston at Kirkhaugh.

The fort lies on the Maiden Way Roman road which runs north from Kirkby Thore (Bravoniacum) to Carvoran (Magnae) on Hadrian's Wall.

Whitley Castle would have guarded this central supply route to Hadrian's Wall, and may also have helped protect lead and silver deposits in the upper reaches of the South Tyne valley.

[6] In the 10th century, Alston Moor was part of the Liberty of Tynedale, which was an estate of the Scottish Kings within England, a situation that resulted in many years of confusion over the sovereignty of the area.

This was confirmed in a hearing during 1279 that concluded that the miners of the area were distinct from the local population, thus paying their dues to the English crown instead of to Scotland.

In 1296 John de Balliol, the king of Scotland, invaded the North of England; as a result Edward I moved to reclaim the Scottish estates and Tynedale, which included Alston Moor, was taken under direct control of the English crown where it remains.

[8] The nearby Roman fort of Whitley Castle (Epiacum) may in part have been sited to control and protect the lead mines there.

There are four pubs in Alston, and the town also has a number of cafés, a food take-away, a specialist engraving company, two hotels, numerous B&Bs, two petrol stations, a gym, an estate agent and a hairdressers.

[13] Steam trains on the narrow-gauge South Tynedale Railway run from April to October, offering a short journey through pleasant scenery.

The community has its own website which is a result of the Cybermoor Project (cybermoor.org), which has brought the Internet to almost every home on Alston Moor, and broadband to many.

The Gothic Revival style building, which was commissioned by the local metallurgist and businessman Hugh Lee Pattinson, was completed in 1858.

The grade II listed High Mill has been through a number of alterations through the ages, but the original Smeaton design is still easily recognisable.

The market cross, which acts as a focal point in the centre of town, was constructed in 1981 to replace one which was demolished by a wagon in January 1980.

A unique item in the church is a clock which belonged to James Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater, who was beheaded for treason.

Four of the bells were installed in memory of Andrew Graham Stavert Steele, churchwarden from 1943 until his murder in the Midland Bank on 13 September 1949.

Clarghyll Hall, north of Alston, is a Grade II* listed fortified manor house dating back to the 16th century.

It was intended to be 9 feet square but in the softer terrain was extended to 9'×16', dead level for 3+3⁄4 miles (6.0 km) to allow boat use, with a rise of 35 fathoms (210 ft (64 m) at Lovelady Shield and then driven into the Nenthead ground.

[19] Local TV coverage is provided by BBC North East and Cumbria and ITV Tyne Tees.

[24][25] The fictional town of Royston Vasey, the setting of the TV comedy series The League of Gentlemen, is based on Alston.

Part of the route, between Alston and Slaggyford, five miles in length, is now operated as the narrow gauge South Tynedale Railway.

Wright Brothers Coaches operates an 82 miles (132 km) bus route linking Newcastle with Keswick via Hexham, Haydon Bridge, Alston and Penrith from July to September each year.

There are some ski-tows on the northwest slopes of Burnhope Seat, a hill situated 4 miles (6.4 km) away from Alston.