Elk Mill Centre Retail Park is located in Royton, Oldham and is easily accessible on a slip road…read morethrough the M60 . This isn't the place you would go to shop, it does have a few shops like Currys PC World and ASDA Living but for big names, they isn't loads, This is in a nice location however and does have some good places to eat, even though most of them are fast food, places include Mcdonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC as well as Frankie and Bennies and Nando's. The retail park also does have a garage inside of it, but I would recommended just getting your petrol from Tesco, due to their Petrol Price promise for clubcard holders where they knock off 20p at most a litre depending on how much you have spent in store. The retail park, unlike Manchester Fort for example does not have a website stating their current stores, news and whats going on, vacancies etc, what for a professional retail park with so many places, should be a must. This retail park does have shops, a few large ones like a Currys PC World and an Argos but to be honest it is somewhere you would come to eat, rather than shop so I can only give 2 stars.

Having grown up just around the corner from ELK MILL retail park I have seen it grow and change and…read morebecome a Oldham town staple and necessity. It's perfect for those looking to make a quick errand or go on a mini shopping spree with a mix of stores ranging from next to Asda George, Boots to Maplin, DW Sports Gym to Smyths toy store and many more! They also have your standard chain restaurants and fast food vendors. There really is EVERYTHING you could ever want and need somewhere in this retail park. I haven't been for a few months and found today that they have re-done the car park making it easier to get around and actually find a spot - it's a huge improvement! I won't lie, it can get busy especially around Christmas/Boxing Day and of course whenever there's a next sale on but I don't think I've ever been unable to get a car parking spot! Honestly I don't know what I'd do without this place and I actually have some very happy childhood memories from here... Yes I was really cool when I was a kid and hung around on a retail park - who didn't ;)

Manchester Fort is a large retail shopping park, just under a mile away from Manchester city…read morecentre. It does seem a little strange having a retail park so close to the city centre, where other areas of Greater Manchester are left behind but the selection of places to shop is fine, while the selection of eateries could be much improved, due to a lack of restaurants that aren't just fast food. There's a good number of coffee shops here, including Costa, Dunkin and Starbucks, the latter two have opened within the past 18 months or so, so are fairly new additions. Places to eat include KFC, Pizza Hut, Nando's and Subway. There is also a McDonald's right next to the Fort with a drive-thru (The Fort claim this to be part of the shopping park on their website) The selection of stores is okay and includes TK Maxx, Superdrug, Sports Direct, Boots, and Argos. There are also a couple of phone shops, nothing too exciting, but a decent number of stores that could save you a trip into the city centre. A couple of stores have closed recently, but with the aftermath of COVID and the fact the city centre (where many of these brands have stores, many of which are larger) is so close, this has to be expected. It is pretty easy to follow the layout, there are a couple of benches around the shopping park and some shelter to help stay dry if there's a light drizzle. Plenty of parking, meaning you shouldn't struggle to get a space somewhere. I do think the pedestrianisation could be improved for other retail parks, given the fact there are three main areas, which may mean crossing a road or going through the car park, if you're at one end of the Fort, you may have to use your car to get to adjacent McDonald's or Currys across the way. 3*

I have visited Manchester Fort regularly over the years, but I have been far more impressed during…read moremy latest visits over the past weeks, which is due to the discovery that the Shopping Park now has a Nike Outlet Store and a H&M. Since when? Fantastic! Although the H&M was smaller to what one would find in Manchester City Centre, it still has a good range of stock and very well organised, full of stylish shoppers. The Nike Outlet is, once again, smaller to what one would find in other Outlet Malls, but the range of stock, sale items, and discounts are very impressive. Personally I am seeking some new trainers for the gym, and found a great selection at bargain prices. The staff in the store are welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable. They certainly have that US Customer Service mindset, which I welcome wholeheartedly. I can see myself becoming a regular here, especially when the Summer of Fitness is upon us. The Shopping Park also boasts a TK Maxx, which I am a big fan of, and I have often found that they have a good range of stock, and I have purchased some excellent items here from clothes to home decorations. The store seems to have had a recent refurbishment to extend the first floor space, which opens out the whole store. As well as, fashion and clothing, one can find a variety of stores at this Shopping Park, and not just clothing and outlets. Manchester Fort has: Halfords Store, for all car, cycle, and motorcycle accessories; B&Q, for all home and garden DIY needs; a technologically modernised Argos, full of tablet-ordering-system and a varied system that the normal Argos shopping experience. Other stores include: Clarks, Mamas&Papas, Boots, Superdrug, M&S Food, Card Factory, Game, Maplin, Sports Direct, Specsavers, Thomas Cook, Shoe Zone, Mothercare, Thomson Holidays, Trespass, and Pound World (you can never go wrong when you have a pound shop to hand. Big fan!) For food, one can visit one of Manchester's many Nando's and KFC establishments here. I love Nando's but I haven't yet visited the one here in the Shopping Park. I think I should, don't you?

