It is one of several garden cities of South Africa, the first being Pinelands in the southern suburbs.

Edgemead is mainly residential, and as the name 'garden city' suggests, is noted for its trees, gardens and generally pleasant environment.

Other 'garden cities' that have followed are Pinehurst near Durbanville on the northwestern outskirts of the Cape Metropole, still under construction but already occupied, and Sunningdale near Milnerton.

And Edgemead Goodwood Peninsula Park Villa, an Association football club located in Edgemead that plays in the Premier Division of the Tygerberg Cape Town FA.

The neighbourhood is also the location of the Goodwood Centre of Excellence, a medium security prison run by the South African Department of Correctional Services.