It is in the south of the county, immediately north of Slough (with which it is contiguous), and around 22 miles west of Charing Cross, Central London.

The affix or suffix 'Royal' was given to the village in the late 11th century by the king, who gave the lord of the manor of Farnham, Bertram de Verdun, the Grand Serjeanty on the condition of providing a glove and putting it on the king's right hand at the coronation, and supporting his right arm, while the Royal sceptre was in his hand (see also Manor of Worksop).

At a focal point of the developed village hub, on the site of two mini-roundabouts, stood the old water pump, removed in the 1970s to a museum.

The industry of employment of residents was 15.4% retail, 13% manufacturing, 4.5% construction, 24.8% real estate, 8.4% health and social work, 7.6% education, 8% transport and communications, 2.9% public administration, 3.7% hotels and restaurants, 3.9% finance, 0.7% agriculture and 7.1% other.

Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in real estate, transport and communications.