Compton is a large village in the heart of the eastern Berkshire Downs, but if you are hoping to see chocolate-box thatched cottages or the like in the village centre you would be disappointed. The centre is dominated by the Compton Swan Hotel and there is a thriving village store and a barbershop but not a lot more. Further along the High Street in the direction of East Ilsley although there is plenty of green the appearance appears to be more urban than rural and it is dominated by the entrance to the former Pirbright Institute.

Near the centre of the village a large site currently being redeveloped was formerly home to The Pirbright Institute, a research institute dedicated to the study of infectious diseases of farm animals. The Pirbright Institute was formerly known as the Institute for Animal Health.

On the south side of the village there are housing estates and elsewhere in the village there are small business parks and other commercial premises. The disused line of the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway passes through the village and Compton station closed in 1962. Beyond the disused railway bridge on the edge of the village is the parish church, the Church of St. Mary and St. Nicholas which was originally built in the 13th century.

Several roads on the north side lead up to the downs and turn into byways on leaving the village. To the south of the village there is historic field system and also a circular encampment known as Perborough Castle. Elsewhere there are barrows and the remains of Roman buildings have been found. The area around the church was originally a separate village known as Compton Magna (Great Compton) however now there are few houses there and the remains of the medieval village there can be made out. West Compton, the present village, was known as Compton Parva or Little Compton. An important house in the present village is Roden House which dates back to 1664.

Like other Downs villages Compton is home to racing stables.

Compton is about 6 miles west of Streatley.