Living in Rochdale
From large family houses to smart modern apartments, Rochdale has a huge variety of affordable homes to rent and buy. And our vibrant neighbourhoods have the facilities to match.
A town for culture and heritage
Rochdale is the birthplace of cooperation, and the cooperative spirit still permeates the town.
We celebrate our unique history at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, located on the site of the original cooperative store.
Touchstones is the Borough’s art and heritage centre, with regularly changing exhibitions and a packed timetable of family activities, workshops, talks, educational events and more.
A year long calendar of cultural events - from foodie feasts to festivals of literature and music - rounds off a vibrant cultural scene.
A town centre to be proud of
Our town is being transformed.
A £250 million regeneration programme is delivering a new leisure and retail heart alongside state-of-the-art civic facilities and transport infrastructure.
The opening up of the River Roch has brought medieval charm to the heart of the town centre.
The Rochdale Riverside leisure and retail complex will open in 2020, when Number One Riverside - the new home to the town’s central library, council offices and customer service centre - will also welcome Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s full size diplodocus skeleton.
Work is also beginning on the multi-million pound restoration of Rochdale’s magnificent Victorian Grade I listed Town Hall. And there’s much more to come…
An active town
Getting out and about is easy in Rochdale.
Eight Green Flag parks mean an attractive green space is never far away. Hollingworth Lake is our watersport hub, where you can sail, kayak and windsurf against a striking Pennine landscape.
Wonderful walking routes criss-cross the Borough. Organised groups - from bird watchers to history spotters - help everyone make the most of their unique surroundings.
Rochdale is home to a wide range of quality sport, fitness and recreation facilities – like Middleton Arena, Rochdale Leisure Centre, Heywood Sports Village and Littleborough Sports Centre.
A town for families
An impressive 85% of the Borough’s schools are rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, but families need more than good schools.
We offer family activities across all our Link4Life venues (from leisure centres to art galleries), alongside a full calendar of family fun days, activities for under 5s and school holiday programmes.
Our calendar of special events - from the Children’s Literature Festival in July to the Artisan markets - is designed with families firmly in mind.
A town for nightlife
The rejuvenation of our town has created a profusion of cafes, bars and restaurants. A multi-screen cinema will open as part of the Rochdale Riverside project.
Rochdale hosts the annual Feel Good Festival, a music festival across multiple venues, and the hugely popular Rochdale Food and Drink Festival, among many others.
Outside the town centre, Middleton Arena and Heywood Civic Centre offer a rolling programme of live music, comedy, theatre, pantomime, cinema, NT Live theatre and community events.
A connected town
Live in Rochdale and you have the culture and entertainment of an entire region on your doorstep. Rochdale lies at the heart of Greater Manchester and the Northern Powerhouse, and trams, trains and buses speed you into the centre of Manchester in as little as 15 minutes. If you’re looking further afield, Manchester’s International Airport - the UK’s busiest outside London - is your gateway to the world.
Profiles
Louise Scott, H Bell & Son
Louise Scott is the fourth generation of her family to work at...
Joanne James, director, PLP Construction
Joanne James has been around the world – but the only place she...
Sarah McDowell, founder, The Leader Centre
Sarah McDowell is a massive advocate of three things – Rochdale, education and...
Going to Waugh for Rochdale
Political editor Paul Waugh has revealed the part his hometown of Rochdale...
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Stuart Collinson, BDM, Premier Automotive
Stuart Collinson is the business development manager in fleet sales at Kia...
Steve Kuncewicz, board member, RDA
Steve Kuncewicz is one of Manchester’s most high profile lawyers – but...
John Fitton, MD, Office Supplies Now
John Fitton always planned to start his own business – and said Rochdale...
Why Rochdale is great for business
Clare Coria is one of the most familiar names in Rochdale’s...
Tim Fairley, managing director of PDS
Tim Fairley is the boss of one of Rochdale’s biggest success...
Dave Brereton, Myson Pages
Dave Brereton is born and bred in Rochdale and is best known...
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