Bentham is a civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, with a population of 3,027 at the 2011 Census. The parish includes the town High Bentham, occasionally known as Higher Bentham or just Bentham, and the older adjacent village Low Bentham.

The town lies on the River Wenning, just west of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and on the northern edge of the Forest of Bowland. The original centre of the town lay in Low Bentham, but a market was granted to High Bentham in the 14th century, and it became a centre for weaving from the 18th century, particularly after weavers in the town discovered how to weave hosepipes from flax.

It was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire until 1974. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the Craven District; it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.

The name Bentham derives from the Old English beonethām meaning 'bentgrass village'.

An electoral ward of the same name exists. This ward includes Burton in Lonsdale and well as the Bentham (Town) ward and has a total population taken at the 2011 census of 3,606. The ward falls within the Skipton and Ripon parliamentary constituency.

Bentham Town Council, which is responsible for local matters, is based at Bentham Town Hall, built in 1877. This facility includes several bookable spaces used by community groups and available for hire on a private basis, as well as housing the town's tourist information centre.

NHS Cumbria CCG is responsible for health matters for the population across the civil parish. Bentham Medical Practice is located centrally within the town.

The town has hosted an agricultural show since the middle of the 19th century. The event, which takes place annually on the first Saturday of September, is a traditional agricultural show with handicraft and horticulture as well as sheep, cattle and poultry competitions, but no horse classes. The 146th Bentham Agricultural Show was held in 2018 at the Bentham Auction Mart.