The parish is high on the North Downs and centred 14 miles (23 km) south-southeast of central London and it adjoins the Greater London boundary; it is a predominantly rural/wooded parish aside from minority of land used for homes and gardens.

As part of the review 653 acres (2.64 km2) of Chelsham parish was transferred to Caterham and Warlingham Urban District.

However, some adjustments were made to the Greater London boundary and the civil parish of Chelsham and Farleigh was created on 1 April 1969.

The boundaries abut the built-up areas of New Addington and Selsdon to the north, Warlingham and Woldingham to the west, and Biggin Hill to the east.

Postal addresses in the parish fall under the CR6 postcode district of the Warlingham post town.

The proportion of households in the civil parish who owned their home outright compares to the regional average of 35.1%.