Much of the area of the district belongs to the drainage basin of the Luga River, a tributary of the Gulf of Finland.

Minor areas in the northwest in the district belong to the basin of the Strelka River, also a tributary of the Gulf of Finland.

In the south of the district, the Mshinskoye Boloto Zakaznik was created to protect the swamp landscape with the pine-tree forest.

In 1617, according to the Treaty of Stolbovo, the area was transferred to Sweden, and in the 1700s, during the Great Northern War, it was conquered back by Russia.

It frequently was a residence of Russian Tsars, for instance, Pavel I grew up in Gatchina, and Alexander III lived almost exclusively there.

[10] On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished and Trotsky District, with the administrative center in the town of Trotsk, was established.

Between September 1941 and January 1944 the area of Krasnogvardeysky District was occupied by German troops.

[12] On August 1, 1927, Oredezhsky District, with the administrative center in the settlement of Oredezh, was established as well.

Another railroad in the northern part of the district encircles Saint Petersburg from the south.

The M20 highway connecting Saint Petersburg and Pskov, crosses the district from north to south.

[16] The district contains 221 cultural heritage monuments of federal significance (120 of them in the town of Gatchina) and additionally 447 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance (172 of them in the town of Gatchina).

Suyda was the Gannibal family estate and is related with the biography of Alexander Pushkin, a poet and influential figure in the creation of the modern Russian language, whereas Bolshiye Taytsy belonged to the Demidov family.

The Gatchina ensembles were designated as a part of the World Heritage site Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.

It was opened to public in 1918, strongly damaged during World War II, then closed for restoration, and only reopened in 1976.

[19] Another museum was open in the village of Vyra, where Station Master, the short story by Pushkin from The Belkin Tales, takes place.