The historic town of Hamilton serves as the administrative centre of South Lanarkshire Council, and is the fifth biggest town in Scotland after East Kilbride, Paisley, Livingston and Cumbernauld. It lies twelve miles southeast of Glasgow and 35 miles southwest of Edinburgh, on the banks of the River Clyde.
Hamilton is a mile from the M74 linking Glasgow with Carlisle. It hosts several primary schools and three secondaries plus the private Hamilton College school, next to Hamilton Park Racecourse. Hamilton is a university town and also has a mausoleum beside extensive sporting facilities in the Palace Grounds.