Discover Oldham's Stories and Places
Your guide to the best walks, pubs, food, and history across Oldham, Saddleworth, Royton, Shaw, Chadderton, Lees and more.
Oldham sits where the Pennines start to rise. A borough of hills, mills and strong voices, shaped by industry and surrounded by scenery. It was once one of the world’s cotton powerhouses, with factories that never slept, and it’s still full of proud working-class roots. Today, you’ll find markets, moorland trails, pubs with roaring fires and a growing creative side. It’s a place that doesn’t shout but still stands tall.
Oldham at a Glance
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Top picks for: Pennine walks, historic pubs, curry mile, markets, local theatre, moorland drives
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Easy access from: Manchester, Rochdale, Huddersfield, Saddleworth villages
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Local legends: Annie Kenney, Kevin Sinfield, Oldham RLFC, the Coliseum Theatre
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Underrated gem: Castleshaw Roman Forts — ruins in the hills with sweeping views across the valleys
Must-Visit Places in Oldham
Explore some of Towns of Oldham
Saddleworth Villages
Greenfield, Uppermill, Delph and Dobcross. Cobbled streets, independent shops, and moors on your doorstep.
Royton
Former mill town with strong community ties and Tandle Hill just up the road.
Shaw and Crompton
Bustling markets and easy access to the hills.
Chadderton
Canalside walks, local pubs, and a quiet pace away from the main roads.
Lees
Gateway to Saddleworth with cosy pubs and hillside views.
Failsworth
Closer to Manchester, known for the canal and a proud industrial past.
Where to Eat in Oldham & Beyond
The White Hart at Lydgate
51 Stockport Rd, Lydgate, Oldham OL4 4JJ
Award-winning gastropub combining fine dining with Pennine views. Known for seasonal menus and local produce.
The Printers
20 Oldham Road, Denshawm, OL3 5SN
Built around 1717, This gastro pub incorporates both classic pub dishes together with exciting specials, the beer garden gives spectacular views of Saddleworth
Indian Ocean
Featherstall Rd, Oldham OL9 6QJ
Contemporary restaurant with chic, polished wood interior, for modern and classic Indian cuisine.
Stocco
125 Yorkshire Street, Oldham, OL1 3TQ
Stocco provide the finest Italian cuisine in a relaxing homely atmosphere, with a distinctive Italian feel of elegance and comfort
Albion Farm Shop & Café
Oldham Rd, Delph, OL3 5RQ
Farm shop with a café serving hearty breakfasts, lunches and homemade cakes, surrounded by Saddleworth hills.
Grandpa Greene’s Luxury Ice Cream
5 Ward Lane, Diggle, OL3 5JT
Perfect stop on a sunny walk, artisan ice cream served by the canal.
Where to Drink in Oldham & Beyond
The King William IV
134 Chew Valley Rd, Greenfield, Oldham OL3 7DD
“King Bill” as its know, is a busy country pub, Stone built offering 6 real ales. The bar is located centrally with two rooms, one of which has a wood burning stove.
The Navigation Inn
21 Wool Rd, Dobcross, Oldham OL3 5NS
This stone pub was built in 1806, is popular with walkers, canal boaters and families. The colourful Saddleworth Rushcart festival in August always stops here
The Church Inn
Church Lane, Uppermill, Saddleworth OL3 6LW
Stone-built pub set at the head of a valley overlooking Uppermill. A large beer garden is spread over two levels and covered outdoor seating fronts the pub.
The Royal George
193 Manchester Road, Greenfield OL3 7HX
The Royal George is a large country pub stocked with JW Lees cask ales, refreshing lagers and quality wines and spirits,'well behaved dogs' are welcome.
The Farrars Arms
56 Oldham Rd, Grasscroft, Oldham OL4 4HL
The Farrars Arms is ahistoric free house with a great selection of beers and what some have called 'the North's best cheese pie'
The Old Original
Huddersfield Rd, Scouthead OL4 4AG
Historic inn dating back to 1723, full of charm and lit by candle light and warmed by roaring real fires. They have a fantastic range of traditional hand-pulled ales. Located at the top of Doctor Lane, on clear days the front terrace is full of people enjoying a refreshing drink and views of the rolling hills.
From Mills to Moors
Oldham’s Changing Face
Oldham was built on cotton. By the late 19th century it was the world’s leading cotton spinning town, its skyline jagged with mill chimneys. Thousands worked in those mills, and the town’s grit was forged in that noise and steam. When the mills closed, Oldham struggled, but its pride never went anywhere.
Today, the borough is a mix of urban edge and rural escape. The mills have been turned into flats, studios and businesses. The markets still buzz. And the moors, which have always been here, keep the place grounded. Saddleworth’s hills attract hikers, cyclists and festival-goers every year, while Oldham town centre is slowly reinventing itself with new venues and projects.
This is a place where working-class history meets wide-open sky. A place where community runs deep and the landscape always wins. Oldham doesn’t need to be flashy. It just needs to be itself.
Recommended Walk: Dovestone to Chew Valley
Start at Dovestone Reservoir, loop around the water then climb up to Chew Valley for a proper Pennine view. End with a pint at the King Bill on your way back down.
Insider Tips
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Saddleworth Band Contest in summer is a must for brass lovers
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Try Grandpa Greene’s by the canal on a warm day
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The King Bill’s terrace is one of the best beer spots in the borough
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Tandle Hill is great at sunset, with Manchester’s skyline in the distance
Plan Your Visit
Oldham is where the Pennines meet Greater Manchester. It’s got mills, markets, moors and a spirit that sticks with you. Spend a day walking the hills, stopping at a pub, and you’ll see why locals hold it close. It’s a borough that balances history with the here and now.
Community Question
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