Thatcham is a market town and civil parish located in West Berkshire, England. Situated in the valley of the River Kennet, it lies approximately 3 miles east of Newbury, 14 miles west of Reading, and 54 miles west of London. The town sits on the route of the A4 Bath Road, which serves as the historic main road connecting London and Bristol.
The town has a long history dating back to prehistoric times and is a claimant to the title of the oldest continuously inhabited place in Great Britain. As of 2021, Thatcham had a population of 25,464, though it forms part of a larger built-up area with neighboring Newbury that exceeds 70,000 residents.