Within its small grid of streets is the 13th-century church of Chipstead which has been, since time immemorial, its ecclesiastical parish.

Hooley is connected via paths and the A23 road to the larger community of Coulsdon, to the north, in the London Borough of Croydon.

Hooley until the early 20th century was a sparsely inhabited hamlet of Chipstead, both a largely permeable chalk upland area with little housing or industry.

A bridge from this early plateway survives at the junction of Brighton Road with Dean Lane.

Some communities on the very edge of Greater London were allowed the option of returning to their former counties.