Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of severe lower respiratory tract infection in infants and the elderly. There is currently no effective antiviral treatment for the infection, but advances in our understanding of RSV uptake, especially the role of surfactant proteins, the attachment protein G and the fusion protein F, as well as the post‐binding events, have revealed potential targets for new therapies and vaccine development. RSV infection triggers an intense inflammatory response, mediated initially by the infected airway epithelial cells and antigen‐presenting cells. Humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses are important in controlling the extent of infection and promoting viral clearance. The initial innate immune response may play a critical role by influencing the subsequent adaptive response generated. This review summarizes our current understanding of RSV binding and uptake in mammalian cells and how these initial interactions influence the subsequent innate immune response generated.