Northern parts of the borough, including Banstead, lie inside the M25 motorway which encircles London.

The neighbouring districts are Tandridge, Crawley, Mole Valley, Epsom and Ewell, Sutton and Croydon, the latter two being London boroughs.

[4] The district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.

County-level services are provided by Surrey County Council, which is also based in Reigate, having its headquarters at Woodhatch Place.

[9] In the south of the borough are two civil parishes at Horley and Salfords and Sidlow, which form a third tier of local government for their areas.

The leaders since 2003 have been: Following the 2024 election and a subsequent change of allegiance later in May 2024, the composition of the council was:[23] The two residents' associations and the independent councillor sit together as a group.

[10] Settlements and suburbs in the borough include:[30] The economy is diverse, with a strong local service sector, city workers as most locations are easily within the London Commuter Belt, trades, a developed public/education sector and several farms concentrated towards cereal and root vegetable agriculture.

Several employers with an international renown are found in force in and around the two most commercial towns centres of Reigate and Redhill: including Willis Towers Watson, Just, Kimberly Clark, Travelers Group (insurance), AXA Insurance breakdown, Black & Veatch and Esure.

A choice of hotels exists in and around Horley including its adjacent neighbourhood, sometimes named independently by businesses and residents, Hookwood, on the east and north outskirts of London Gatwick Airport respectively.

Two traditional, mostly up to county distance alternatives inspired the names of the north–south/east-west motorway: the low A25 between Godstone/Guildford and the A23, the latter being used for the London to Brighton events.

The borough is twinned with: The coat of arms is a combination of the elements of the Reigate shield, the device of Banstead and symbols of the parishes of Horley and Salfords and Sidlow.

[34] The top of the shield has a black background as in the original Reigate arms but on which is a gold woolpack between two sprigs of oak.

[34] The motto "Never Wonne ne never shall" is taken from an ancient couplet and refers to the defeat of the Danes by King Alfred in a battle in the Vale of Holmesdale in the 9th century, now remembered in the name Battlebridge.