Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester (historically in Lancashire), sitting on the banks of the River Douglas close to the West Pennine Moors. It expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution around coal mining, canals and textile mills, and today shows a mix of Victorian terraces, transport links and ongoing post‑industrial regeneration with distribution and light manufacturing still important to the local economy.
Culturally Wigan is famous for Wigan Pier, immortalised by George Orwell, and for the Northern soul scene centred on Wigan Casino; its sporting life is dominated by rugby league’s Wigan Warriors. The town retains a strong working‑class identity, lively community activity and a sense of civic pride alongside the social and economic challenges of reconversion.
Postcode districts covering Wigan
Most populated places nearby
- Manchester 17.9 miles28.9 km
- Liverpool 14.6 miles23.6 km
- Birkenhead 20.5 miles32.9 km
- Preston 16.1 miles25.9 km
- Oldham 22.2 miles35.7 km
- St. Helens 7.7 miles12.4 km
- Warrington 11 miles17.6 km
- Burnley 23.6 miles38 km
- Blackburn 16 miles25.7 km
- Blackpool 24.7 miles39.7 km
- Bolton 9 miles14.6 km
- Stockport 22 miles35.4 km
Neighbouring places
- Douglas Ward 0.6 miles0.9 km
- Wigan West Ward 1 mile1.7 km
- Wigan Central Ward 1.1 miles1.8 km
- Worsley Mesnes Ward 1.1 miles1.8 km
- Ince Ward 1.3 miles2.2 km
- Ince-in-Makerfield Built-up area 1.5 miles2.4 km
- Pemberton Ward 1.6 miles2.5 km
- Winstanley Ward 2 miles3.2 km
- Land Gate Built-up area 2.4 miles3.9 km
- Haigh Parish 2.4 miles3.9 km
- Platt Bridge and Abram Built-up area 2.7 miles4.3 km
- Aspull, New Springs & Whelley Ward 2.7 miles4.4 km
Example postcodes in Wigan
WN5 9DE, WN3 6EP, WN6 7JB, WN3 5JE, WN5 9SS, WN3 5XF, WN1 3NW, WN3 6GE, WN1 1YF … See all
Transport links
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport 16.9 miles27.2 km
- Manchester Airport 19.9 miles32.1 km
- Wigan Wallgate Railway Station 0.3 miles0.4 km
- Wigan North Western Railway Station 0.3 miles0.6 km
Hotels near Wigan Ad
- Holiday Inn Express Wigan 3 1.4 miles2.3 km
- Best Western Plus Lancashire Manor Hotel 4 4.3 miles6.9 km
- The Hinds Head Hotel 5.9 miles9.5 km
- The Kirkfield Hotel 6.1 miles9.8 km
- The Bolton Stadium Hotel, A Member of Radisson Individuals 4 5 miles8.1 km
- The Wrightington Hotel & Health Club 4 4.3 miles7 km
- Holiday Inn Haydock M6 Jct23 4 4.6 miles7.3 km
- Holiday Inn Express Leigh - Sports Village 3 5.8 miles9.4 km
- Ibis Styles Haydock 3 5 miles8.1 km
- Kings Arms Hotel 9.5 miles15.2 km
Schools in Wigan
- Beech Hill Community Primary School Primary
- Canon Sharples C of E Primary School and Nursery Primary
- Hawkley Hall High School Secondary
- Highfield St Matthew's C of E Primary School Primary
- Holy Family RC Primary School, New Springs, Wigan Primary
- Hope School Special
- Mab's Cross Primary School Primary
- Marsh Green Primary School Primary
- Marus Bridge Primary School Primary
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Primary
- St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Wigan Primary
- St Catharine's C of E Primary School Primary
- St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School Wigan Primary
- St James' C of E Primary School Primary
- St John Fisher Catholic High School Secondary
- St John's C of E Primary School Primary
- St Jude's Catholic Primary School Wigan Primary
- St Mark's C of E Primary School Primary
- St Mary and St John Catholic Primary School Primary
- … See all
Local points of interest
- Wigan Athletic FC Stadium 0.6 miles1 km
- DW Stadium Stadium 0.6 miles1 km
- Haydock Park Racecourse Recreation 4.6 miles7.4 km
- University of Bolton Stadium Stadium 5 miles8 km
- Lathom House Estate 7.4 miles11.9 km
- Octagon Theatre, Bolton Theatre 8.9 miles14.4 km
- Meadow Hey Wood Forest 11.9 miles19.1 km
- Dam Wood Forest 12 miles19.3 km
- Spring Wood Forest 12 miles19.3 km
- Such Hey Wood Forest 12 miles19.4 km
- Salford City Stadium Stadium 12 miles19.4 km
- Old Wood Forest 12.4 miles20 km