Wigan

Wigan is a Town in the county of Greater Manchester.

Wigan, a significant town situated in Greater Manchester, England, stands as a testament to a rich industrial past and a heritage that dates back to the Roman times. Historically part of Lancashire, the town expanded drastically during the Industrial Revolution, particularly due to its coal mining and textile manufacturing industries. The remnants of this era, including the impressive Wigan Pier, a wharf on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, serve as stark reminders of the town’s vibrant history. Today, Wigan Pier has evolved, no longer bustling with industrial activity, but an emblematic site featuring a mixture of residential, cultural, and leisure spaces.

The town of Wigan is not only known for its industrial endeavours but also for its significant contributions to music and sports. It is home to the World Pie Eating Championship, which whimsically nods to the local affection for pies, and the town’s inhabitants are colloquially known as “pie-eaters”, a nickname that historically stems from a miners’ strike in the 1920s. In music, Wigan’s Northern Soul scene, particularly at the famous Wigan Casino, was a significant cultural phenomenon in the 1970s. The Casino, an iconic nightclub, attracted scores of enthusiasts to its regular all-nighters, putting Wigan on the map of Britain’s music scene.

Sports also play a considerable role in Wigan’s cultural identity. The town is home to the Wigan Warriors, one of the most successful Rugby League clubs in the UK, and Wigan Athletic, a professional football club. The devotion to these teams is palpable, with local support permeating everyday life and contributing to the town’s unique character.

Moreover, Wigan offers a blend of urban and natural spaces. The town centre is a bustling hub with an array of shops, traditional pubs, and eateries, while on the outskirts, you’ll find beautiful green spaces and country parks, such as Haigh Woodland Park, offering residents and visitors a respite from urban life. The town continues to evolve, balancing its industrial past with modern developments, all while maintaining a strong sense of local identity and community spirit.

Wigan postcode: WN1 3RN

Retail in Wigan

There are great places to visit near Wigan including some great towns, hills, ancient sites, round cairns, hiking areas, old mines, ruins, historic sites, lakes, historic monuments, rivers and streams, woodlands, geological features, nature reserves, villages, historic buildings, country parks, waterfalls, events, bluebell woods, sssis, parks, shopping centres, gardens, canals, cities, museums, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.

The area around Wigan features a number of interesting towns including Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.

Hills to visit near Wigan include Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge.

There are a number of ancient sites near Wigan including Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.

There are a number of round cairns near Wigan including Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill.

Hiking Areas to visit near Wigan include Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, Burnt Edge, and Turton Moor.

Wigan's best nearby old mines can be found at Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), and Prospect (ruin).

Wigan has some unmissable ruins nearby like Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, Ouzel Hall (site of), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin), and Burnt Edge Colliery (ruin).

Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area are great places to visit near Wigan if you like historic sites.

Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir are great places to visit near Wigan if you like lakes.

Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial are great places to visit near Wigan if you like historic monuments.

Wigan has some unmissable rivers and streams nearby like Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook.

Wigan's best nearby woodlands can be found at Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.

Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough are some of Wigan best geological features to visit near Wigan.

There are a number of nature reserves near Wigan including Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Aspull Sough, Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve, and Pennington Flash.

There are a number of villages near Wigan including Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Whelley, and Standish.

Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate are some of Wigan best historic buildings to visit near Wigan.

There are a number of country parks near Wigan including Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, Pennington Flash, and Burrs Country Park.

The area around Wigan boasts some of the best waterfalls including Roscow Clough Waterfall, Smithills Hall Park Waterfall, Langshaw Ford Weir, Raveden Clough Waterfall, Raveden Plantation Waterfall, Yarrow Reservoir Overflow Cascade, and Upper Rivington Reservoir Yarrow Outflow.

Events to visit near Wigan include Rivington Pike Easter.

The area around Wigan features a number of interesting bluebell woods including Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park.

Nob End SSSI is a great place to visit close to Wigan if you like sssis.

Wigan's best nearby parks can be found at Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.

Wigan has some unmissable shopping centres nearby like Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale.

There are a number of gardens near Wigan including The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.

The area around Wigan features a number of interesting canals including Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal at Prestolee, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Haigh, Top Lock at Wigan, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Shevington, Rochdale Canal Western Section, and Bridgewater Canal.

Salford, and Manchester are some of Wigan best cities to visit near Wigan.

The area around Wigan boasts some of the best museums including Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and The Imperial War Museum Salford.

The area around Wigan features a number of interesting disused railway lines including The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline.

The area close to Wigan boasts some of the best moated sites including Wigan Golf Club.

Airports to visit near Wigan include Manchester Airport.

Wigan History

There are some historic monuments around Wigan:

Areas of Wigan

Like most towns and cities Wigan is comprised of a number of areas, once separate villages or small towns and parishes now part of Wigan.

Wigan History

Areas of Wigan

Places to see near Wigan

History of Wigan

Lakes near Wigan

Canals near Wigan

Rivers near Wigan

Things to do in Wigan

Shopping in Wigan

Where to Eat in Wigan

Services and Trades in Wigan

Mist, Mines and Ruins