Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It is known as the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town was also swept up in the Industrial Revolution in which it became a coal mining and cotton-spinning centre in the UK.

The amount of positive energy this city possesses is more than enough to attract millions of tourists each year. From magnificent concert halls to excellent shopping malls, it harbors a rich collection of cultural heritage. But with a closer look, you will be amazed by its cultures, humbled by the generosity and friendliness of the locals, and of course, its thumping nightlife and excellent eateries.

1. What makes Wigan unique?
2. Wigan popular attractions
3. Nightlife in Wigan
4. Sports in Wigan
5. Food in Wigan
6. Shopping Centres and Markets in Wigan
7. Festival and events in Wigan
8. Wigan living costs
9. Travel in and around Wigan
10. Explore the UK from Wigan

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1. What makes Wigan unique?

The town featured prominently in the English Civil War, when its loyalty to the crown was rewarded with a ceremonial sword. Wigan initially shone during the industrial revolution: Despite being one of the Lancashire mill towns, it was also big in coal mining and at its peak there were over 1,000 pit shafts within 5 miles of the town centre.

Wigan has also been famous as being at the cutting edge of popular music ever since local resident George Formby exploded onto the local indie scene with his mix of Ukulele and feedback, seen today in the town as the role model for Kurt Cobain. It was also the birthplace of The Eight Lancashire Lads, a dancing troupe who gave the young Charlie Chaplin his professional debut.

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2. Wigan popular attractions

Wigan is full of fun things to do and unique places to visit. Despite being just a town, within this wonderful place are numerous spots you can not miss, including:

• Haigh Woodland Park. The park belongs to the Medieval grounds of Haigh Hall, a country house last rebuilt in 1840 and now a hotel. Amid beeches, oaks, sycamores and horse chestnuts, the 500-acre park has something for all comers.
• Museum of Wigan Life. The stately Elizabethan Revival building withholds a museum that showcases everything from archaeology, natural history, fine art, industrial history, social history and applied art.
• Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green. The mine operated from 1912 to 1970 and now is a chance to come to terms with a way of life that has disappeared in the space of a generation.
• Mesnes Park. Wandering along the paths you’ll see a sweet old bandstand, and statue of the local Conservative politician, Sir Francis Sharp (1911).
• Leeds and Liverpool Canal. As the longest single canal in the UK, it weaves through Wigan on a 127-mile course between its two namesake cities.
• Wigan Pier. This historic wharf is an industrial architecture, it's a sight not to be missed should you come to town.
• Trencherfield Mill. One of the restored industrial behemoths on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is the cotton-spinning Trencherfield Mill, erected in 1907.
• Church of St. Wilfrid. The parish church in the nearby village of Standish has a Grade I listing, and in the 20th century was described as “one of the most interesting churches in Lancashire.”
• The Old Courts. This Victorian courthouse on Crawford Street has been converted into a multidisciplinary arts centre run on a non-profit basis. It is also a labyrinthine complex with a few performance spaces in its walls.
• DW Stadium. This is a bold modern arena for its two sports teams, Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors.
• Wigan Flashes Local Natural Reserve. There’s a diversity of habitats around eight flashes, including scrub, swamp, reed beds and woodland, making it perfect for a leisure walk.
• Wigan Little Theatre. This construction has been a fixture of the town’s arts scene since 1943.
• Three Sisters Circuit. Marketed as the North West’s most challenging race circuit, this location is somewhere for petrolheads young and not so young to get a hit of high-octane fun.
• Borsdane Wood. To the east of the borough is a big tract of semi-natural ancient woodland that has survived since the 17th century.

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3. Nightlife in Wigan

Wigan is a party city in England with a thriving nightlife. From the abundance of clubs, pubs and party-venues, you can never ask for a better way to be entertained. Described as one of the most vibrant cities for clubbing, there has been profound progress in its bustling night scene.

If you fancy a ramble around Wigan’s pubs, you will have plenty to choose from. A great place to start at is Harry’s Bar on the bustling Wallgate. Within a stone’s throw of other great food and drink joints, this historic pub is full of character. It offers a wide variety of drinks at reasonable prices, big screens showing live sports events. From there, you could move on to John Bull Chop House, an award-winning watering hole that dates back over 500 years. This pub serves a total of 17 draught beers, as well as ciders, wines, spirits and bottled beverages, meaning even the most experienced of drinkers will be spoilt for choice.

If you are looking for a more calming atmosphere, perhaps for some laid back drinks at a cocktail bar, then Revolution on King Street is a stylish one with an extensive drinks list. The patrons of Wigan flock here at weekends to take advantage of the great music, regular drinks deals and late opening hours. Cocktails are the speciality, but they also serve a range of wines, beers and spirits. You can also visit Wigan Central which is an award-winning bar on Queen Street. Here, you should definitely try one of the real ales, which are expertly kept and frequently rotated, meaning you are likely to find something you have never tried before.

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4. Sports in Wigan

Wigan is home to the Football League One team, Wigan Athletic F.C whose home games can be enjoyed at the DW Stadium.

Other state-of-the-art facilities open to the public include:

• Robin Park Leisure Centre
• Wigan Life Centre
• Wigan Leisure and Cultural Trust
• FX Leisure
• Leigh Leisure Centre
• Scotman's Flash Activity Centre
• Howe Bridge Leisure Centre

5. Food in Wigan

Eating out in Wigan isn’t all about pie barms and pasties. There is, in fact, a fantastic selection of restaurants serving up fresh, tasty food inspired by cuisines and cultures from around the world. None more so than Fat Olive on Upper Dicconson Street in the town centre. This modern eatery creates delicious international food with an added Lancashire twist, sourcing many of their ingredients from the local area.

