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Royal Mail Services in Rochdale
Send letters and parcels, buy postage, get proof of posting, collect a missed delivery and set up mail redirection — all at the counter at Gale Street Post Office in Syke.
Open 7 days · Mon–Sat 09:30–20:00 · Sun 09:30–16:00Special Delivery cut-off · Mon–Fri 16:45 · Sat 11:45Free proof of postingParcelforce for heavy items
Royal Mail UK services
Everything below is available over the counter at this branch. Choose by how fast you need it and how much certainty you want.
| Service | Delivery aim | Tracking | Signature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Class | Aims to deliver the next working day | No | Add Signed For |
| 2nd Class | Aims to deliver within three working days | No | Add Signed For |
| Signed For 1st Class | Next working day aim | Delivery confirmation | Signature on delivery |
| Signed For 2nd Class | Two to three working days aim | Delivery confirmation | Signature on delivery |
| Tracked 24 | Next working day aim | Tracked to the delivery point | Signature optional |
| Tracked 48 | Two to three working days aim | Tracked to the delivery point | Signature optional |
| Special Delivery by 1pm | Guaranteed by 1pm the next working day | Full tracking | Photo and signature |
| Special Delivery by 9am | Guaranteed by 9am the next working day | Full tracking | Photo and signature |
Prices change at Royal Mail price reviews, so we do not list them here. Ask at the counter and we will quote the exact price for your item on the day.
Is it a letter or a parcel?
Royal Mail charges by size before weight. These are the four UK formats.
Letter
- Max length and width
- 24 x 16.5 cm
- Depth
- Up to 0.5 cm thick
- Weight
- Up to 100g
Greetings cards, documents, a single thin item.
Large Letter
- Max length and width
- 35.3 x 25 cm
- Depth
- Up to 2.5 cm thick
- Weight
- Up to 750g
A4 documents, magazines, a slim boxed item.
Small Parcel
- Max length and width
- 45 x 35 cm
- Depth
- Up to 16 cm deep
- Weight
- Up to 2kg
Most clothing, small boxed goods, returns.
Medium Parcel
- Max length and width
- 61 x 46 cm
- Depth
- Up to 46 cm deep
- Weight
- Up to 20kg
Bulkier boxes. Above 20kg it goes Parcelforce.
Royal Mail prices by the smallest box an item fits through, not by what is inside it. Rolled or cylinder-shaped items have their own rule: length plus twice the diameter must not exceed 104 cm, and the longest side must be no more than 90 cm. Bring it in — we will measure and weigh it for you.
How to post with us — four simple steps
From packing it at home to walking out with your proof of posting.
Pack it properly
Use a box or padded envelope that suits the contents. Seal every seam. Loose or bulging packaging is the most common reason an item is refused.
Address it clearly
Full address and postcode on one side, your return address on the back or inside. We can print a label if you have bought postage online.
We weigh and measure
We check it against the Royal Mail size boxes at the counter and tell you the format, the service options and the price.
Pay and take your proof
Pay by card or cash, then take your free proof of posting. Special Delivery and Tracked items also give you a tracking reference.
Postage and payment
Four ways to sort the postage, whichever way you arrive.
Buy postage at the counterWe work out the format and service with you, then print and attach the postage. Nothing to do beforehand.
Card or cashContactless, chip and PIN, or cash. Card is accepted for any amount.
Bought online already?Bring the QR code or the printed label. If you only have the code on your phone, we can print the label here.
Free proof of postingAsk for it as you hand the item over. It cannot be issued later, and it is what a claim rests on.
Collect your parcels here
Missed a delivery? Have it sent to us and pick it up when it suits you.
Missed a delivery?If Royal Mail left a “Something for you” card, you can arrange a free redelivery to this branch and collect it from our counter.
Bring the card and one IDOne valid ID in the name on the card — passport, driving licence, or a credit or debit card. Collecting for someone else means photo ID plus proof they live at that address.
Allow 48 working hoursRoyal Mail needs 48 working hours notice to move an item to a branch, so it will not be here the same day.
Held for 18 calendar daysAfter that the item goes back to the sender. Check the card or your tracking for the exact date.
Some retailers also let you pick this branch as the delivery point when you order, which Royal Mail calls Local Collect. Either way, it is the same counter and the same ID.
Moving home or business? Mail redirection
Set up Royal Mail Redirection with us at the counter.
3, 6 or 12 monthsChoose the length that suits the move. You can start the application with us at the counter.
Proof of who you areA current passport, driving licence, EU identity card, credit or debit card or bank book. For under-16s, a birth certificate.
Proof of your old addressDated within the last 6 months. An original utility bill or bank statement works. A mobile phone bill or store card statement does not.
Everyone with a different surnameEach person on the form who does not share the main applicant’s surname needs their own ID and proof of old address.
Redirection moves your post to the new address; it does not tell anyone you have moved. Update your bank, employer, GP and the electoral roll separately.
What you cannot send
The questions we are asked most often at the counter.
