A nucleated village, New Buckenham has a medieval grid plan encompassing a green that originally served as the market place.

In general, the land slopes slightly downhill towards the south and the centre of the village lies at an elevation of around 46 metres (151 ft) above sea level.

[6] A small watercourse (or "beck" in Norfolk dialect) runs across the Common and then along the southern edge of the village.

[10] However, it never grew into a larger settlement, and by the mid-19th century markets were no longer held although a small number of annual fairs were.

[11] The village has largely retained its original layout for which, according to the Pevsner for Norfolk, ‘it deserves to be better known’,[12] and there has been little development beyond its medieval boundaries.

[13] In Norfolk from the Air I,[14] New Buckenham is described as ‘a rare example of a Norman planned town that has not significantly expanded outside or shrunk within its original boundaries’.

It was further modified by building over the southern part of the market place which had occurred by 1529: its original limit is marked by Boosey's Walk.

There remains a wealth of half-timbered housing hidden behind 18th and 19th century brick frontages, and forty buildings in the village are Grade II listed.

New Buckenham's calendar includes a traditional fete held on the August Bank Holiday, and a community gathering called the "Hair of the Dog Walk" which takes place on New Year's Day.