Retford, also known as East Retford, is a market town in the Bassetlaw District in Nottinghamshire, England. It lies on the River Idle and the Chesterfield Canal. Retford is located 26 miles east of Sheffield, 23 miles west of Lincoln and 31 miles north-east of Nottingham. The population at the 2021 census was 23,740. It is near North Wheatley. The town is bypassed by the A1 road.