Standing on the banks of the River Douglas, Wigan may not immediately strike you as being a hub for tourism, but it's a town with plenty of history and many stories to tell. With over 200 listed buildings, there's a great deal of heritage to be explored here, as well as museums, parks and galleries. The town's waterways also provide plenty of opportunity for cycling and walking.
Wigan is also known for its culture, and in addition to its music festivals it is also the home of the annual World Pie-Eating Championship, attracting competitors from all over the world!
Sport is incredibly popular here, and the DW Stadium is shared by both Wigan Athletic Football Club and the Wigan Warriors rugby league team, providing outstanding facilities for both home and away supporters. Badminton is popular here too, and the town also boasts an inline skating team.
Wigan was one of the first towns in the country to be connected by the railways, and since then it has flourished into an economic hub with a huge variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment. If the bustle of Wigan town centre is too much for you, then it's easy to escape into the surrounding area to explore places like Standish and Aspull at a rather more sedate pace.