Hudswell lies just south of the River Swale and the A6108, which runs through nearby Richmond.

It takes the form of a 'Roadside Village', described as "...merely a string of buildings – houses, shops, inns and others – standing more or less indiscriminately."

[3] The civil parish of Hudswell contains the hamlet of Brokes, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south.

In 1086 the Tenant-in-chief for the village, and for the wider administrational district was Count Alan of Brittany, and the Lord; Enisant Musard.

[8] "Hudswell, a township and chapelry in Catterick parish, N. R. Yorkshire; on the river Swale, 2½ miles WSW of Richmond r. station.

[16] Hudswell is served by two bus routes, the number 32; circulating between Hudswell, Richmond, Catterick Garrison and nearby villages of Scotton, Harrogate, Tunstall and Brompton-on-Swale, and the 478R school bus service.

[18] Today the nearest railway station to Hudswell is 16 miles (26 km) away in Darlington.

[19] After the closure of the original George & Dragon in August 2008, the Hudswell Community Pub Limited (HCP Ltd) successfully led a campaign to purchase the property and reopen it as a community owned public house.

On 12 June 2010, after nearly two years of closure and three months of renovations, the George & Dragon was officially reopened by foreign secretary and Richmond MP William Hague who is also a member of the HCP Ltd.[21] The George & Dragon has approximately an acre of gardens, with views of the Swale valley, serving ales from local suppliers.

As well as acting as a meeting place and venue for village events, the George & Dragon hosts the village library, with books provided by the county council library service, free internet and allotments for the community.

[22] In May 2012, The Guardian's Northern Editor, Martin Wainwright voted The George & Dragon in the Top 10 pubs in North Yorkshire[23] and in March 2017, CAMRA announced that The George & Dragon had won its 2016 National Pub of the Year competition.