Shaw is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester, historically part of Lancashire. A few miles north‑east of Manchester, it sits near the foothills of the West Pennine Moors and alongside the River Beal, its streets shaped by the 19th‑century cotton industry with former mill buildings and Victorian terraces still visible.
The area mixes a busy high street and local shops with residential suburbs; many old mills have been repurposed or remain as reminders of Shaw’s textile and coal past. Good road and tram links make it a convenient commuter base for Oldham and Manchester, while regular markets, sports clubs and active community groups keep a strong local civic life and an evolving cultural identity.
Postcode districts covering Shaw
Most populated places nearby
- Manchester 9.7 miles
- Bradford 19.2 miles
- Oldham 3.1 miles
- Wigan 23.2 miles
- Warrington 24.8 miles
- Burnley 16.2 miles
- Huddersfield 12.5 miles
- Blackburn 20.5 miles
- Bolton 14.7 miles
- Stockport 12.4 miles
- Salford 10.6 miles
- Wakefield 24.3 miles
Neighbouring places
- Shaw and Crompton Parish 0.5 miles
- Shaw Built-up area 0.7 miles
- Crompton Ward 1.3 miles
- Newhey Built-up area 1.5 miles
- Denshaw Built-up area 1.6 miles
- St. James' Ward 1.7 miles
- Milnrow & Newhey Ward 1.8 miles
- Royton Built-up area 1.9 miles
- Royton South Ward 1.9 miles
- Waterhead Ward 2.3 miles
- Saddleworth North Ward 2.4 miles
- Milnrow Built-up area 2.4 miles
Example postcodes in Shaw
OL2 8RP, OL2 7RT, OL2 8FN, OL2 8DQ, OL2 7AE, OL2 8AW, OL2 8QJ, OL2 8UT, OL2 7UH … See all
Transport links
- Manchester Airport 17.8 miles
- Leeds Bradford International Airport 26 miles
- Shaw and Crompton Railway Station 0.6 miles
- New Hey Railway Station 1.4 miles
- Manchester Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station 9.6 miles
Hotels near Shaw Ad
- Grains Bar Hotel 3 1.1 miles
- The Old Bell Inn 2.7 miles
- The Saddleworth Hotel 4 3.2 miles
- Hampton by Hilton Rochdale 3 4 miles
- The Royal Toby Hotel 3 4.3 miles
- The Rake Tapas Accommodation 4 4.4 miles
- Fairway Inn 5.9 miles
- Holiday Inn - Manchester - Oldham 3 5.1 miles
- Mercure Manchester Norton Grange Hotel & Spa 4 4 miles
- Lake Lounge Rooms 3.5 miles
Schools in Shaw
- Beal Vale Primary School Primary
- Buckstones Primary School Primary
- East Crompton St James C of E Primary School Primary
- Farrowdale House School Independent - primary
Local points of interest
- Boundary Park Stadium 2.8 miles
- Blackstone Edge Mountains 4.4 miles
- Spotland Stadium Stadium 4.9 miles
- Manchester Velodrome Stadium 8.2 miles
- Heaton Park Estate 8.5 miles
- City of Manchester Stadium Stadium 8.5 miles
- Gigg Lane Stadium 8.9 miles
- Manchester Evening News Arena Stadium 9.4 miles
- Manchester MEN Arena Stadium 9.4 miles
- Urbis Manchester Museum 9.5 miles
- Piccadilly Gardens Gardens 9.6 miles
- Ardotalia Archaeological site 9.8 miles