The Oxford

Peel Tower

Holcombe · 6.8 miles

Rising 128 feet above Holcombe Moor, the stone monument known locally as Holcombe Tower marks the spot where Robert Peel, the former Prime Minister and founder of the modern police force, was commemorated after his death in 1850. Situated near Ramsbottom in Greater Manchester, the tower sits at an elevation of roughly 1 100 feet (335 metres) and forms a prominent landmark on the moorland that separates the town from the surrounding countryside. Construction began shortly after Peel’s passing, driven by a public appeal and overseen by a committee chaired by industrialist William Grant. The gritstone used for the structure was quarried on-site, leaving a visible pit beside the base. The tower’s crenellated base bears the name “Peel” above its entrance, and the four-stage shaft features mullioned windows and battlements that support a viewing platform. In 1929 the original wooden staircase was replaced with iron, and a marble panel bearing an excerpt from Peel’s 1846 speech to the House of Commons was added. During the Second World War the tower served as a lookout post; later corrosion led to its closure until a new concrete staircase was installed and the monument was rededicated in November 1985. Today the structure is owned by Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, holds Grade II listed status (designated 1984), and is occasionally accessible to visitors on Sundays when the flag at its summit is flying, the flag being maintained by volunteers.

Gallery Oldham

Mumps · 7.5 miles

Gallery Oldham is a free-to-view public museum and art gallery in the Cultural Quarter of central Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England.

Rigodunum Roman Fort

Castleshaw · 7.5 miles

The remains of a Roman castellum sit on Castle Hill at the eastern edge of the Castleshaw Valley, overlooking the landscape below Standedge in Greater Manchester. The archaeological site, recorded as the Rigodunum Roman Fort on OpenStreetMap, lies on a step of Grindslow shale and commands clear views along the Deva Victrix (Chester) to Eboracum (York) Roman road that once crossed the Pennines at this pass. From the fort the valley can be seen in both directions, although higher ground surrounds the position. Constructed of turf and timber around AD 79, the original fort housed roughly 500 auxiliary soldiers before being slighted in the mid-90s. A smaller fortlet replaced it circa AD 105, later expanded with gates, a granary, an oven, a hypocaust and a courtyard building, supporting a garrison of fewer than 100 men. In the early 2nd century a civilian settlement (vicus) developed around the fortlet, likely serving the logistical needs of the nearby garrison. Both the fort, the later fortlet and the surrounding settlement are protected as a scheduled monument, reflecting their national archaeological importance. The site has been examined since the 18th century, with early plans drawn by antiquarian Thomas Percival and later trenching by local investigators, though the remains have never been fully excavated due to their protected status.

Saddleworth Museum

Uppermill · 9.3 miles

Set in the remains of the 19th-century Victoria Mill, the museum in Uppermill, Saddleworth, Greater Manchester, presents the local history of the area. The derelict mill was bought in 1959 by Roger Tanner, and with the assistance of volunteers the sole surviving building was converted into a museum that opened to the public in 1962. Over the following two decades the institution expanded its collections, developed new exhibits and secured charitable status, while a board of trustees was established to guide its mission. A public appeal in 1980 funded the addition of a community gallery for art exhibitions and local events, and partnerships with nearby organisations were forged. A major refurbishment followed a successful National Heritage Lottery Fund grant in 2014, delivering a modern reception area, fully refurbished galleries with interactive displays and dedicated learning spaces for children. After closing on 20 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum reopened on 22 May 2021 with an upgraded website, virtual experiences, online shopping and ticketing. Volunteers continue to support daily operations, and the Friends of the Saddleworth Museum and Gallery organise fundraising events and membership schemes. Admission is subject to a charge and opening times are published on the museum’s listing; facilities include a visitor information desk and a shop.

Manchester Jewish Museum

Cheetham Hill · 9.9 miles

The Manchester Jewish Museum is a Jewish history museum, located on Cheetham Hill Road in Manchester, England. The museum occupies the site of a former Orthodox Jewish synagogue, the place of worship for the Congregation of Spanish & Portuguese Jews, called the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue, also the Sha'are Tephillah Synagogue. The congregation worships in the Sephardic rite from premises located on Moor Lane in Kersal, Salford.

Leverhulme Park

Tonge Fold · 11 miles

Leverhulme Park occupies the greatest expanse of green space in Bolton, Greater Manchester, and lies close to the Tonge Fold area. The land was presented to the town’s residents by the late Lord Leverhulme, after whom the park is named, and it is bordered by the districts of Breightmet, Darcy Lever, the Haulgh and Tonge Fold. Its position within the town makes it readily reachable from the surrounding neighbourhoods and the nearest settlement identified on mapping services is Tonge Fold. The site now includes a community centre, an athletics stadium and a set of five-a-side football pitches, providing facilities for a range of organised sports. A free weekly parkrun is held each Saturday at 09:00, inviting walkers and runners to use the park’s pathways. Historically the park hosted the Bolton Show, an event that evolved from a 1950s agricultural exhibition and ran intermittently for more than half a century, usually each August until 2003. At its height the show drew crowds of up to 90 000 and featured craft stalls, motorbike displays, stunt performances, falconry, dog handling, a fairground, car-boot sales and a concluding fireworks display. A later family-focused programme, Bolton One Big Weekend, attracted an estimated 20 000 visitors and offered activities such as quad-bike racing, bungee jumping, tank rides, a vintage car showcase, morris dancing, martial-arts demonstrations and a dog show. No admission charges or specific opening hours are recorded, reflecting its status as a public park with open access for visitors.