The village is on the west side of the Peak District National Park, and the nearest town is Glossop, where many local amenities and services are based.

Padfield was part of the Manor of Glossop, and at the time of the Domesday survey belonged to William the Conqueror.

In 1537, King Henry VIII gave it to the Earl of Shrewsbury, whence it came to the Howard family (Dukes of Norfolk).

The village is within close proximity of the Greater Manchester county boundary and some transport services are provided with this in mind.

Though lying within Derbyshire and technically in the East Midlands, some of Padfield's transport facilities are managed by Transport for Greater Manchester, whilst Tameside and Glossop Acute Services, based in Tameside, Greater Manchester, is the NHS Trust that operates in the area.