Branded is one of the more-newer additions to the Middleton Shopping Centre, but still has been…read morehere for over a year now, possibly even longer but compared to other stores such as Poundworld, Whsmith, Wilko and Middleton News, there time in this shopping mall is small, like the time humans have spent on Earth to the dinosaurs. This Branded store is a decent size, mainly selling Clothing and Sportswear, and really gives SportsDirect a run for its' money, and despite being smaller than the new SportsDirect store, it still is a nicer place to shop, with a small range of shoes and trainers in the window. They do sell a good range of Branded goods including Nike and Adidas, some clothes I have never seen before at other stores such as SportsDirect. Most items seem competitive pricing, this is a small store and is worth a look in if you're in the area, every now and then but the stock can change quite a lot, meaning sometimes there may be some nice stuff in, and sometimes there isn't. It is only quite a small store as well, so you can't expect much, but it is okay, although possible just on that line of average, maybe inches below, sadly it doesn't warrant anything over a high 2 star rating, other than 2 5, but I give two as I feel it is much fairer than a three, which Branded hasn't proved to warrant yet.

The Rock, Bury or 'New Bury' as some call the Rock, is a large 300 million development…read more Pedestrianized with £70k flats towering above shops a plenty such as Debs, M&S, Next, Costa, Subway; Vue Cinema, AMF bowling, Nandos etc. Free car parking after 6 pm (multi-story). St. Johns Gardens are a nice place to sit if it is warm. And there is a right good 99p shop there too. Love the place. Tai food opposite the gardens. Heaps of bike racks used as extra ram-raid stoppers near the clubs.

Wow shopping madness wasn't this busy over Christmas. Maybe people shopping last minute for…read morenew years eve. Great vibe everyone in high spirits.

Dear,oh dear,oh dear...it looks like Oldham has come down with a severe case of empty shopitis, a…read morecondition that is taking hold of most town centres these days. Even though it is only about 5 miles down the road from me,i very rarely go into Oldham any more,and on the back of todays experience it will be even longer before I go back again. All that is missing from Spindles and next doors old shopping centre us tumbleweed. I was shocked at just how many of the shops had closed down since my last visit,and with rents and rates being what they are these days it is unlikely they will be filled anytime soon. It seem as though Oldham is suffering from the same things as my home town of Rochdale.How Waterstones is managing to stay open i'll never know, and seeing as HMV has closed down, looking at books was all that was left for me to do. Depressing,very depressing....Shame...

This is the first time I've ever been to Oldham. and I went to the shopping centre it was ok lots…read moreof chain shops. It has a carpark attached to the shopping centre which was free on a Sunday for four hours.

Bury Market. World famous, apparently. I'm somewhat doubtful about the world famous claims, though…read moreit is an excellent market. Whatever you might need, for household items, or food shopping its all here, and all at great prices. The various meat, cheese and bakery stalls are amazing. The quality of the food is always top notch, everything is so fresh as its coming straight to the market from the manufacturer or supplier. My main problem is that I always end up going home with a pile of chocolate and cakes because the prices seem too good to be true!! Then theres Black puddings! This is the home of the Black pudding and if you like them, theres nothing better than a freshly cooked one eaten outdoors with lashings of tomato ketchup. Theres a couple of stalls in the outdoor market selling them. The layout of the market is somewhat haphazard, but for a very occasional visitor like myself, its nice to just wonder around taking it all in. I'm sure there are parts I've missed though. The location of the market is very convenient for public transportation, being right next to Bury Interchange which houses a bus station and a Metrolink tram station.

My local market- happens to be pretty famous too! Came here on a Friday to show my American friend…read moreCaitlin around- it was really sunny and the perfect day to stroll around. There's an indoor market with a huge selection of meat and fish, as well as other various stalls selling bits and bobs like clothes, handbags, homeware etc. There's also an outdoor part with stalls selling fruit and veg, lancashire cheeses, jams and spreads, sausages...you name it. Great to have a wander and try all the samples being handed out...before you know eat you feel like you've eaten a meal! You can also buy flowers, control knickers, bras...clothes...none of it fashionable, mainly for the OAPs. Bury is famous as the home of black pudding, I'm not a huge fan of it myself but you can come and buy it from a couple of stalls here. I've been to markets all over the world, this isn't an 'artisan' market, a lot of it is bargain tat, but I like coming here to buy meat/fish and things to cook with. Makes a change from going to Tesco and I like the atmosphere.