Stoke-by-Clare is a traditional Suffolk village nestling in the valley of the River Stour on the Suffolk/Essex border. It is located on the A1092, two miles west of Clare. The picturesque Stour Valley Path from the source of the River Stour near Newmarket to its estuary at Cattawade passes through the centre of the village.

With a population of 460, Stoke-by-Clare has a church, village hall, pub, tennis club, bowls club and football team. It also has a community shop and post office which is run by volunteers.

Although the village primary school closed in 1986, the village is home to the Stoke College independent school which provides day and boarding education for pupils up to the age of sixteen from a wide area and a nursery for pre-school aged children.