[1][2] It is situated on top of the narrow, high peninsula formed by a sharp bend in the River Wear.

From the north and east Palace Green is accessed by two cobbled streets called Owengate (formerly Queen's Street) and Dun Cow Lane, the latter taking its name from a local legend involving a milkmaid and her cow.

From the west a passageway, 'Windy Gap', leads down to the banks of the River Wear between two buildings which are now part of the university Music School.

Early in the twentieth century one of the buildings had been the home of the novelist J. Meade Falkner, author of Moonfleet.

[6] It was also the site of a student encampment for 43 days in May and June 2024 as part of the global pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses that year.