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For a truly authentic taste of the Mediterranean, head to Franco’s on Rodney Street, opposite the Museum of Wigan Life. Situated in a Grade-II listed Victorian building just across the road from our Wigan Town Centre hotel, this restaurant serves some of the best Italian food around. Using ingredients sourced directly from Italy, the authentic pasta and pizzas are definitely worth trying.

If you are in the mood for a great Indian meal, just head to Billinge. Located around five miles from Wigan town centre, Babar Elephant is renowned for its great curries, freshly baked naans and excellent customer service. Lastly, if you just want a different dining experience, then visiting La Sentidos Loca is a fabulous Tex-Mex restaurant that will give you some mouth watering eatery. Here, you will find amazing tacos, fajitas and steaks, as well as a superb cocktail menu, all served in comfortable Texan themed surroundings.

If you are heading out for lunch, or just fancy taking a break with a coffee and a slice of cake, there are plenty of great places to go in Wigan. Centrally located on High Street is Mrs Lyon’s Tea Room which is a quaint little café serving some of the best cakes around. Here, you will receive a decadent stand of delights including a variety of sandwiches, scones, cake, shortbread biscuits and, of course, a lovely pot of loose-leaf tea served in vintage China.

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6. Shopping Centres and Markets in Wigan

Wigan is a great place for holiday shopping and has many hundreds of independently owned stores and high-street chains selling a vast range of goods, throughout the main towns. There are also a number of specialist shops, including jewelleries, art galleries, toy stores, antiques dealers and seaside gift shops, as well as countless boutiques.

The Grand Arcade is a covered shopping centre located in Wigan town centre. Built in 2007, it consists of more than 40 retailers gaining an annual footfall of 6.3 million people. The centre includes a fabulous line up of stores including Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, River Island, Boots, Pandora and many more.

The Galleries is a shopping complex in the town centre of Wigan, Greater Manchester owned by Wigan Council. It is divided into three sections formed from three formally independent schemes: The Galleries Shopping Centre, Marketgate Shopping Centre and The Makinson Arcade.

For an exclusive grocery shopping experience, stepping inside the Windy Arbour Farm Shop, your local independent grocer with everything you need to eat finest fresh local produce and much more. Whatever your tastes, however you eat, they have got a wide range of fresh produce, complimenting shelf products and terrific treats to make your weekly shopping experience look, feel and taste better, all with knowledgeable and friendly staff.

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7. Festival and events in Wigan

Since 1986, Wigan has hosted an international jazz festival. Wigan remains a centre of popular music for young people, with a number of alternative pubs/clubs in the town centre. The town also has a music collective which exists to promote the scene and help out local musicians and bands. Some of Wigan’s unique events festival includes:

• Haigh Music Festival. An annual music festival that attracts thousands of people.
• World Pie Eating Championship. An eating competition that was held ever since 1992.
• Wigan Diggers Festival. A celebration of life and ideas of Wigan born and bred Gerrard Winstanley & the 17th Century Diggers' (True Leveller) Movement.
• Wigan & Leigh Film Festival. A celebration that showcases up-and-coming talent from across the world from comedies and dramas to documentaries and animation.
• Wigan International Jazz Festival. Formed in 1986 in response to the region’s growing audience for jazz and big band music created in part by the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra.

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8. Wigan living costs

Budget guide:

• One-way Ticket (Local transport): £3.00
• Meal out: £13.20
• Fast Food (McDonalds): £5.25
• Gasoline (1 litre): £1.27
• Cinema ticket: £8.62
• Taxi (normal tariff): £1.13

9. Travel in and around Wigan

By train

There are two railway stations in Wigan town centre. Wigan North Western is on the north–south West Coast Main Line. Virgin Trains provides express trains to London Euston, Birmingham, Lancaster, Carlisle, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Northern Rail has trains to Preston and Blackpool and a regular local service along the line to St Helens and Liverpool Lime Street.

Wigan Wallgate serves lines running east and west from Wigan and the Northern Rail provides trains to Southport and Kirkby.

There are also frequent local services that operate to Bolton and Manchester, with most trains from Wigan continuing through to other destinations such as Manchester Airport, Stockport, Rochdale, Huddersfield, and Todmorden.

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By bus

The current network of local buses, coordinated by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and departing from bus stations in the town centre, serves Wigan and surrounding districts. Wigan bus station is also served by National Express’ long-distance coach services. Bus companies operating in the area include Stagecoach Manchester, Arriva North West, Diamond Bus North West, Maytree Travel, Wigan Buses and Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire.

By boat

Wigan is on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and is epitomised by Wigan Pier. There is also a branch of the canal from Wigan to Leigh, with a connection to the Bridgewater Canal linking Wigan to Manchester.

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10. Explore the UK from Wigan

Wigan is much-loved by locals and visitors. It is not only an impressive town of innovation but also a great base to explore the rest of the UK. There are countless cities and attractions that can be perfect for a family trip or even a short city break.

Manchester

Widely known to the world as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester has a proud history in politics, science, sport, and arts. In this place, you will find numerous museums, art galleries, sport stadiums, that will fulfill your every desire.

Popular for its youthful, diverse, bustling, and energetic vibes, it is one of the most exciting cities to visit in the UK where everyone is warmly welcomed to experience all it has to offer. Whether it is from shopping at the Trafford Centre or watching an intense football match at Old Trafford, this city offers something for everyone.

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Liverpool

With just a 41-minute car drive, Liverpool is a perfect location for that family trip that needs to be on your list. Most famous as a port during the late 19th and early 20th century, it is also the birthplace of the famous rock group The Beatles and is attractive for 2 football teams, Everton F.C. and Liverpool F.C.

In 2001, the Guinness Book of Records recognised Liverpool as the World Capital of Pop because local artists have had so many number 1 hits, and for being the birthplace of the world's greatest ever musical group.