diff --git a/create_demo_db.py b/create_demo_db.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2f3306d8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/create_demo_db.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import os
+import sqlite3
+
+# Remove any existing demo.db so we start fresh
+if os.path.exists("demo.db"):
+    os.remove("demo.db")
+
+conn = sqlite3.connect("demo.db")
+conn.executescript("""
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS movies (
+    id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
+    title TEXT,
+    year INTEGER,
+    genre TEXT
+);
+INSERT INTO movies VALUES (1, 'Inception', 2010, 'Sci-Fi');
+INSERT INTO movies VALUES (2, 'The Matrix', 1999, 'Sci-Fi');
+INSERT INTO movies VALUES (3, 'Interstellar', 2014, 'Sci-Fi');
+""")
+conn.commit()
+conn.close()
+print("demo.db created successfully")
+
diff --git a/docs/cli.rst b/docs/cli.rst
index 78c33b8ae..05368eba7 100644
--- a/docs/cli.rst
+++ b/docs/cli.rst
@@ -8,6 +8,18 @@ The ``sqlite-utils`` command-line tool can be used to manipulate SQLite database
 
 Once :ref:`installed <installation>` the tool should be available as ``sqlite-utils``. It can also be run using ``python -m sqlite_utils``.
 
+All CLI arguments that refer to a database accept `SQLite URI filenames
+<https://www.sqlite.org/uri.html>`__ as well as regular paths. For example, to
+query a database that will not change while it is open:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+    sqlite-utils query 'file:foo.db?immutable=1' "select * from bar"
+
+SQLite URI options such as ``mode=ro`` are interpreted by SQLite. In particular,
+``immutable=1`` tells SQLite that the database file cannot change; do not use it
+for files that may be modified while the connection is open.
+
 .. contents:: :local:
    :class: this-will-duplicate-information-and-it-is-still-useful-here
 
diff --git a/docs/python-api.rst b/docs/python-api.rst
index d515642a5..7bcc0efbe 100644
--- a/docs/python-api.rst
+++ b/docs/python-api.rst
@@ -81,6 +81,12 @@ Database objects are constructed by passing in either a path to a file on disk o
 
 This will create ``my_database.db`` if it does not already exist.
 
+SQLite URI filenames can also be passed in place of a regular path. For example,
+``Database("file:my_database.db?mode=ro")`` opens a database read-only. See the
+`SQLite URI documentation <https://www.sqlite.org/uri.html>`__ for supported
+options. ``immutable=1`` should only be used when the database cannot change
+while the connection is open.
+
 If you want to recreate a database from scratch (first removing the existing file from disk if it already exists) you can use the ``recreate=True`` argument:
 
 .. code-block:: python
diff --git a/sqlite_utils/cli.py b/sqlite_utils/cli.py
index c23090283..546147d99 100644
--- a/sqlite_utils/cli.py
+++ b/sqlite_utils/cli.py
@@ -101,6 +101,13 @@ def convert(self, value, param, ctx):
         return super().convert(value.lower(), param, ctx)
 
