It is situated within the unitary authority of North Somerset, 9 miles (14 km) south west of Bristol and has a population of 902 (2011 census).

[1] The name Cleeve, first attested in 1243 as Clive, comes from the dative singular form of the Old English word clif ('cliff, bank, steep hill').

They are thought to have been a satellite community of nearby Cadbury Hill[4] Pits have been found at the site indicating the presence of round houses.

The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, such as the village hall or community centre, playing fields and playgrounds, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning.

Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also of interest to the council.

The parish falls within the unitary authority of North Somerset which was created in 1996, as established by the Local Government Act 1992.

[8] The parish is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom as part of the North Somerset constituency.

[10] A population of the nationally scarce plant stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) grows on scree slopes in the combe, near Cleeve Toot; it is native at this site.

The site has long been renowned for its botanical interest and records date back to the County Flora of 1893.

[13] Large areas of King's Wood were replanted during the 1960s with beech (Fagus sylvatica) and a variety of conifer species including Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Lawson's cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) .

CCTV from one of the nests can be viewed at Cleeve Nursery in spring while the birds are raising chicks.

[15] In the summer the Azores high pressure affects the south-west of England, however convective cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine.

In summer, a large proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms.

[17] The Lord Nelson Inn, opened 1936, was the most striking and conspicuous landmark building in the centre of Cleeve and well known to travellers on the A370.

The current building, designed by R. Edwards for Bristol George's & Co. Brewery, was a rare local example of an interwar 'reformed' or 'improved' public house still retaining original facade and grounds, complete with function room, skittle alley and rear garden.

Threatened with demolition by a supermarket and petrol station company, the pub and grounds were designated as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act (2011) by North Somerset Council in January 2017.

The school's original building dates from 1954[22] In 2009, 71% of GCSE students achieved at least five GCSEs above grade C including English and Maths.

[25] The parish Church of Holy Trinity was built in a Neo-Norman style in 1840 by George Phillips Manners and is designated as a Grade II* listed building.