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In England's South West, Somerset (/ˈsʌmərsɛt/ or locally /zʌmərzɛt/; archaically, Somersetshire) borders Wiltshire to the east, to the north Bristol and Gloucestershire, Devon to the south-west, and to the south-east Dorset. A rolling hills county that is rural is Somerset, Mendip Hills, the Blackdown Hills, Exmoor National Park, and Quantock Hills, and flat expanses of land including the Somerset Levels. Running along the southern bank of the Avon from the Bristol Channel, the Somerset northern border (adjoining the Gloucestershire and Bristol counties) then follows around the southern edge of the Bristol built-up area, and then, before continuing upstream along the Avon, diverges from the river to include Bath and its hinterland to the north of the Avon, before meeting Wiltshire at the Three Shire Stones on the Fosse Way at Batheaston.

Between the Quantock and Mendip hills, a populated wetland area of central Somerset are the Levels of Somerset (or as they are correctly but less commonly known, Somerset Moors and Levels). Somerset West & Taunton, South Somerset, Mendip, and Sedgemoor are the districts of Somerset. Established on 1 April 1996 following the break-up of the short-lived county of Avon, the unitary authorities are Bath & North East Somerset, and North Somerset.

To form Somerset West and Taunton, Taunton Deane and West Somerset in 2019 merged. Covered by the Fire and Rescue Service of Avon instead, the unitary districts of North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset are a service which covers Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Forming a regional festival, and the largest Festival of Lights in Europe, the annual circuit of West Country Carnivals is held in a variety of Somerset towns during autumn.

In North Somerset, Bristol Airport provides national and international air services. In the 19th century, the Brendon Hills were mined for iron ore further west; this was taken to Watchet Harbour by the Mineral Railway of West Somerset for shipment to the Ebbw Vale furnaces. To the Somerset Levels south-west, England's Area of Natural Beauty that is Outstanding, the Quantock Hills, in 1956 was designated and is covered in oak woodlands, ancient parklands with conifer plantations, heathland, and 99 square kilometres it covers.

For elections to the European Parliament, residents of Somerset form part of the electorate for the South West England constituency. Prior to February 2013, including all of Somerset; the Somerset districts that were unitary came under the Ambulance Service of Great Western, which into South Western merged, covers England's South West is the South Western Ambulance Service. An organisation based in the county is Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

One of local festivals in the county is the annual Bath Literature Festival; others include the Pump Festival of Trowbridge Village and the Frome Festival, which at Somerset's Farleigh Hungerford is held despite its name. The Somerset County Cricket Club is based at County Ground in Taunton, and, in Bath, Bath Rugby play at the Recreation Ground. Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and the Somerset County Council are local education authorities that provide state schools in Somerset.