The parish of Northwold lies in western Norfolk, one of a string of parishes that lie along the border between Norfolk's Fenland and the agricultural heartlands of the county. Northwold is a substantial village lying roughly midway between the market towns of Downham Market and Thetford. Northwold is located just off the busy A134 road which links Thetford with the port of King's Lynn. Northwold sits on a spur of land which lies between the River Wissey and its western neighbour the Little Ouse, a cutoff channel of the latter runs a couple of miles west of the parish. Northwold is largely built on the higher ground above the flood plain of the Wissey and is elongated from west to east along the main street which runs through the village.

St Andrew's church lies towards the eastern end of the village on the northern side of the village's main street. This church is a large edifice as befits the substantial nature of Northwold. The fabric is, of course, made up from differing architectural periods as stated by Pevsner. The oldest parts, from the 13th century, are the arcades which Pevsner describes as "beautiful". From the Decorated period is the western bay and in Perpendicular the splendid western tower. Also Decorated but heavily restored in Victorian times are the aisle windows and chancel, the nave he dates as late 15th century. The church is a large one indeed and splendid in its setting.