The poets Edward Thomas (from 1906) and Robert Frost (briefly) lived in the village. Thomas is commemorated by a window in the church, engraved by Laurence Whistler. It was also the home for many years of the Royal Physician Baron Horder and actor Alec Guiness.
Steep was also the long term residence of Sir Alec Guinness, who now has a monthly cinema evening hosted in Steep Village Hall.