Padstow is a mostly residential suburb bounded on the north by Bankstown and on the east by Salt Pan Creek, which is a stream feeding into the Georges River.

The M5 South Western Motorway traverses the northern end of the suburb, which is also the location of a number of light industrial facilities.

The railway station opened on 21 December 1931, which encouraged development in the area, especially after World War II.

Padstow railway station is on the Sydney Trains Airport & South Line, west of Riverwood and east of Revesby.

All are K-6, with students then moving to high-schools in the nearby suburbs of Revesby, Picnic Point, East Hills or Milperra.

Padstow North Public School is located on Watson Road, with an access from Halcyon Avenue.

The presbytery for the church is also on Harvey Ave. Caroline Chisholm is a special needs school for students aged 4–18 requiring moderate to high support.

The suburb is home to two junior football (soccer) clubs: Padstow United, whose home ground is Playford Park at the intersection of Gibson, Cahors, Watson and Sphinx Roads, and the Padstow Hornets, who play at Stuart Street Reserve on Stuart Street.

The Padstow Pirates and South Bankstown Soccer clubs used Playford Park as their home ground.