Wigan

Wigan district sits in Greater Manchester in North West England. The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan includes the town of Wigan and surrounding towns such as Leigh and Ashton-in-Makerfield, and stretches from low-lying river valleys to former coalfield areas. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs through the borough and passes the stretch known as Wigan Pier, where old mill buildings and canal wharves mark the industrial past. Pennington Flash Country Park and Haigh Hall Country Park occupy flooded pits and woodland that follow the district's mining history.

Rail connections include Wigan North Western on the West Coast Main Line and Wigan Wallgate on local suburban routes, linking the district to Manchester, Liverpool and Preston. The town centre houses markets, the Museum of Wigan Life and civic buildings, while sports are represented by Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium. Community events combine working-class traditions with local quirks; a recurring feature is the annual pie-eating competition that draws attention to the town's food and social scene. Regeneration projects have adapted former industrial sites for housing, retail and parkland.