Editing Lechlade (section)

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| type = [[Town]]
| official_name = Lechlade
| static_image_name = A Frosty Day in Lechlade.JPG
| static_image_caption = St Lawrence's seen across the Thames
| coordinates = {{coord|51.699|-1.692|display=inline,title}}
| label_position = top
| os_grid_reference = SU2199
| population = 3139
| population_ref = ([[United Kingdom Census 2021|2021 Census]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/admin/cotswold/E04004241__lechlade/|title=Parish population 2021|access-date= 5 January 2025}}</ref>
| shire_district = [[Cotswold (district)|Cotswold]]
| shire_county = [[Gloucestershire]]
| region = South West England
| country = England
| post_town = Lechlade
| postcode_district = GL7
| postcode_area = GL
| dial_code = 01367
| constituency_westminster = [[South Cotswolds (UK Parliament constituency)|South Cotswolds]]
| website = [http://www.lechladeonthames.co.uk/ Lechlade-on-Thames official website]
}}

'''Lechlade''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɛ|tʃ|l|eɪ|d}}) is a town at the edge of the [[Cotswolds]] in [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]], {{convert|55|mi}} south of [[Birmingham]] and {{convert|68|mi}} west of [[London]]. It is the highest point at which the [[River Thames]] is navigable, although there is a right of navigation that continues south-west into [[Cricklade]], in the neighbouring county of [[Wiltshire]]. The town is named after the [[River Leach]] that joins the Thames near the [[Trout Inn, Lechlade|Trout Inn]] and [[St. John's Bridge, Lechlade|St. John's Bridge]].

The low-lying land is [[alluvium]], [[Oxford Clay]] and river gravels and the town is surrounded by lakes created from disused gravel extraction sites, forming parts of the [[Cotswold Water Park]]; several have now been designated as [[Sites of Special Scientific Interest]] and [[nature reserve]]s. Human occupation dates from the [[Neolithic]], [[Iron Age]] and [[Roman Britain|Roman]] periods and it developed as a trading centre served by river, canal, roads and railway, although the station closed in 1962.

The [[Anglican]] [[St Lawrence Church, Lechlade|Church of St Lawrence]] is a Grade I [[listed building]] dating from the 15th century. The development of the nearby [[RAF Fairford]] and [[RAF Brize Norton]] after [[World War II]] contributed to the expansion of the town.