[1] It is bounded to the north by the River Len and Bearsted, and to the south by Otham, and is 2 miles (3 km) from Maidstone, the county town of Kent.
[2][3] The village is to the east of the Maidstone urban area, with Mote Park forming the western boundary.
To the south of Downswood lies St Nicolas's Church which has its origins in the 12th century and to the east stands The Orchard Spot, a local public house, that was originally established in the 14th century as a farm house for local orchards.
[3] Between 1940 and 1970 the area was quarried for ragstone which is still evident from outcrops that appear in Spot Lane Nature Reserve and The Len Valley Walk.
The easternmost ragstone quarry exhibits a series of cambered blocks, tilted down slope and intervening loess filled gulls.