Oldham is a former mill town on the edge of the Pennines, roughly seven miles north‑east of Manchester. Historically part of Lancashire and now within Greater Manchester, it occupies steep valleys and is flanked by moorland such as Saddleworth Moor, with rivers like the River Beal cutting through its terraces and Victorian streets.
Once one of the world’s most important cotton‑spinning centres, Oldham still shows that industrial heritage in its architecture even as it moves towards a mixed modern economy of services, light industry and retail. The town has a lively cultural life with galleries, theatres and a proud football following at Boundary Park, and - like many northern towns - continues to balance regeneration efforts with social and economic challenges while celebrating a diverse community.
Postcode districts covering Oldham
Most populated places nearby
- Manchester 6.9 miles
- Bradford 22 miles
- Wigan 22.2 miles
- Warrington 22.5 miles
- Burnley 18.6 miles
- Huddersfield 14.7 miles
- Blackburn 21.7 miles
- Bolton 14.2 miles
- Stockport 9.3 miles
- Salford 8.3 miles
- Rochdale 6 miles
- Halifax 16.1 miles
Neighbouring places
- Alexandra Ward 0.9 miles
- Coldhurst Ward 1 mile
- Waterhead Ward 1 mile
- Werneth Ward 1.2 miles
- Medlock Vale Ward 1.4 miles
- St. James' Ward 1.5 miles
- Lees Built-up area 1.6 miles
- Saddleworth West & Lees Ward 1.6 miles
- Royton South Ward 1.7 miles
- Chadderton Central Ward 1.8 miles
- Hollinwood Ward 1.8 miles
- Chadderton Built-up area 2.2 miles
Example postcodes in Oldham
OL8 2LF, OL8 3LB, OL8 3PB, OL4 2DW, OL4 1NQ, OL8 2NT, OL8 3AT, OL1 4NZ, OL8 1HS … See all
Transport links
- Manchester Airport 14.7 miles
- Leeds Bradford International Airport 28.8 miles
- Oldham Mumps Railway Station 0.1 miles
- Derker Railway Station 0.7 miles
- Manchester Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station 7 miles
Hotels near Oldham Ad
- Grains Bar Hotel 3 3 miles
- The Old Bell Inn 3.7 miles
- Fairway Inn 3.2 miles
- Holiday Inn - Manchester - Oldham 3 2 miles
- The Saddleworth Hotel 4 4.9 miles
- The Royal Toby Hotel 3 5.2 miles
- Dakota Manchester 5 6.7 miles
- Hampton by Hilton Rochdale 3 5.9 miles
- Brewdog Doghouse Manchester 4 7 miles
- Leven Manchester 4 7 miles
Schools in Oldham
- Alt Academy Primary
- Beever Primary School Primary
- Broadfield Primary School Primary
- Coppice Primary Academy Primary
- Darul Hadis Latifiah Northwest Independent - secondary
- Freehold Community Academy Primary
- Glodwick Infant and Nursery School Primary
- Greenacres Primary Academy Primary
- Greenhill Academy Primary
- Hodge Clough Primary School Primary
- Hollinwood Academy Special
- Holy Cross Ceva Primary School Primary
- Holy Family RC Primary School Primary
- Holy Rosary RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary
- Horton Mill Community Primary School Primary
- Hulme Grammar School Independent - all ages
- Limehurst Community Primary School Primary
- Littlemoor Primary School Primary
- Lyndhurst Primary and Nursery School Primary
- … See all
Local points of interest
- Boundary Park Stadium 1.5 miles
- Manchester Velodrome Stadium 5.3 miles
- City of Manchester Stadium Stadium 5.6 miles
- Spotland Stadium Stadium 6.5 miles
- Heaton Park Estate 6.8 miles
- Manchester Evening News Arena Stadium 6.9 miles
- Manchester MEN Arena Stadium 6.9 miles
- Urbis Manchester Museum 6.9 miles
- Piccadilly Gardens Gardens 6.9 miles
- Manchester Art Gallery Museum 7.2 miles
- Manchester Central Library Library 7.3 miles
- John Rylands Library Library 7.3 miles