Thornton-le-Clay is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England.

[4] The village lies within the Thirsk and Malton UK Parliament constituency.

It is within the Hovingham & Sheriff Hutton electoral division of North Yorkshire Council.

[1] Foston Primary School, built in 1844[7] but much improved and extended, is located on the outskirts of the village.

[9] The Rev Sydney Smith, rector of nearby Foston, lived at Thornton in the rectory which he is thought to have designed.