Its scattered centre is set 0.5 miles (0.80 km) from the east border which is the River Thames, marking a short boundary with Berkshire.

The village has neither a railway station nor shops, but has the main road from Reading to Henley, both of which have grown substantially since World War II into centres of trade, education and general meeting places, such as by their increased number of cafés and restaurants.

[2] In the 11th century during the reign of King Edward the Confessor the manor of Harpsden belonged to Wigod, the thegn of Wallingford.

[5] The current windows in the nave and chancel were inserted in the 14th century, and a stone effigy of a knight dates from the same period.

In 1848–54 the Gothic Revival architect Benjamin Ferrey lengthened the nave and added the north aisle and tower.