It lies on the north bank of the River Clyde, adjacent to Uddingston and Hamilton, 9 miles (14 km) east-south-east of Glasgow city centre.

In 2019, "Earls Gate" which overlooks Bothwell Castle was named Greater Glasgow's most expensive street, with an average price tag of £1,125,000.

[3] In 2021 Earls Gate was again named the City's most expensive street; according to the report this extends to the entire West of Scotland.

According to the recent census report 2011, Bothwell has a population of c. 6000, with the local council ward in combination with Uddingston established a year earlier.

A footbridge links with Blantyre on the opposite bank of the river, and leads directly to the David Livingstone Centre.

An unpretentious mansion was built nearby by Archibald Douglas, 1st Earl of Forfar (1653–1712), and was known as New Bothwell Castle, but suffered mining subsidence and was demolished in 1926.

In the Beautiful Scotland campaign, the group has raised the village to Silver Gilt award standard and, in 2012, Bothwell won the prize as winner of the Small Town category.

Occasional team matches saw the Bothwell Bulls take on other training venues such as Newtongrange and High Beech.

Tommy Miller, who rose to fame with Glasgow Tigers in 1950, and Ken McKinlay, arguably the best ever Scottish speedway rider, both started out at Bothwell.

Bothwell Castle Golf Club was officially opened on the 16th of June 1923 by the Earl of Home (father of Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home).

Officially opened in October 2004 by Richard Cole-Hamilton CBE, the Captain of the R&A Golf Club of St Andrews.

In 1997, Lady Member Sheila Beckett produced a book on the history of the Club to commemorate its 75th anniversary.