Brandesburton lies on land sloping gently southwards from the Church, approximately seven miles from the coast, eight miles from Beverley and fourteen miles from Hull. Founded on boulder clay, there are several large gravel pits around the village, most now disused.

Like nearly all Holderness settlements, it was in agriculture that most of the inhabitants of the village would have worked, and with the exception of the gravel pits, it was not until fairly recent times and the advent of the motor car that greater mobility has enabled Brandesburton to become a popular residential location with easy access to Bridlington, Hornsea, Hull and Beverley.

The closure of Catfoss Aerodrome which was in use before, during and after the second world war has led to the redevelopment of part of the complex for local industry and Brandesburton is the nearest residential location.