 
+class SQLiteDatabasePath(click.Path):
+    def convert(self, value, param, ctx):
+        if isinstance(value, str) and value.startswith("file:"):
+            return value
+        return super().convert(value, param, ctx)
+
+
 def output_options(fn):
     for decorator in reversed(
         (
@@ -184,7 +191,7 @@ def cli():
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.option(
@@ -290,7 +297,7 @@ def _iter():
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.option(
@@ -358,7 +365,7 @@ def views(
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("tables", nargs=-1)
@@ -387,7 +394,7 @@ def optimize(path, tables, no_vacuum, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="rebuild-fts")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("tables", nargs=-1)
@@ -413,7 +420,7 @@ def rebuild_fts(path, tables, load_extension):
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("names", nargs=-1)
@@ -440,7 +447,7 @@ def analyze(path, names):
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 def vacuum(path):
@@ -459,7 +466,7 @@ def vacuum(path):
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @load_extension_option
@@ -481,7 +488,7 @@ def dump(path, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="add-column")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -558,7 +565,7 @@ def add_column(
 @cli.command(name="add-foreign-key")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -595,7 +602,7 @@ def add_foreign_key(
 @cli.command(name="add-foreign-keys")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("foreign_key", nargs=-1)
@@ -630,7 +637,7 @@ def add_foreign_keys(path, foreign_key, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="index-foreign-keys")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @load_extension_option
@@ -652,7 +659,7 @@ def index_foreign_keys(path, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="create-index")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -709,7 +716,7 @@ def create_index(
 @cli.command(name="drop-index")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -737,7 +744,7 @@ def drop_index(path, table, index, ignore, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="enable-fts")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -792,7 +799,7 @@ def enable_fts(
 @cli.command(name="populate-fts")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -815,7 +822,7 @@ def populate_fts(path, table, column, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="disable-fts")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -838,7 +845,7 @@ def disable_fts(path, table, load_extension):
 @click.argument(
     "path",
     nargs=-1,
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @load_extension_option
@@ -861,7 +868,7 @@ def enable_wal(path, load_extension):
 @click.argument(
     "path",
     nargs=-1,
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @load_extension_option
@@ -883,7 +890,7 @@ def disable_wal(path, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="enable-counts")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("tables", nargs=-1)
@@ -913,7 +920,7 @@ def enable_counts(path, tables, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="reset-counts")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @load_extension_option
@@ -982,7 +989,7 @@ def inner(fn):
             (
                 click.argument(
                     "path",
-                    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+                    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
                     required=True,
                 ),
                 click.argument("table"),
@@ -1579,7 +1586,7 @@ def upsert(
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("sql")
@@ -1662,7 +1669,7 @@ def bulk(
 @cli.command(name="create-database")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.option(
@@ -1699,7 +1706,7 @@ def create_database(path, enable_wal, init_spatialite, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="create-table")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -1808,7 +1815,7 @@ def create_table(
 @cli.command(name="duplicate")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -1832,7 +1839,7 @@ def duplicate(path, table, new_table, ignore, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="rename-table")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -1856,7 +1863,7 @@ def rename_table(path, table, new_name, ignore, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="drop-table")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -1888,7 +1895,7 @@ def drop_table(path, table, ignore, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="create-view")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("view")
@@ -1932,7 +1939,7 @@ def create_view(path, view, select, ignore, replace, load_extension):
 @cli.command(name="drop-view")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("view")
@@ -1964,13 +1971,13 @@ def drop_view(path, view, ignore, load_extension):
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("sql")
 @click.option(
     "--attach",
-    type=(str, click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False)),
+    type=(str, SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False)),
     multiple=True,
     help="Additional databases to attach - specify alias and filepath",
 )
@@ -2060,7 +2067,7 @@ def query(
 @functions_option
 @click.option(
     "--attach",
-    type=(str, click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False)),
+    type=(str, SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False)),
     multiple=True,
     help="Additional databases to attach - specify alias and filepath",
 )
@@ -2093,7 +2100,7 @@ def query(
 @click.option("--dump", is_flag=True, help="Dump SQL for in-memory database")
 @click.option(
     "--save",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     help="Save in-memory database to this file",
 )
 @click.option(
@@ -2324,7 +2331,7 @@ def _execute_query(
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("dbtable")
@@ -2422,7 +2429,7 @@ def search(
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("dbtable")
@@ -2512,7 +2519,7 @@ def rows(
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("tables", nargs=-1)
@@ -2569,7 +2576,7 @@ def triggers(
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("tables", nargs=-1)
@@ -2640,7 +2647,7 @@ def indexes(
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("tables", nargs=-1, required=False)
@@ -2670,7 +2677,7 @@ def schema(
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -2824,7 +2831,7 @@ def transform(
 @cli.command()
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -2874,7 +2881,7 @@ def extract(
 @cli.command(name="insert-files")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table")
@@ -3029,7 +3036,7 @@ def _content_text(p):
 @cli.command(name="analyze-tables")
 @click.argument(
     "path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False, exists=True),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False, exists=True),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("tables", nargs=-1)
@@ -3214,7 +3221,7 @@ def _generate_convert_help():
 @cli.command(help=_generate_convert_help())
 @click.argument(
     "db_path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table", type=str)
@@ -3344,7 +3351,7 @@ def wrapped_fn(value):
 @cli.command("add-geometry-column")
 @click.argument(
     "db_path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table", type=str)
@@ -3421,7 +3428,7 @@ def add_geometry_column(
 @cli.command("create-spatial-index")
 @click.argument(
     "db_path",
-    type=click.Path(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
+    type=SQLiteDatabasePath(file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, allow_dash=False),
     required=True,
 )
 @click.argument("table", type=str)
@@ -3519,7 +3526,7 @@ def _stop_before_for_migration_set(stop_before, migration_set_name):
 
