Oldham is a metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester positioned northeast of Manchester, encompassing the town of Oldham and surrounding communities including Saddleworth, Chadderton, Royton, and Failsworth within an area stretching from urban mills to the Dark Peak moorlands. This Pennine borough features dramatic transitions from industrial valleys to the highest land in Greater Manchester at Saddleworth Moor. The climate is significantly upland with cooler temperatures, higher rainfall than lowland areas, and frequent winter snow on Saddleworth Moor creating conditions distinct from Manchester city center. Culturally, Oldham maintains strong industrial heritage from cotton spinning (Oldham was once the world's largest cotton spinning center) celebrated at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre and Gallery Oldham. The area preserves important heritage including Saddleworth's independent parishes with their distinctive brass band traditions, the Oldham War Memorial, and numerous cotton mills now converted to housing. Saddleworth's moorlands have literary connections to the poet Ted Hughes and the infamous Moors Murders case, while its villages maintain strong community identity. The borough's communities range from urban Oldham to the distinct villages of Saddleworth with their Yorkshire heritage (historically part of Yorkshire until 1974). Boundary GIS data for Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council is available for download in GeoJSON and KML formats, supporting post-industrial regeneration, upland management on Saddleworth Moor, and community planning across this diverse Pennine borough.

📍 Administrative boundary of oldham local authority district

← Back to All Districts