Coordinates: 53°03′00″N 1°11′00″W / 53.05°N 1.183333°W / 53.05; -1.183333
The parish of Papplewick is situated towards the west of central Nottinghamshire, to the north of the town of Hucknall. It has an area of 7.15 km². The village of Papplewick is located in the west of the parish. It is 7.5 miles (12 km) north of Nottingham and 6 miles (10 km) south of Mansfield. In 1991, there were 620 people living in the parish, occupying 255 dwellings (1991 census data). In medieval times the village marked the southern gateway to Sherwood Forest.
Papplewick has numerous community and social groups, a village hall, a pub, The Griffin's Head and an ancient church. Tourist attractions in the parish include the village conservation area, where there are 18th-century cottages and Papplewick Hall.
Papplewick Pumping Station is a nearby working museum comprising steam-powered pumping engines, cooling pond and grounds. It is situated in open agricultural land to the east of the parish, approximately 1 mile (2 km) east of the village but is 3 miles (4.8 km) distanced along the winding country lanes. Surrounding the parish are areas of woodland, which are accessible to the public by a network of footpaths.