Oldham - The Capital of Cotton

At one time, Oldham was probably the most important town in the UK cotton industry, and at the turn of the last century, there were nearly 400 individual mills operating in the town and supplying the various weavers all over the world with the raw materials that they needed. While the mills may have fallen silent long ago, Oldham still plays an important role in the North West's economy as a major manufacturing center for the region.

The town of Oldham is located less than ten miles from the sprawl of Manchester, and there is a certain degree of overlap between the two places, however despite the relentless growth of its neighbor, Oldham has managed to retain its own identity and remains a place that despite offering all the conveniences of big city living with the small town feel.

While many of the local attractions that are available for tourists who come to Oldham are located within Manchester such as the large museums (Urbis, the Science Museum, and the John Ryland's Library), the theaters and casinos, Oldham still offers many things that make it an interesting and fulfilling place to visit for a few days.

One of the most notable things about Oldham is Hartshead Pike. This small hill which lies just to the south east of the town center is only around 290m above sea level at its highest point, but is crowned with a unique tower of the same name. Fantastic panoramic views of the whole of Greater Manchester as far as Liverpool are available from the top of the tower, which was built by the local philanthropist John Eaton to commemorate the marriage of Princes Alexandra in 1863.

In the 1990s, extensive work to modernize the center of the town was carried out including the construction of a major new shopping mall. The Spindles has around 40 high end outlets selling a range of goods, and is a pleasant place to browse during the day. A number of restaurants have been opened in the surrounding streets, and these provide a refined and relaxed backdrop to an evening out.

The old Town Hall, which is currently unused, stands nearby. It is thought to be one of the best examples of neo-classical architecture in the north of England. Tours are available by special appointment, although much of the interior of the building was stripped out in the 1980s for use elsewhere, and it is more or less an empty shell.

Although there are a number of bars in the town, many of the locals head for central Manchester on the weekend in order to enjoy the greater range of pleasures that are available there, and this does leave some of the bars lacking an atmosphere.