 @click.command()
 @click.argument(
-    "db_path", type=click.Path(dir_okay=False, readable=True, writable=True)
+    "db_path", type=SQLiteDatabasePath(dir_okay=False, readable=True, writable=True)
 )
 @click.argument("migrations", type=click.Path(dir_okay=True, exists=True), nargs=-1)
 @click.option(
diff --git a/sqlite_utils/db.py b/sqlite_utils/db.py
index c011d9bb0..47ffebb45 100644
--- a/sqlite_utils/db.py
+++ b/sqlite_utils/db.py
@@ -546,8 +546,8 @@ class Database:
         # Create an in-memory database:
         dB = Database(memory=True)
 
-    :param filename_or_conn: String path to a file, or a ``pathlib.Path`` object, or a
-      ``sqlite3`` connection
+    :param filename_or_conn: String path to a file or SQLite URI, a ``pathlib.Path``
+      object, or a ``sqlite3`` connection
     :param memory: set to ``True`` to create an in-memory database
     :param memory_name: creates a named in-memory database that can be shared across multiple connections
     :param recreate: set to ``True`` to delete and recreate a file database (**dangerous**)
@@ -588,9 +588,9 @@ def __init__(
         ):
             raise ValueError("Either specify a filename_or_conn or pass memory=True")
         if memory_name:
-            uri = f"file:{memory_name}?mode=memory&cache=shared"
+            connection_uri = f"file:{memory_name}?mode=memory&cache=shared"
             self.conn = sqlite3.connect(
-                uri,
+                connection_uri,
                 uri=True,
                 check_same_thread=False,
             )
@@ -600,6 +600,10 @@ def __init__(
             self.conn = sqlite3.connect(":memory:")
             self.memory = True
         elif isinstance(filename_or_conn, (str, pathlib.Path)):
+            filename = str(filename_or_conn)
+            is_uri = filename.startswith("file:")
+            if recreate and is_uri:
+                raise ValueError("recreate cannot be used with SQLite URIs")
             if recreate and os.path.exists(filename_or_conn):
                 try:
                     os.remove(filename_or_conn)
@@ -608,7 +612,7 @@ def __init__(
                     # https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/503
                     self.conn = sqlite3.connect(":memory:")
                     raise
-            self.conn = sqlite3.connect(str(filename_or_conn))
+            self.conn = sqlite3.connect(filename, uri=True)
         else:
             if recreate:
                 raise ValueError("recreate cannot be used with connections, only paths")
@@ -857,12 +861,16 @@ def attach(self, alias: str, filepath: str | pathlib.Path) -> None:
             ATTACH DATABASE 'filepath.db' AS alias
 
         :param alias: Alias name to use
-        :param filepath: Path to SQLite database file on disk
+        :param filepath: Path or SQLite URI for a database file on disk
         """
-        attach_sql = f"""
-            ATTACH DATABASE '{pathlib.Path(filepath).resolve()!s}' AS {quote_identifier(alias)};
-        """.strip()
-        self.execute(attach_sql)
+        if isinstance(filepath, str) and filepath.startswith("file:"):
+            database = filepath
+        else:
+            database = str(pathlib.Path(filepath).resolve())
+        self.execute(
+            f"ATTACH DATABASE ? AS {quote_identifier(alias)}",
+            (database,),
+        )
 
     def query(
         self, sql: str, params: Sequence | dict[str, Any] | None = None
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 064026a0b..87f4d6f1c 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -61,6 +61,22 @@ def test_tables(db_path):
     assert '[{"table": "Gosh"},\n {"table": "Gosh2"}]' == result.output.strip()
 
