Last Updated on 1 November 2026 by Colette
This list features things to do with kids in Oldham all year round, and one or two seasonal activities too so do make sure you check with individual venues before setting off out on an adventure!
I’ve included things you to do in the town of Oldham itself and also things to do in the wider borough of Oldham. As always, if you think I’ve missed something off this list, give me a shout and I’ll add it in!
What is there to do in Oldham with kids?
Oldham Christmas Lights Switch-On Spectacular – Saturday 14th November 2026
Manchester City Council might have scrapped their big Christmas lights switch-on event again, but Oldham Council are determined to start Christmas in style with a spectacular outdoor show and fireworks finale to celebrate switching on the Oldham Christmas lights!
The free family event will take place in Oldham town centre on Saturday 14th November 2026, with festive entertainment before the Christmas lights are switched on and a fireworks display to round off the celebrations.
Oldham Christmas Lights Switch-On Spectacular is completely free to attend, with no tickets required.
Keep an eye on the Oldham Council website for the latest event information.
Peter Pan at Oldham Library – Thursday 3rd to Thursday 24th December 2026
Oldham Theatre Workshop are back this festive season with a magical new production of Peter Pan at the super intimate Oldham Library Theatre Space.
Celebrating ten years of their much-loved Christmas productions, this year’s show promises swashbuckling pirates, daring adventures, live music, original songs and plenty of theatrical magic as families are whisked away to Neverland.
The show is suitable for children aged 4 and over, with a special relaxed and BSL-interpreted performance on Saturday 12th December at 2pm.
Book tickets for Peter Pan at Oldham Library priced from £10 per person, which is great value for a live family show!
Brass Monkeys in Oldham Town Centre – Saturday 5th December 2026
Get yourself into the Christmas spirit with a day of festive brass music in Oldham town centre!
Brass Monkeys promises everything from traditional Christmas carols to lively street performances, with brass bands bringing plenty of festive cheer to the town centre throughout the day.
The entertainment takes place between 11am and 4pm and is completely free to enjoy, so it’s a lovely way to add a little Christmas magic to a shopping trip without spending a penny.
Winter Wonderland Saturday in Oldham Town Centre – Saturday 12th December 2026
Oldham town centre will be getting into the festive spirit with a Winter Wonderland Saturday packed with free family entertainment.
Look out for the Winter Fairy, dancing Christmas tree and bouncing snowmen, along with festive activities from Spindles Kids Club.
The fun takes place between 12pm and 4pm and is completely free to enjoy.
Santa Saturday in Oldham Town Centre – Saturday 19th December 2026
There’s more free festive fun planned for Oldham town centre this Christmas with Santa Saturday!
Expect festive characters, circus elves, Rockin’ Robins and Christmas brass music, bringing plenty of Christmas cheer to the town centre.
The entertainment takes place between 12pm and 4pm and is completely free to enjoy, making it another lovely way to get into the festive spirit without spending a fortune.
Summit Up, Egerton St, Oldham OL1 3SE
Top of my list of things to do in Oldham with kid is to pay a visit to Summit Up. This purpose built climbing centre has something for everyone with a soft play for the little ones, one of the largest Clip n Climbs in the country and then roped climbing walls and bouldering too making it somewhere the whole family can enjoy.
You can read more about visiting Summit Up Oldham here:
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Daisy Nook Country Park, Stannybrook Rd, Failsworth, Oldham, Manchester M35 9WJ
Daisy Nook is a country park in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England, which runs through the Medlock Valley.
There’s plenty to explore with a huge lake which plays host to an array of wild life (we’ve spotted a heron before now!), woodland, two play areas (one of which has recently been refurbished) and waterways – there even used to be a couple of highland cows but they’ve moved on now.
You can read more about visiting Daisy Nook Country Park here:
Daisy Nook Country Park – Walks with Kids
Horse riding lessons at Daisy Nook
Oldham Library, Greaves St, Oldham OL1 1AL
One of my favourite things about Oldham Library is the tiny theatre which we make a point of visiting each Christmas (you can find our reviews here). Oldham Library itself is huge and as well as being able to borrow books, you’ll find regular story telling sessions, rhyme times and craft activities as well as special events throughout the year.
