It falls within the unitary authority of North Somerset and is one of a number of large villages just outside the boundary of city of Bristol urban area.

The village is built on the south-facing slopes of a valley running from east to west, and on the old road from Bristol to Weston-super-Mare.

The Domesday Book records it as Estune (the place by the ash tree) and, afterwards, it was granted to Bishop Geoffrey of Coutances.

[2] The manor house dates to 1265 and, in the late 15th century shares in the estate were purchased by Richard Amerike (one of the possible sources of the name America).

A deserted medieval farmstead and part of a Romano-British field system 400 metres (1,300 ft) north of Fenswood Farm has been identified including three enclosures which are thought to be the foundations of buildings, each surrounded by rubble banks.

The Ashton Court estate provided occupations such as gamekeepers and foresters, and there have been several mills in the parish including a snuff-mill on the Land Yeo at Gatcombe in 1769, however the current building dates from the early 19th century.

By the early 19th century rented out for snuff grinding and in the 1830s a steam engine was installed to power a flour and corn mill.

Later it was owned by an iron founder, who made edge tools and other farm implements and installed cast-iron water wheels.

There are two other historic pubs in the village, The Bird in Hand and The Miners Rest which are very popular with visitors from Bristol—a horse-drawn bus ran from Redcliffe Street, Bristol to the Bird-in-Hand several times a week in the late 19th century.

The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, such as the village hall or community centre, playing fields and playgrounds, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning.

The parish falls within the unitary authority of North Somerset which was created in 1996, as established by the Local Government Act 1992.

Shane Warne, who was named as one of the five cricketers of the 20th century, played a few games for Long Ashton on tour in Cornwall in the early 1980s.

It was originally owned by the Smyth family until they were forced to donate it to Bristol City Council in lieu of inheritance tax.

The route, way marked with yellow Village Circular Walk discs, takes in views of the valley, passing through local farms and woodland.

Land next to the recreation ground has been turned into a public space in memory of Andrée Peel (13 February 1905 – 5 March 2010).