 
+def test_tables_sqlite_uri(db_path):
+    uri = Path(db_path).as_uri() + "?mode=ro"
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(cli.cli, ["tables", uri])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    assert json.loads(result.output) == [{"table": "Gosh"}, {"table": "Gosh2"}]
+
+
+def test_create_table_sqlite_uri(db_path):
+    uri = Path(db_path).as_uri() + "?mode=rw"
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(
+        cli.cli, ["create-table", uri, "created_via_uri", "name", "text"]
+    )
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    assert Database(db_path).table("created_via_uri").exists()
+
+
 def test_views(db_path):
     Database(db_path).create_view("hello", "select sqlite_version()")
     result = CliRunner().invoke(cli.cli, ["views", db_path, "--table", "--schema"])
@@ -823,6 +839,23 @@ def test_query_sql_from_stdin(db_path):
     assert json.loads(result.output) == [{"name": "Cleo"}, {"name": "Pancakes"}]
 
 
+def test_query_sqlite_uri(db_path):
+    uri = Path(db_path).as_uri() + "?mode=ro&immutable=1"
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(
+        cli.cli,
+        ["query", uri, "select name from sqlite_master where name = 'Gosh'"],
+    )
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    assert json.loads(result.output) == [{"name": "Gosh"}]
+
+    write_result = CliRunner().invoke(
+        cli.cli,
+        ["query", uri, "insert into Gosh values ('one', 'two', 'three')"],
+    )
+    assert write_result.exit_code != 0
+    assert "readonly" in write_result.output.lower()
+
+
 def test_query_json_empty(db_path):
     result = CliRunner().invoke(
         cli.cli,
@@ -2534,6 +2567,20 @@ def test_attach(tmpdir):
     ]
 
 
+def test_attach_sqlite_uri(tmpdir):
+    foo_path = str(tmpdir / "foo.db")
+    bar_path = str(tmpdir / "bar.db")
+    Database(foo_path).table("foo").insert({"text": "foo"})
+    Database(bar_path).table("bar").insert({"text": "bar"})
+    bar_uri = Path(bar_path).as_uri() + "?mode=ro"
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(
+        cli.cli,
+        [foo_path, "--attach", "bar", bar_uri, "select text from bar.bar"],
+    )
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    assert json.loads(result.output) == [{"text": "bar"}]
+
+
 def test_csv_insert_bom(tmpdir):
     db_path = str(tmpdir / "test.db")
     bom_csv_path = str(tmpdir / "bom.csv")
diff --git a/tests/test_constructor.py b/tests/test_constructor.py
index 412b66c2c..09a75e22e 100644
--- a/tests/test_constructor.py
+++ b/tests/test_constructor.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import pathlib
 import sys
 
 import pytest
@@ -114,3 +115,20 @@ def test_memory_attribute_for_file_path(tmpdir):
     db = Database(str(tmpdir / "file.db"))
     assert db.memory is False
     assert db.memory_name is None
+
+
+def test_sqlite_uri(tmpdir):
+    path = tmpdir / "file.db"
+    Database(str(path)).close()
+    uri = pathlib.Path(str(path)).as_uri() + "?mode=ro"
+    db = Database(uri)
+    assert db.execute("select 1").fetchone()[0] == 1
+    with pytest.raises(sqlite3.OperationalError, match="readonly"):
+        db.execute("create table test (id integer)")
+    db.close()
+
+
+def test_recreate_rejects_sqlite_uri(tmpdir):
+    uri = pathlib.Path(str(tmpdir / "file.db")).as_uri() + "?mode=rwc"
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="SQLite URIs"):
+        Database(uri, recreate=True)