It lies at the extreme southwestern tip of Salisbury Plain, close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset.

The A303 trunk road passed through Mere until a bypass was built on the northern edge of the town in 1976.

Local industry and commerce includes a trout farm and smokery, Yapp's wine merchants, Charles Farris candlemakers, the Hillbrush brushmaking company, and large wholesale plant nurseries.

Evidence of prehistoric activity in the area is provided by bowl barrows, including four on Long Hill, overlooking the town.

It is in the area of Wiltshire Council unitary authority, which performs most significant local government functions.

The ward starts in the east at West Knoyle, stretches through Mere, continues to Zeals and finishes in the northwest at Kilmington.

[7] The Anglican church of St Michael the Archangel is from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, and contains remnants from an earlier building.

Ponting, on a rural site at White Hill, 1+1⁄4 miles (2 kilometres) southeast of the town.

[20] St Mary's Roman Catholic church was built in 1946 after the community purchased a surplus Nissen hut.

[34] The town is served by the local newspapers, Warminster Journal and Wiltshire Times.

The nearest railway station is in neighbouring Gillingham, Dorset, on the Exeter to Waterloo line.