Anything explosive or flammableFireworks, lighters, lighter refills, flammable liquids and gases, and anything corrosive.
Loose lithium batteriesBatteries fitted inside the device they power are treated differently from loose ones. Ask before you seal the parcel.
Aerosols, perfume and nail varnishThese are restricted rather than banned outright, and the UK rules differ from the overseas rules.
Ask before you seal itIt takes ten seconds at the counter and saves the item being refused or returned.
This is a plain-language summary of the questions we are asked most often, not the full legal list, and the rules are different for UK and international post. The definitive list is Royal Mail’s own: see the prohibited and restricted items guidance, and check with us before posting.
Ask the Royal Mail assistant
Quick answers about this branch. For anything specific to your item, please call or come in.
Before you visit
| Opening hours | Open 7 days · Mon–Sat 09:30–20:00 · Sun 09:30–16:00. Bank holidays may differ. |
|---|---|
| Royal Mail — Special Delivery | Final acceptance Mon–Fri 16:45 · Sat 11:45 for next-day delivery guarantee. Later Saturday acceptance remains available, but next-day delivery cannot be guaranteed. |
| Evri and DPD drop-off | Check in branch — cut-off times can vary. |
| Sunday collections | There are no collections on Sundays. |
| Payment | Card or cash. Card accepted for any amount. |
| Heavy items | Above 20kg we send by Parcelforce, up to 30kg. |
Quick information
| Branch | Gale Street Post Office, 3-5 Gale Street, Syke, Rochdale OL12 0SQ |
|---|---|
| Telephone | +44 1706 725399 |
| Opening hours | Open 7 days · Mon–Sat 09:30–20:00 · Sun 09:30–16:00. Bank holidays may differ. |
| Special Delivery cut-off | Mon–Fri 16:45 · Sat 11:45 for the next-day delivery guarantee |
| Carriers handled | Royal Mail, Parcelforce, DPD, Evri and Amazon |
| Payment | Card or cash, card accepted for any amount |
| Heaviest item | 20kg by Royal Mail, up to 30kg by Parcelforce |
Quick QR codes
Point a phone camera at any of these.
Track an itemOpens Royal Mail tracking
Buy postage onlineBring the code to the counter
Get directionsOpens the route in Google Maps
Call the branchDials +44 1706 725399
Royal Mail UK FAQs — Gale Street Post Office
What are the last posting times for Royal Mail here?
For Royal Mail Special Delivery, next-day delivery is guaranteed when accepted by these times: Mon–Fri 16:45 · Sat 11:45. We may still accept items later on Saturday, but next-day delivery cannot be guaranteed. Evri and DPD cut-off times can vary, so please check in branch for the latest cut-offs. There are no collections on Sundays.
Is my item a letter, a large letter or a parcel?
Royal Mail prices by the smallest size box the item fits through. A Letter is up to 24 x 16.5 x 0.5 cm and 100g. A Large Letter is up to 35.3 x 25 x 2.5 cm and 750g. A Small Parcel is up to 45 x 35 x 16 cm and 2kg. A Medium Parcel is up to 61 x 46 x 46 cm and 20kg. Bring it in and we will measure and weigh it at the counter.
Do I get a receipt or proof that I posted something?
Yes. Ask for a free proof of posting when you hand the item over. It is not issued afterwards, so ask at the time. Tracked and Special Delivery items also give you a tracking reference on the receipt.
Can I collect a parcel here if I missed the delivery?
Yes. If Royal Mail left a card, arrange a free redelivery to this branch and collect it from our counter. Bring the card and one valid ID in your name. Redelivery needs 48 working hours notice, and items are held for 18 calendar days before being returned to the sender.
Can I set up mail redirection at this branch?
Yes, for 3, 6 or 12 months. Bring proof of identity and a proof of your old address dated within the last 6 months. Anyone on the application with a different surname to the main applicant needs their own documents.
What is the heaviest parcel you can send?
Royal Mail accepts UK parcels up to 20kg. Above that we send by Parcelforce, which takes items up to 30kg. Bring it in and we will work out the right service with you.
Can I send batteries, aerosols or perfume?
Some are restricted rather than banned, and the rules differ between UK and international post. Please ask at the counter before you seal the parcel, and check the official Royal Mail prohibited and restricted items guidance.
Do you handle international post and customs forms?
Yes. We can complete the customs declaration with you at the counter. Bring a description of the contents and their value, and leave the item unsealed if you can.
Which carriers can I use at this branch?
Royal Mail, Parcelforce, DPD, Evri and Amazon. Cut-off times differ by carrier, so please check in branch on the day.
Where are you and when are you open?
We are at 3-5 Gale Street, Syke, Rochdale OL12 0SQ. Open 7 days · Mon–Sat 09:30–20:00 · Sun 09:30–16:00. Bank holidays may differ, so please call to confirm.
Need to post something today?
Open 7 days · Mon–Sat 09:30–20:00 · Sun 09:30–16:00. Special Delivery next-day guarantee cut-off · Mon–Fri 16:45 · Sat 11:45.