It is on the border of the North York Moors National Park, 3 miles (5 km) north-west of Pickering.

[7] To the rear of the brewery is the site of a Motte-and-bailey castle, known as the Round Hill, which is scheduled ancient monument.

[8] Just outside the village and to the north, is the site of a set of Roman practice marching camps at Cawthorne, excavated by universities in recent years.

[9] The camps are thought to be there as the village was on the route of a Roman Road between York and Dunsley Bay (Sandsend), on the Yorkshire Coast near to Whitby.

[13][14] St Gregory's Church, Cropton is a grade II listed structure, and whilst there is no accurate record of its building date, it was rebuilt in 1844.