cafe
Rapha Clubhouse Manchester
Manchester's cycling culture hub offering specialty coffee, kit, and a community space for riding enthusiasts.
10 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Oldham
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Oldham
Oldham works well as a base: 5 minutes from Shaw, 20km from Snake Pass.
Oldham is in England, United Kingdom, with about 240,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Shaw, about 4 km away.
Oldham () is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Rochdale, and 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Manchester City Centre. It is the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, which had aRead more
population of 242,003 in 2021.
Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, and with little early history to speak of, Oldham rose to prominence in the 19th century as an international centre of textile manufacture. It was a boomtown of the Industrial Revolution, and among the first ever industrialised towns, rapidly becoming "one of the most important centres of cotton and textile industries in England." At its zenith, it was the most productive cotton spinning mill town in the world, producing more cotton than France and Germany combined. Oldham's textile industry fell into decline in the mid-20th century; the town's last mill closed in 1998.
The demise of textile processing in Oldham depressed and heavily affected the local economy. The town centre is the focus of a project that aims to transform Oldham into a centre for further education and the performing arts. It is, however, still distinguished architecturally by the surviving cotton mills and other buildings associated with that industry.
In the 2021 United Kingdom census Oldham built-up area subdivision, as defined by the Office for National Statistics, had a population of 110,718 and an area of 1,639 hectares (6.33 sq mi), giving a population density of 67.57 inhabitants per hectare (17,500/sq mi), while the Borough of Oldham had a population of 242,003, an area of 1,424 hectares (5.50 sq mi), and a population density of 17.29 inhabitants per hectare (4,480/sq mi).
Where to Stay in Oldham
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Oldham.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Oldham.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Oldham?
Within an hour or so of Oldham: Rapha Clubhouse Manchester (10 km), Holme Moss (17 km), Woodhead Pass (18 km), Snake Pass (20 km).
Are there any good drives near Oldham?
The nearest famous roads are Holme Moss, Woodhead Pass and Snake Pass.
Where is Oldham?
Oldham is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Shaw.
Road trip
Drive to Oldham
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Oldham. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 237,110
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 53.5405, -2.1183
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Oldham
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
mountain pass
Holme Moss
A 524 m Pennine pass on the A6024 topped by a landmark transmitter mast, a celebrated cycling climb used in the 2014 Tour de France.
17 km · about 20 min drive
mountain pass
Woodhead Pass
The A628 trans-Pennine route over bleak moorland past the Woodhead reservoirs, frequently closed by snow and high winds.
18 km · about 20 min drive
famous road
Snake Pass
A twisting road through the Peak District connecting Sheffield and Manchester, beloved by motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts.
20 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
Snake Pass (A57)
The Woodhead-era Telford road over the Pennines between Glossop and the Ladybower reservoirs, with fast curves and frequent winter closures.
20 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Snake Pass Summit
The highest point on the A57 crossing the Pennines, with moorland views stretching across the Dark Peak landscape.
21 km · about 25 min drive
waterfall
Kinder Downfall
The Peak's highest waterfall at 30m, famously blown back up the cliff as spray in a westerly wind.
22 km · about 25 min drive
film location
Lyme Park (Pemberley, 1995 Pride and Prejudice)
The lake at Lyme Park is where Colin Firth's Mr Darcy emerges from the water in the BBC serial.
23 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Oldham
9 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- 17 kmHolme MossA 524 m Pennine pass on the A6024 topped by a landmark transmitter mast, a celebrated cycling climb used in the 2014 Tour de France.
- 18 kmWoodhead PassThe A628 trans-Pennine route over bleak moorland past the Woodhead reservoirs, frequently closed by snow and high winds.
- 20 kmSnake PassA twisting road through the Peak District connecting Sheffield and Manchester, beloved by motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts.
- 20 kmSnake Pass (A57)The Woodhead-era Telford road over the Pennines between Glossop and the Ladybower reservoirs, with fast curves and frequent winter closures.
- 21 kmSnake Pass SummitThe highest point on the A57 crossing the Pennines, with moorland views stretching across the Dark Peak landscape.
- 24 kmKinder ScoutThe Peak District's highest ground at 636m, site of the 1932 Mass Trespass that led to Britain's national parks and right to roam.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Oldham.
Plan a trip around Oldham
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Oldham.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.