You can find out what’s going on at Oldham Library and other libraries in the area here.
Oldham Leisure Centre, Cannon St, Oldham OL9 6EJ
There are six leisure centres across Oldham – Royton Leisure Centre, Chadderton Wellbeing Centre, Saddleworth Pool & Leisure Centre, Failsworth Sports Centre and The Radclyffe Athletics Centre – all offering a range of activities for children and young people including teen only gyms and swimming pools. The main Oldham Leisure Centre itself is our favourite when it comes to taking the kids swimming in Oldham (though parking can be tricky if it’s busy).
You can find out what’s on at Oldham Leisure Centre here.
Gallery Oldham, 35 Greaves St, Oldham OL1 1AL
Gallery Oldham is a free-to-view public museum and art gallery in the Cultural Quarter of central Oldham.
You can explore a range of exhibitions, events and activities at Gallery Oldham. Find out more about what’s on at Gallery Oldham here.
Gallery Oldham are usually well involved in Illuminate Oldham too which takes place each February.
Lancaster Park and Animal Farm, Middleton Road West, Chadderton, Oldham OL1 2TG
Lancaster Park & Animal Farm is a small family-run farm in Chadderton where you can feed the horses, miniature donkeys and alpacas or get more hands on with the smaller animals in the petting barn.
Lancaster Park and Animal Farm host seasonal events including lamb feeding, Halloween and Christmas.
You can book tickets to visit Lancaster Park and Animal farm here.
Cockfields Farm, Lees Rd, Oldham, OL6 8AR
Cockfields Farm host regular special events throughout the year including bonfire night, Christmas, Easter and Father’s Day to name but a few! Typically tickets for special events are more expensive but personally I prefer to visit the farm when there’s a bit less going on and you can focus on feeding and stroking the animals in the Animal Barn and Cuddle Corner. There’s an outdoor play area, a bouncy pillow and a sizeable cafe.
You can read more about visiting Cockfields Farm here:
Cockfields Farm Park – Review & Tips
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Tandle Hill Country Park, Tandle Hill Rd, Royton, Oldham OL2 5UX
Tandle Hill Country Park is a country park in Royton, Greater Manchester, England. It consists of approximately 110 acres, a combination of beech woodland and open grassland and offers breath-taking views of Greater Manchester. The park contains a countryside centre, picnic areas, children’s play area and numerous trails and paths into the surrounding area.
Parking for Tandle Hill Country Park is limited.
You can read more about Tandle Hill Country Park here:
Tandle Hill Country Park with kids
Dovestone Reservoir
Dovestone Reservoir is an absolutely stunning place for a walk (and maybe even a little paddle in the stream) but it’s also incredibly popular. Parking is extremely limited and Dovestone can get very busy so it’s always worth having a back up plan.
You can read more about visiting Dovestone Reservoir here:
Dovestone Reservoir – Walks with kids
Alexandra Park, 5 Kings Rd, Oldham OL8 2BH
Alexandra Park Oldham (not to be confused with the Alexandra Park Manchester in Whalley Range) is a Victorian town park featuring a boating lake, the busy boathouse café, free to use tennis courts, bowling greens, a children’s play area with sand pit, public toilets and beautifully maintained ornamental gardens.
There is plenty of space in Alexandra Park for riding bikes, exploring and picnics!
Parking at Alexandra Park is free but limited. There is on road parking available too.
You can read more about visiting Alexandra Park here:
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Treasure Trail Spy Mission in Uppermill
I did this one with the boys a few years ago when everyone else was back in school and they had a cheeky inset. It made for a lovely way to explore Uppermill, showing us bits of the town we might not otherwise have seen!
There’s no need to pre-book – simply choose your trail (Treasure Trails cost £9.99), print it out and you’re ready to go explore! Use code RaF-5233635590189Ra to earn 10 footsteps on your Treasure Trail account if you’re a new customer.
I definitely recommend popping down to Greene’s Bistro for some lunch or an ice cream when you’ve finished your trail too!
