The area to the north is mainly countryside, including the Eccup Reservoir, two golf courses, and the Harewood Estate.

The name Alwoodley is thought to derive from Old English Æthelwald-lēah, meaning 'the woodland clearing (lēah), at Æthelwald's farm'.

[6] The civil parish boundaries are from Nursery Lane on the south, following the Meanwood Valley Trail on the west, the A61 Harrogate Road on the east.

[7] Note that Alwoodley Gates is an area to the east of the A61 inside the Harewood civil parish.

The Electoral Ward[8] includes the above area, but also Alwoodley Gates to the east and southwards part of Moortown as far as the Leeds Outer Ring Road.

[10] The parish boundaries extend from King Lane in the West to the A58 Wetherby Road to the East, thus including Shadwell.

In the northeast corner (junction bounded by Alwoodley Lane on the north and Harrogate Road on the east) is the Sandmoor Estate.

In the southeast corner (bounded by Nursery Lane on the south and Harrogate Road on the east) is the Primley Park area.