Wigan is well served by both rail and the regional motorway network. The M6 motorway has exits at Ashton In Makerfield in the south and Standish in the north as well as the main exits for Wigan at junctions 25 and 26. The town also has two stations, Wigan North Western which is run by Virgin Trains and has services to London Euston (2h15m) and local services to Liverpool (23 miles), and also Wigan Wallgate station, which deals with local services to Manchester (16 miles).
The M61 is also nearby, the nearest exit being J6. This will take you via rural Westhoughton and Aspull into Wigan town centre.
Wigan is also well served by buses from around the region, including direct services to Bolton, Manchester and Preston.
Manchester International Airport is in reasonably close proximity, some 25 miles away, whilst Liverpool John Lennon Airport is almost equidistant.
Though Wigan town centre is generally quite compact, the borough itself is large and spreads from Ashton In Makerfield in the south to Appley Bridge in the north and comprises some 305,000 residents. The bus network is generally your best bet, but there are of course taxis and several suburban railway stations such at Pemberton, Bryn, Gathurst and Hindley to name but a few.
If you don't want to stray from the town centre, you can easily get around on foot without too many problems, though some find Wallgate and Standishgate a little hilly.
Wigan's main tourist attraction is Wigan Pier, though this in itself is meant to be an ironic joke, perpetuated by George Formby. The "pier" itself is a small wooden overhang where canal barges used to load cotton from nearby mills. It has its own visitor centre and a pub called the Orwell. As of 2006, Trencherfield Mill has been sold off to property developers for redevelopment.
The JJB Stadium is home to Wigan's two top league teams. Wigan Athletic currently play in the English Premier League, while Wigan Warriors are the most decorated Rugby League team in Europe and currently play in the European Super League. The stadium is to the south of the town centre, some 20 minutes' walk. The stadium is well signposted from the motorways with brown tourist signs.
Wigan's shopping choices are generally good, with The Galleries shopping mall featuring both indoor and outdoor shopping. Standishgate is the main street of Wigan, festooned with your usual favourites such as Mothercare, WH Smith, Debenhams etc.
[Haigh Hall][http://www.wlct.org/leisure/haigh/haighhome.htm] is a large country park owned by the local council and is well worth a visit. Apart from the historic hall itself, there are acres of well kept grounds and parkland, as well as two golf courses, the Balcarres of 18 holes and the Crawford of 9. Both courses were recently renovated at a cost of millions, and provide a good test for a golfer in beautiful and serene surroundings.
As well as lots of space to ramble, there is a kid's playground, Stables shops and cafe and in the summer, there are usually inflatable fair attractions such as bouncy castles and slides etc. Owing to ramblers, golfers and the like, the park does get extremely popular, especially in warmer weather, but is well patronised all year round. The Leeds and Liverpool canal runs through the counry park in it's circuit along the Douglas Valley which sees it loop around Wigan on three sides. The canal towpath is navigable by foot in the whole of Wigan borough and passes through a diverse mix of rolling countryside, suburbia and traditional industrial landscapes of renovated cotton mills. There are numerous pubs along the towpath for the thirsty walker.
Going away from Wigan, Pennington Flash in Leigh is going towards Manchester and has a lot of space for ramblers, bird watching facilities and a golf course.
In Ashton-In-Makerfield is the Three Sisters Racing Circuit, a popular venue for motorbike and karting events. The area also has a nature reserve and kids play area and is well worth a visit on event day.
As mentioned previously, all the major chains have an outlet in Wigan.
Try to take home a tin of "Uncle Joes Mint Balls" . These sweets are made in the area and can be found on the shelves of Harrods in London amongst other places ! See next section.
The local delicacy is the pie, so you may wish to try one from one of many of the dozens of shops in the town centre. Other options are available, such as Italian and more in the suburbs, but the town centre tends to focus more on fast food.
Wigan is also home to Uncle Joe's Mint Balls, a local sweet made in the town by Wm. Santus and Co. The factory is on Dorning Street and they also have an outlet in the town centre, selling sweets in a variety of containers and also branded goods.
Wigan's night life is legendary and many travel from miles around to sample its atmosphere. The main attraction is King Street in the town centre - a venue so rambunctious, it is gated at one end to prevent traffic from hitting drunken revellers spilling out of the myriad pubs and clubs on a mere few hundred yard stretch. It contains most of the chain bars that are found in most British towns and is the downmarket end as far as Wigan nightlife goes. Generally fun earlier in the evening, by the early hours it's not for the faint of heart as the rush for taxis and kebabs hots up.
As well as King Street, there are many converted old banks on Wallgate but arguably the most interesting establishment has to be the John Bull Chop House. Set in the Wiend (a back street behind JD Wetherspoon on Library Street), the pub is 4 old cottages knocked through and was a seafood shop, dating back to the 1700's and as such is an architectural curiosity, full of sloping floors and ceilings and old style brick work. As well as it's looks, the pub is generally popular with the biking/rockers fraternity and serves many guest beers. Don't be put off, they are an extremely welcoming crowd and will give you the best night out in Wigan with no hint of trouble. It has a renowned juke box and hopefully you'll like rock tunes, as that's all you will get out of the oversubscribed jukebox all night. The pub had one of the most well known landlords in Wigan Harold Burgess, Harold struggled with ill health for many years and his wife Margaret ran the pub for many years until his death. His funeral had a 100 motorbike escort. Following Harolds sad loss Margaret retired but their daughter Victoria has taken up the mantle to keep the John Bull as it has been for close on 30 years. Harolds License plate from over the door is framed inside just as you aproach the bar in tribute to the great man. The Anvil on Hallgate near the bus station is a traditional friendly boozer, with fantastic beer at very reasonable prices. The pub covers most sporting events and is a magnet for Wigan rugby fans. The Tudor house on New Market Street, a slightly dingy but very atmospheric late bar, appeals mostly to students and the 'alternative' crowd. Real ales are available here. The Swan and Railway, directly opposite North Western station, is a very traditional pub with an attractive mosaic interior, offering a good selection of beers. Just to the north of the town centre, Standishgate and Wigan Lane are the focal point of the 'Lane' pub scene. There are many pubs along here but the most popular are The Royal Oak and the Bowling Green. Both have a wide selection of British and Continental beers and regularly feature music an buffets. The Bowling Green in particular has a fine interior and timeless atmosphere.
There are many hotels in the borough of Wigan to suit all price ranges.
The main trunk road up the North West of England, the M6, passes the town. The M58 and M61 provide quick and easy access to the regional centres of Manchester and Liverpool. Wigan North Western station is on the West Coast Main Line and provides hourly services to London (3hrs) and Birmingham (1 and a half hours) and direct services to many other major British cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, Oxford and Southampton. It also provides some regional services, with 3 trains an hour to Liverpool and an hourly service to Blackpool. Wigan Wallgate is about 200yds up the road and provides the majority of regional services, with four trains an hour leaving for Manchester. Bolton, Kirkby, Rochdale and Southport can also be reached from here.