Greater Manchester Urban Area

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The Greater Manchester Urban Area is the term used by the Office for National Statistics for the large conurbation surrounding Manchester in northern England. According to the 2001 census the area had a population of 2,240,230.

The area includes much, but not all of the Greater Manchester Metropolitan county, and includes some towns which are not part of Greater Manchester such as Wilmslow. It is made up of the core districts of Manchester (itself), the City of Salford, Bolton, Oldham, Stockport, Rochdale, Bury, Tameside and Trafford. The area is sometimes informally referred to as just Manchester. Various institutions associated with Manchester, such as Manchester United actually are based outside the City.

Wigan, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is by ONS definitions separate from the main urban area, although some parts of the Borough are included. Wigan, with Ince-in-Makerfield forms a separate Wigan Urban Area, with the gap coming between Ince (Wigan) and Hindley (Greater Manchester).

Other urban areas, in particular Glossop and Golborne are also only narrowly avoided.