Rutland is traditionally England's smallest county and is bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire, and southeast by Northamptonshire.

Its greatest length north to south is only 18 miles, greatest breadth east to west, 17 miles. It is the smallest (in terms of population) normal unitary authority in mainland England (only the City of London is smaller), and is 348th of the 354 districts in terms of population.

The only towns in Rutland are Oakham, the county town, and Uppingham. At the centre of the county is a large reservoir, Rutland Water, with a similar surface area to Lake Windermere, which is an important nature reserve, serving as an overwintering site for wildfowl and a breeding site for Ospreys. The town of Stamford is just over the border in a protruding part of Lincolnshire.

Rutland's older cottages are built from white limestone and many have roofs of Collyweston slate. The county used to supply iron ore to Corby steel works but these quarries closed in the 1960s. Agriculture thrives with much wheat farming on the rich soil. Tourism continues to grow.

Rutland is also home to the RAF bases; RAF Cottesmore and RAF Wittering.

Barrowden, Bisbrooke, Braunston, Caldecott, Clipsham, Corby, Cottesmore, Egleton, Empingham, Exton, Great Casterton, Greetham, Hambleton, Ketton, Lyddington, Market Overton, Normanton, Oakham, Preston, Seaton, South Luffenham, Stretton, Uppingham, Wakerley, Whitwell, Wing

• Barnsdale Gardens
• Lyddington Bede House
• Rutland Railway Museum
• Rutland Water
• Tolethorpe Hall