Llanstephan is centred around the isolated church of St Stephen (or Ystyffan).[1][2] Llanstephan is first recorded as Llanytyffaen wen in the 15th century, with the 'wen' probably referring to the whitewash of the church.[2] The church appears to date from the 13th or 14th century, with a two-and-half stage tower. The building was described in 1859 as not in good condition,[3] but was re-roofed and repaired in 1867–68.[1]
Llanstephan House was demolished in 1972 and subsequently rebuilt.[1] It was originally a tall, three-gabled house dating from the mid 1800s; it was remodelled in the 1920s.[4] Other buildings of note include two early cruck frame houses. Dolwen is a few hundred yards south east of the church and has a Tudor door; Celyn, a mile north east, is now ruined but was originally a long house.[1]