Waterhead is an electoral ward within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester, lying to the east of the town centre. Like much of the area it grew up during the 19th‑century cotton boom, so the streets still reflect that industrial past with Victorian terraces and sites of former mills that have been redeveloped or cleared in recent decades.
Geographically it sits close to the edge of the Pennines, offering easy access to moorland walks while also having good transport links towards Manchester, making it both a residential and commuter area. The ward is socially mixed, with local shops, community organisations and ongoing regeneration efforts aimed at improving housing and local services.
Postcode districts covering Waterhead
Most populated places nearby
- Manchester 7.9 miles
- Bradford 21 miles
- Oldham 1 mile
- Wigan 23 miles
- Warrington 23.6 miles
- Burnley 18.3 miles
- Huddersfield 13.7 miles
- Blackburn 21.9 miles
- Bolton 14.9 miles
- Stockport 10.1 miles
- Salford 9.4 miles
- Rochdale 6 miles
Neighbouring places
- St. James' Ward 0.6 miles
- Lees Built-up area 0.9 miles
- Saddleworth West & Lees Ward 1 mile
- Oldham Built-up area 1 mile
- Alexandra Ward 1.4 miles
- Coldhurst Ward 1.7 miles
- Royton South Ward 1.7 miles
- Shaw Built-up area 2.2 miles
- Werneth Ward 2.3 miles
- Medlock Vale Ward 2.3 miles
- Shaw and Crompton Parish 2.3 miles
- Royton Built-up area 2.4 miles
Example postcodes in Waterhead
OL4 2PW, OL4 2DP, OL4 2EH, OL4 3HT, OL4 2JU, OL4 2BN, OL4 2PR, OL4 2DX, OL4 2JR … See all
Transport links
- Manchester Airport 15.7 miles
- Leeds Bradford International Airport 27.8 miles
- Derker Railway Station 0.9 miles
- Oldham Mumps Railway Station 1.1 miles
- Manchester Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station 8 miles
Hotels near Waterhead Ad
- Grains Bar Hotel 3 2 miles
- The Old Bell Inn 2.7 miles
- The Saddleworth Hotel 4 3.8 miles
- Fairway Inn 4.3 miles
- Holiday Inn - Manchester - Oldham 3 2.9 miles
- The Royal Toby Hotel 3 5.3 miles
- Hampton by Hilton Rochdale 3 5.7 miles
- Dakota Manchester 5 7.8 miles
- Brewdog Doghouse Manchester 4 8.1 miles
- Leven Manchester 4 8.1 miles
Schools in Waterhead
- Greenacres Primary Academy Primary
- Littlemoor Primary School Primary
- St Anne's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary
Local points of interest
- Boundary Park Stadium 2 miles
- Manchester Velodrome Stadium 6.3 miles
- Spotland Stadium Stadium 6.4 miles
- Blackstone Edge Mountains 6.7 miles
- City of Manchester Stadium Stadium 6.7 miles
- Ardotalia Archaeological site 7.7 miles
- Heaton Park Estate 7.7 miles
- Manchester Evening News Arena Stadium 7.9 miles
- Manchester MEN Arena Stadium 7.9 miles
- Urbis Manchester Museum 8 miles
- Piccadilly Gardens Gardens 8 miles
- Manchester Art Gallery Museum 8.2 miles