Characteristics are gentle rolling slopes rising to the low plateau of Cockayne Hatley Wood, from which there are panoramic views to the south-east of large geometric fields bounded by hedgerows.

The main parts of the present building are early Victorian with the East wing dating back to the reign of George I.

His daughter, Lady Diana Manners, lived there as a young girl before going on to earn the widespread reputation as the most beautiful young woman in England, and appeared in countless profiles, photographs and articles in newspapers and magazines including the front page of Time magazine in February 1926.

In 1929 Mr John Whitehead purchased the estate and established the largest apple orchard in England with over one million Cox's Orange Pippin trees.

Much of the property subsequently fell into disrepair before the Hall, together with some of the surrounding land, was sold back to private ownership.

Forming a boundary of the Hall with Home Farm is a grade II listed, late 18th century crinkle crankle wall; the only known example in Bedfordshire.

Cockayne Hatley is part of Potton ward for elections to the Central Bedfordshire unitary authority area.

It contains numerous high quality works of carved wood and stained glass, mostly from the abbey of Alne near Charleroi.

The entry for Cockayne Hatley in the 1839 edition of Pigot's Directory of Bedfordshire states: "the painted windows, the oaken screens and the stalls .

The churchyard contains a handsome monument over the grave of the poet W. E. Henley, who was a frequent visitor to Cockayne Hatley Hall.