The village is hilly, sloping down Kent Downs AONB to the south and east, with its northern point at an elevation of 30 m and a southern ancient earthwork on the summit of Perry Wood at 145 m.[2] Surrounding are its hamlets of Hogben's Hill, west, Gushmere, north, Neames Forstal by the station to the northeast, Shepherds Hill and Perrywood, south.

A pumping station is sited at the northernmost point which is on Brenley Lane which runs the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to Junction 7 of the M2.

There is a peak view point over the Canterbury and the countryside to Sandwich Bay in the woodlands at The Mount in Perry Wood[3] which has an adjoining picnic area and walks.

[5] The church of St Mary has the highest architectural, Grade I, listing and stands surrounded by a cluster of historic houses of varying date (averaging 17th century) just off the slightly more densely populated heart of the village.

Each stained glass lancet window is intricately decorated, with the arms of Gilbert de Clare and others dating the earliest to between 1299–1307 and the transepts of the church itself are approximately 1190 with the rest of the large structure 13th, 15th and 19th century.