Central ward has an estimated population of 23,100 and is one of the largest wards in Bristol. It covers the area between Park Street and Prince Street in the west, Temple Way and Bond Street in the east, Dove Street to the north and Cumberland Road to the south.  These districts are known as the City Centre, Redcliffe, Finzels Reach, Broadmead and Tyndalls Park. Central ward includes the University area around Tyndalls Park, the shopping centres of Cabot Circus and Broadmead, the green space of Castle Park, the new apartments around Bathurst Basin, and significant social housing provision in the tower blocks of Dove Street and Redcliffe. This makes Central ward both socially and environmentally very mixed, with areas of affluence adjacent to areas of relative poverty; e.g. although the ward includes the University area around Tyndalls Park, in other parts of the ward there are above average numbers of children on free school meals.

According to the Bristol City Council ward profile, Central has below average levels of mental wellbeing, above average fear of crime, and above average victims of racial discrimination or harassment in 2021-22. The ward has a significant number of students due to its proximity to Bristol University, and young professionals, most living in private rented accommodation.