The main village is situated just west of both the old and new routes of the A1 (the Great North Road) and A1(M).  Sawtry is halfway between Huntingdon and Peterborough at the westernmost edge of the fens originally the three parishes of All Saints, St. Andrews and St. Judith.  The village itself, an extensive one, appears mostly quite modern including the present church, which was built in 1880.  The site of a Romano-British settlement lies under the A1 and the site of a Cisterian Monastery (demolished in King Henry's time) is clearly visible.  There is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument known as Sawtry Moat and Shrunken Medieval Village which runs alongside the new motorway. 

Extensive new housing areas have been built and Sawtry has good residential amenities.  The village has its own day nursery, infant, junior and secondary schools.  The sports centre and swimming pool is situated on the Community College campus.  The Old School Hall houses the Parish Clerk’s office which is open from 9.30am to 1.00pm Monday to Friday.  The Old School Hall was originally a village school built in 1875 and is now owned by the Parish Council along with the former headmaster’s house.  These two buildings are available for hire by contacting the parish clerk.  There are three children's play areas, extensive green recreational areas used for football, cricket and other pastimes and two woods, Aversley and Archers owned and managed by the Woodland Trust.  Sawtry has a flourishing Women's Institute, bowls club and Winemakers Society.  There is also a variety of shops, a Sawtry Ex-Service and Workingmen’s Social Club and two pubs in the village, Greystones and The Bell.