The suburban district of Sketty (Welsh: Sgeti) is about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the Swansea city centre on Gower Road.

Directly on the cross, on the West Gower Road/Vivian Road junction, The Vivian pub, known as The Vivs, can be found.

In the immediate vicinity of Sketty Cross and the nearby Eversley Road, a variety of businesses can be found.

There are many shops which include a launderette, two convenience stores, several hairdressers/barbers, a pharmacist, a series of cafes, and (formerly) a sub post office (which closed in 2020).

One of the longest-running businesses in the area is Kristy's Bakery on Eversley Road, which was established in Sketty in the early 1940s, after moving from a bombed-out premises in the town centre.

St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church, on Llythrid Avenue, was built in 1961 to a design by F. R. Bates, Son & Price.

Hendrefoelan House, on Hendrefoilan Road, is a severe grey stone mansion in the Tudor style, built c. 1860 for Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn, MP for Swansea, by William B. Colling.

The most significant of the villas was Sketty Park House, built c. 1818 for the Morris family from the materials of Clasemont House (1775), Sir John Morris of Morriston’s seat evacuated by the family once the fumes from their copper works and the mine workings underground became unbearable.

Sketty Park House was itself demolished c. 1973, but a large Gothic belvedere from its ornamental grounds survives on a tree-covered mound in Saunders Way.

It is regarded as an up-market area, gaining its popularity because of the proximity of the sea, Singleton Park, the centre of Swansea, and the ease of access to Gower.

It has a miniature model railway (open to the public on bank-holidays in the summer), and before 2009 was home to The Bible College of Wales.

The edge of Derwen Fawr and Clyne Valley Country park is also the location of a civic amenity site, still open to the public.