The place sits west of where the A30 trunk road from London to Land's End crosses the River Blackwater.

[2] Trains from Blackwater station operate with a half-hourly service to Reading, and to Gatwick Airport or the shorter-stop Redhill both via Guildford.

Train passengers seeking to commute to Farnborough North for the Sixth Form College or for London-bound trains from nearby Farnborough Main are advised that these are on the few full-stopping-services only, as a semi-fast stopping pattern prevailingly operates for convenience of the whole line and regional transport.

There are two parades of shops which include food outlets, a pharmacy, a newsagent and a vinyl record store.

Blackwater is considered a commuter town to these neighbouring settlements, and also to the larger commercial centres of Farnborough, Aldershot, Bracknell, Wokingham and Basingstoke.

Darby Green has a shopping parade (including a Tesco Express) and a small youth centre.