The District of Bassetlaw is situated in Nottinghamshire and borders with South Yorkshire to the north, Lincolnshire's Fens and Wolds to the east and Derbyshire with the spectacular Peak District to the west. It boasts thousands of acres of rolling countryside, parkland and ancient woodlands, including Clumber Park, the most popular visitor attraction in North Nottinghamshire.

Woodlands, charming villages and the Dukeries estates are among Bassetlaw's other attractions. With the world famous Sherwood Forest on the doorstep there is something for everyone in this historic, semi-rural district.

The ancient market towns of Worksop and Retford are home to nearly 60% of the district’s population of 111,400 (mid 2006 estimate, ONS) with 48,679 households (tax based calculation, Nov 06). The remainder of the population live in 73 villages, served by 45 parish councils and 10 parish meetings. The rural communities range from small market towns and former mining communities, to very small hamlets. Bassetlaw is classified as a Rural 50 district, which indicates that between 50-80% of the population lives in rural areas. The wards with the largest number of rural households are Harworth, Carlton, Tuxford and Trent, Langold, Misterton and Blyth.

Bassetlaw enjoys a reputation as a pleasant place to live, work and enjoy leisure time with a lower cost of living than in nearby cities.

Bassetlaw provides good business opportunities with industrial units of all sizes available across the District. These are ideal for businesses needing nationwide distribution and several household names like Wilkinsons, B&Q and Oxo either have head offices, major distribution centres or factories in the district. Robin Hood Airport is just outside the district.

The name 'Bassetlaw' is believed to come from the old English boernet (burnt place), soete (dwellers), and hlaw (hill) - literally 'hill of the dwellers at the burnt place'. Bassetlaw is mentioned in the Domesday Book as 'Bernedslaue'. However, there is evidence from Roman, Bronze Age and Stone Age artefacts from local historic sites that it is even older. Britain’s only known Ice Age rock art is to be found at Creswell Crags near Worksop.

Many regard Bassetlaw as the birthplace of the United States of America because in 1607 two of the original separatists, a Scrooby postmaster named William Brewster and a parson from Babworth called Richard Clyfton, joined dozens of other religious pilgrims to start a new life in Holland after signing the Mayflower Compact. In 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers set sail on the Mayflower to America.

Bassetlaw residents are served by Nottinghamshire County Council and Bassetlaw District Council.