About Oldham

Oldham is a village and one of the ten metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester surrounded by several smaller settlements; together, they form the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. Chadderton and Hollinwood are such settlements to the east of the town, while Coldhurst and Werneth Low separate Oldham from Royton to its west. Oldham is located between the towns of Bolton and Bury, lying on the River Medlock, 7.2 miles south of Rochdale and 9.8 miles north of the city of Manchester. The town is well connected by public transport links, including buses and trains, making it easy to get around Oldham and Manchester. 

With a population of 237,000 people, Oldham saw the arrival of many Irish people during the 19th century, while today, Oldham counts a significant Polish and student community (with nearby universities: The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University). This adds to the multicultural nature of this community, with plenty of local community projects and activities going on all year round. As a result, there's always something going on in Oldham, from arts to music festivals.

The Oldham Community

Almost 25% of Oldham lies within the Peak District National Park region. The Pennine Way and Pennine Bridleway are two spectacular routes where you can enjoy walking, cycling, and horse riding routes with beautiful scenery along the way. The nearby moorland landscape of the South Pennines provides; the perfect backdrop for Saddleworth's picturesque villages, Castleshaw Roman Fort and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Beside the Canal in Uppermill, Saddleworth Museum is housed within a converted 19th Century mill, telling the story of those who helped shape Saddleworth's character.

For more traditional entertainment, Manchester is home to some of the finest art galleries, museums and theatres and is just 15 minutes away by train or car. The Manchester area has so much to offer for you to discover.