It occupies part of the narrow central section of the Sussex coastal plain between smaller Sompting to the west, larger Shoreham-by-Sea to the east, and the parish of Coombes to the north.

The Lancing area is characterised by mid-rise coastal urban homes, farmland, and wildlife reserves of the northern chalk downs and River Adur estuary.

Immediately north of the developed area is Lancing Ring, a Nature Reserve in the South Downs National Park.

The Roman road from Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester) to Novus Portus (probably Portslade near Brighton) also ran through modern North Lancing (along the Street) down to the ford.

Nash's fruit growers produced grapes under huge glass cloches that could be rolled into place on a rail track.

Few buildings pre-dating 1820 are here, however one example is a central former farmhouse, which is now a home named Monks Farm Presbytery on North Road.

[8] The suggestion[9] that Lancing takes its name from the Wlencing or Wlenca, the son of the South Saxon king Ælle, has been discounted.

The local senior school, The Sir Robert Woodard Academy, is located just inside the contiguous village of Sompting.

Wilde's friend and lover, the poet Lord Alfred Douglas lived in nearby Brighton and died while staying at Monk's Farmhouse mentioned above.

Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion train at Mash Barn Lane, Lancing.

Lancing United FC are the second largest adult male football club in the local area and they play their matches at Croshaw Recreation Ground, Boundstone Lane.

Their home pavilion was a project led by two local hero’s Glenn Souter and Joby Pannell it is currently sponsored by Middleton Estates.

His autobiographical work, The High Path takes its name from the footpath that ran between Brighton road and the Widewater, and which was formerly a public right of way.

As a child, heavyweight boxer Sir Henry Cooper was evacuated from London to Lancing, along with identical twin brother George.

Many well-known figures attended Lancing College, including novelists Tom Sharpe and Evelyn Waugh, lyricist Tim Rice, singer Peter Pears and comedian Adam Buxton.