The parish of Knapton lies in northeastern Norfolk quite close to Norfolk's North Sea coast, one a number of small parishes which cluster between North Walsham and the sea. Knapton is a compact village built on a sharp bend in the B1145 road which heads from North Walsham to the seaside spot of Mundesley. Knapton rather hides away on a back lane which parallels the larger road. With classic Norfolk simplicity the primary location of most housing is on "The Street". The soils are rather light and sandy around Knapton but that doesn't prevent the major occupation being arable farming, like much of Norfolk cereals, oil seed and beet predominate in the large open fields. Knapton sits on a little rise at 30 metres above the sea enabling views towards the coast just 2 miles away to the northeast.

St Peter & St Paul's church sits on the corner of The Street and Pond Lane, the notional centre of Knapton. The exterior of the church shows much that is typical of a Norfolk church, standard nave, chancel and western tower design and most in the Perpendicular style of architecture giving a 14th & 15th century date. The most striking feature of the church is, however, its extraordinary double-hammerbeam roof for the nave with 160 wingspread angels it is rightly described by Pevsner as "one of the finest in Norfolk". The church sits in its corner site and slightly elevated above road level, a flint wall with brick topping protects the graveyard and a flight of steps leading to a wooden gate grants access.