The parish, with a population of 715,[1] is situated within the unitary authority of North Somerset, on the edge of Nailsea Moor on the A370 road 5 miles (8.0 km) south west of Bristol city centre.

The village has a primary school, one pub named The Jubilee Inn, a church dating back to Norman times and is the home of Backwell Flax Bourton Cricket Club.

[6] An MoD fuel depot, part of the Government Pipelines and Storage System with its own railway sidings, is just off the main line behind the former station.

[7] It was constructed between 1954 and 57 by Esso as part of the North Somerset Complex of sites and pipelines for the storage of white oil products.

The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, such as the village hall or community centre, playing fields and playgrounds, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning.

The parish falls within the unitary authority of North Somerset which was created in 1996, as established by the Local Government Act 1992.

[10] The parish is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom as part of the North Somerset constituency.

There are also regular bus links available from Farleigh Green (to Weston-super-Mare), and top of station road (to Bristol) The Anglican parish church of St. Michael and All Angels has 12th-century origins and has been designated as a Grade II* listed building.