Peterston-Super-Ely sits just outside Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. It lies on the banks of the river Ely, which rises in the mountains south of Tonypandy, and enters the sea at Cardiff Bay.

Several walks / rights of way radiate out from Peterston-Super-Ely and the Valeways Millennium Heritage Trail wends its way through the village en-route from Llanharry and Pendoylas to St Brides Super Ely and St Fagans. Walkers may find refreshment at the Sportsmans Arms on the edge of the village or at the Three Horse Shoes Pub and restaurant in the village centre.

Soap opera fans might be interested to note that Peterston-super-Ely is the primary outdoor filming location for the Welsh-language soap opera, Pobol y Cwm, and the church in the village was used as an indoor and outdoor filming location for the third season of the BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey.

The church is dedicated to St Peter and dates back to medieval times, although the present building dates back to the early 15th century. The church of St Peters, Peterston-Super-Ely is an unusual building as the porch and priest's door is situated in the South wall. The battlemented tower contains six bells, which date back to 1717. In 1922 a lychgate was added in the churchyard in memory of the parishioners who were killed in the First World War.

An old manor-house once stood in the village; it is believed that Owain Glyndwr, early in the 15th century, beheaded the man who lived here and destroyed the house.