Heywood is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, historically part of Lancashire. It grew rapidly in the 19th century as a mill town during the Industrial Revolution and still shows that industrial heritage alongside more modern light industry and distribution parks.
The town sits close to the edge of the Pennines and has a mix of terraced housing, newer estates and green spaces, with decent road and rail links into Manchester. Local life is shaped by community projects, small shops and sports clubs, and ongoing regeneration that aims to balance the historic centre with contemporary economic and social needs.