Most of its land use is mixed agricultural and aesthetic parkland at Osterley House (National Trust), charity-run, much of which is open to paying visitors.

Osterley is on elevated soil,[2] bisected by the A4 (Great West Road), and extends north of the M4 motorway.

In the 1930s, when the Great West Road was completed, ribbon development housing appeared, and this gradually expanded to form the comparatively small residential sections within Osterley.

Besides Osterley House and Park, the district is also known for one of the London residences of The Sultan of Brunei (Aviary Farm in Windmill Lane).

The training ground of Premier League club Brentford is located at 100 Jersey Road, Osterley.