Metropolitan district in England
| Coordinates: | 53.55, -2.07 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SD 95 05 |
Oldham is a metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, sitting on the edge of the Pennines where urban terraces meet moorland. The district includes former mill towns and villages such as Saddleworth, Chadderton, Royton, Shaw and Failsworth, giving it a mix of steep streets, valleys and open upland that still shapes local life and leisure.
Historically Oldham was a powerhouse of the 19th‑century cotton and textile industry and retains a strong industrial heritage alongside modern regeneration projects, retail centres and light‑rail links into Manchester and Rochdale. Culturally it has a lively civic scene - from galleries and music venues to long sporting traditions around clubs based at Boundary Park - and a diverse population with active community initiatives that reflect its changing economic and social story.