[2] Spofforth grew as a village at the time that Knaresborough was the important town in the area, with Harrogate and Wetherby being less so.

Eighteenth century Knaresborough road builder Blind Jack Metcalf spent the latter years of his life in the village and is buried in the church yard.

There was criticism at the time of the "most ugly and objectionable pew" which occupied the south side of the church, and the fact that "the seats on the north are, consequently, incorrectly arranged".

The village is served by two bus routes:[7] After the closure of Spofforth railway station in 1964, the nearest National Rail stations are now at Harrogate and Knaresborough; Northern Trains operates regular services between Leeds and York.

[8] The former railway trackbed now forms part of the Harland Way shared-use path, which runs as far as Thorp Arch.