The civil parish of Helpston covers an area of 1,860 acres (750 ha) and had an estimated population in 2011 of 981.

[1] The parish church is dedicated to St Botolph; the chancel window was created by Francis Skeat and depicts "Christ in Majesty".

[2][3] The poet John Clare was born in Helpston in 1793 and is buried in the churchyard of St Botolph's.

[4] The John Clare Cottage, at 12 Woodgate, has been restored using traditional building methods and is open to the public.

In 2013 the John Clare Trust received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help preserve the building and provide educational activities for youngsters visiting the cottage.