Cold Ash is a largish village in the south Berkshire Downs which mainly spreads along Cold Ash Hill which runs approximately north - south through the village. The other route through the village being The Ridge.

Ashmore Green is a large hamlet about half a mile (as the crow flies) to the west of Cold Ash and the main route through the hamlet is Ashmore Green Road, also running north - south.

Whilst Cold Ash has existed by name since the 16th century and Ashmore Green since Saxon times there is little historic visual evidence of of either the village or the hamlet. Few of the houses were built before 1800 and about 75% of them are post-1940.

The parish church, St. Mark's, is in Cold Ash. It is a brick Gothic Revival building built in 1864–65.

Cold Ash Centre is an adult retreat and conference centre adjacent to St. Gabriel's Convent. It was originally established as an orphanage/ boarding school for poor Roman Catholic girls by Franciscan missionaries. Also adjacent to the convent is St. Finian's Catholic Primary School.

Downe House School is to the north of Cold Ash. It is a selective independent girls' day and boarding school.

Thirtover Place is to the north of Ashmore Green. It is a residential and activity centre for Girlguiding. It has a fully equipped holiday house to accommodate 30 people, three camp sites, a tented village, wooden cabin, toilet/shower facilities plus camp stores and shop.

Cold Ash is about 1 mile north of Thatcham and 2.5 miles north-east of Newbury.