It is directly east of Fishponds, south of Downend, west of Mangotsfield and north of Soundwell.

Staple is a rendering of the Anglo-Saxon/Old English word stapol or staypole which meant a post in the sense of an old boundary marker.

Expansion of the settlement was facilitated after 1888 when the Midland Railway opened Staple Hill railway station, giving direct access to Bristol and Gloucester, and also to Bath by the Mangotsfield and Bath branch line.

Page Park, which has been improved by volunteers from the community in recent years and celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2010.

The elections on 7 May 2015 returned two Labour Party Councillors, Shirley Potts and Ian Boulton.