Thatcham station lies on the banks of the River Kennet, between Newbury and Reading. The town itself is an ancient settlement, and is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest continuously inhabited place in Britain. By contrast the station is a modern affair, having undergone various renovations and rebuilds since its construction in 1847. In the 18th and 19th centuries the town was a prosperous coaching stop, but rail had taken over by the end of the 19th century, thanks in part to Thatcham's convenient location on the main line from Paddington to the southwest.
Today Thatcham is a quiet, attractive with a large commuter population shuttling back and forth to Reading, Newbury and London. It makes an ideal base for exploring the nearby countryside - the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Kennet and Avon Cycle Route can both picked up in the town.