Shepway is situated on the Channel coast with Folkestone approximately 10 miles from Dover 18 miles from Canterbury and 16 miles from Ashford. It occupies a key position as a gateway to Europe with the Channel Tunnel and proposed high speed Rail Link just outside Cheriton and London only 75 miles away via the M20. It also has rail links across Kent and to London and air travel connections at Lydd Airport less than 30 minutes travel from Folkestone.

Shepway District was formed on April 1st 1974 as a merger of the boroughs of Folkestone, Hythe, Lydd, New Romney, Romney Marsh Rural District and Elham Rural District. It is named after the historical lathe of Shepway, which was the Saxon name for this part of south east Kent, which roughly corresponds with the modern District of Shepway as we now know it.

Shepway is divided into 12 main wards , of these Folkestone and Hythe are further subdivided. It comprises over 40 towns, villages, suburbs and Parishes.

As well as Shepway District Council. Folkestone, Hythe, New Romney, and Lydd have town councils and many others have Parish councils.