Saddleworth Museum and Gallery, High St, Uppermill, Oldham OL3 6HS
Saddleworth Museum is an independent museum in the village of Uppermill – you can learn about the history of Saddleworth and Oldham. The canal-side gallery provides additional space for the local community and is regularly used for exhibitions, presentations and fund raising events.
The Saddleworth Museum and Gallery is open from 1 – 4pm every afternoon and costs £3 for adults or £6 for a family.
Grandpa Greene’s, Ward Ln, Diggle, Oldham OL3 5JT
Grandpa Greene’s ice cream parlour and cafe in Diggle is well worth a visit if you’re in the area. If you want to sit down for breakfast or lunch at Grandpa Greene’s then I highly recommended booking – if you just want an ice cream then be ready to queue!
(They’ve recently opened Greene’s Bistro in Uppermill which is situated near the park so is perfect for an ice cream or a hot drink if you’re in the area)
You can read more about visiting Grandpa Greene’s here:
Huddersfield Canal Path to Grandpa Greene’s – Walks with kids
Grandpa Greene’s Ice Cream Parlour
Castleshaw Centre for Outdoor Education, Waterworks Rd, Delph OL3 5LZ
If your children go to school in Oldham and the surrounding area you’ll have probably heard of Castleshaw as it’s a popular destination for school trips and residentials but did you know that they also do activity days during the school holidays? These are great for developing social skills and making new friends! Last year Amy and Erin spent a day at Castleshaw kayaking – I think it cost us about £45 and they had a great time!
You can find out more about what’s on at Castleshaw by keeping an eye on their facebook page.
Bounce Central Oldham, Alexandra Retail Park, Park Rd, Oldham OL4 1SA
Recently refurbished, Bounce Central boasts over 65 trampolines creating a giant bounce area and a jungle themed soft play. They offer open jump sessions, Toddler Time for little kids, and birthday parties.
You can read more about visiting Bounce Central here:
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Illuminate Oldham – February 2027 TBC
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
Illuminate Oldham returns for it’s 9th year. This free light festival brings larger than life light installations to Oldham town centre on Saturday 21st February.
Explore from Gallery Oldham to Parliament Square, Oldham Parish Church, and the Queen Elizabeth Hall and see Oldham in a new light.
You can read more about Illuminate Oldham here:
Illuminate Oldham – tips for attending!
Free Bunny Hunt, Oldham Town Centre – April 2027 TBC
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated asap
From Monday 7th to Monday 21st April this year, bunnies will be hiding around Oldham town centre waiting for you to hunt them out! Grab an entry from from Spindles (near Next) or the Market (near the Market Office), write down the bunnies’ names and locations and then put your completed form into the special post box for the chance to win a prize!
Nostalgic Oldham, Oldham town centre – September 2027 TBC
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
Nostalgic Oldham takes place on Saturday 19th September and is completely free to attend.
Expect vintage and classic cars, circus performances, live music, street entertainment, Saddleworth Morris Men, children’s crafts with Oldham Archives and performances from Oldham Theatre Workshop and other local groups. A huge new community mural by local artist Dave Draws will also be unveiled in The Market.
Check the full programme of events here.
Feast of Fire, Oldham Town Centre – Saturday 31st October 2026
There will be no Big Bang Bonfire Night event on Oldham Edge again this year. Instead, Oldham Council hosted a free Feast of Fire celebration in the heart of Oldham town centre, combining Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Taking place around Parliament Square between 5.30pm and 7.30pm, the event featured spectacular fire performances from Juggling Inferno and Helter Skelter Arts, alongside The Lips Halloween Show by Puppets with Guts.
Families could also meet Bessemer the fire-breathing dragon and Toni the giant bat before enjoying a fireworks display to round off the evening.
Feast of Fire was completely free to attend, with no tickets required.
Parking was also free in council-owned town centre car parks from 3.30pm.
You can find bonfire and fireworks events in the Greater Manchester area here!
Family friendly things to do in Oldham
Hopefully I’ve given you some good suggestions of things to do in Oldham with kids – I think it’s easy to forget what’s on our own doorsteps sometimes isn’t it? If you know of family friendly things to do in Oldham that should be on this list, let me know!
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