It lies about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the eastern edge of the Swindon built-up area, and is separated from the town by farmland and the village of Wanborough.

[1] The parish is crossed from east to west by the Icknield Way, an ancient trackway; the minor road from Wanborough to Bishopstone follows a similar route.

For much of the 20th century the road was designated as part of the B4507,[2] but this section – from the junction with the A419 in the west beyond Wanborough, to Ashbury in the east – is now unclassified.

[4] Hinton was anciently part of an estate held by the monks of the Old Minster, Winchester, which was centred nearby at Wanborough.

Extended both to the east and upward in the mid 19th century and early 20th, partly in brick, the house is called "prettily irregular" by Julian Orbach.

[2] St Swithun's church stands on the north side of the village and is called "small and attractive" by Julian Orbach.

Built in rubble with ashlar dressings, it has a modest 13th-century west tower with pyramidal roof, a short nave with aisles, and a small chancel.

[11] The benefice and parish were united with those of Bishopstone in 1940, with the parsonage house at Hinton to be sold;[12] this became effective on the next vacancy, which occurred in 1946.

[15] The Coombes, a steep-sided dry valley south-west of the village, was designated in 1989 as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its grasses and butterflies.