Things to do in Royton
Tandle Hill Country Park is Oldham’s oldest park, with a great café, beautiful walks, cycle tracks, bird watching, war memorial, and nature centre all within its grounds. Other much-loved green spaces in Royton include Dogford Park and the surrounding area of the River Irk.
The hub of the community is the bustling centre, with a trusted mix of supermarkets and shops and a growing number of quality restaurants and bars that mean you don’t have to travel to Oldham for a great night out.
Things you didn't know about Royton
Radio DJ and TV presenter Nick Grimshaw is a former pupil at Our Lady's RC High School in Royton, and worked in a Chadderton bookshop before embarking on a media career that took him to the biggest job in radio.
Schools in Royton
Royton has eight sought-after primary schools, all performing either at or above the national average and two Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ secondary schools
Nearby Schools:
- Royton & Crompton Academy
- Our Lady's RC High School
- St James CofE Primary School
Transport
Royton is just a few miles northwest of Oldham, southeast of Rochdale and only seven miles northeast of Manchester. Catch the 402 bus route to both Oldham and Rochdale town centres, or the 181 / 182 buses to Manchester city centre.
The A671 road offers easy access to other towns and cities, while the M62 motorway runs to the north of Royton and is accessed via the A663 at junction 21 and junction 20 via the A627(M) motorway.
History
Royton was the first town to build a powered cotton mill in 1764, and one of the first in the world to adopt a factory system. It played a major part of the cotton industry in the 19th century with a mass of textile mills - Thorp Mill was the first cotton mill in the world to be powered by water. However, the last cotton was spun in the town in 2002.
Eating and drinking
A growing artisan scene is emerging in Royton, with the arrival of new bars and businesses bringing a new lease of life to the town.
Head to Istanblue on Rochdale Road to see why it won the Fine Dining crown at the British Kebab Awards 2021, The Courtyard Brewery for a contemporary range of craft beers and street food, or Barclay’s prosecco and pizza bar with a side of live music.
Try the infamous garlic prawns at Italian restaurant Mazzo’s, Blue Tiffin for delicious Indian cuisine, Café Jardin for afternoon tea, Bru’d Awakenin’s for artisan coffee in the morning or Vicino for brunch and drinks.
Puckersley Inn boast the best beer garden with amazing views overlooking Greater Manchester, while The Summit is the perfect place to get together with friends and watch sporting events.
Shopping
Elk Mill Retail Park offers a range of well-known high-street shops, including Next, Curry’s, PC World, Argos and JD Sports, alongside eateries including Pizza Hut, Nandos, and Frankie & Benny’s.
Royton town centre also puts on a market every Thursday which dates back to 1880, selling a wide array of local produce, including fresh meat, fish fruit and veg, bakes and artisan cheeses.
