Blackwood sits on the bank of the Sirhowy River in the South Wales Valleys. Founded as a model village in the early 19th century, its fortunes rose and fell with the coal industry. At the height of the Industrial Revolution, Blackwood gave birth to the Chartist Movement that demanded basic rights for workers.

Today a center for business, culture, and debate, Blackwood is known internationally for its links to the Manic Street Preachers. In recent years, the local community has been the subject of major feature documentaries Dark Horse, Mr Calzaghe and No Manifesto.

Blackwood has good transport links to nearby Cardiff and Newport and also offers high-quality accommodation such as the Maes Manor Hotel.