- according to www.visitmanchester.com :

'Wigan is a surprisingly diverse destination. There's heritage, miles of countryside, sporting glory, shopping, vibrant nightlife, popular festivals, and the best in northern character and hospitality.'

The Top 5 things to do in Wigan

1. Haigh Hall and Countrypark

2. Museum of Wigan Life

3. The Leeds-Liverpool Canal

4. Shopping in Wigan

5. The Trencherfield Mill Engine - Power Fest 2012 today 11am - 4pm

Does your Top 5 agree with that of www.visitmanchester.com?

Tonker alert on number 1

Post corrected sorry jarvo.

I beg your pardon?

Hindleyite: Please explain your comment...

I think Hindleyite has possibly mistaken you for Tonker, Jarvo.

Tonker would dispute that 1. Haigh Hall Country Park is in Wigan, Jarvo - hence Hindleyite's rightful alert. I think he put your WW name in place of Tonker's, by mistake.

Oh...I see...

Where is the Museum, Jo anne?

It's in Library Street, Jarvo - formerly known as The History Shop*.

Museum of Wigan Life

(*Tonker has warned us not to buy everything there, too.)

Thanks, Jo anne.

Cannot believe thev'e left out having a cocktail in the Last Orders or the Clarence, peasents!

You're right, Nightshift - www.visitmanchester.com have neglected to include Wigan's nightlife in their Top 5.

I think Wigan Little Theatre would be in my Top 5, ahead of the Museum of Wigan Life. (I miss having the cinema in the town centre, too.)

"Tonker would dispute that 1. Haigh Hall Country Park is in Wigan"

Indeed! As well as -
2. Museum of Wigan Life, isn't about 'Wigan life'
3. The Leeds-Liverpool Canal, but only 1.5% of it is in Wigan and it's only water, no different than the rest of it.
4. Shopping in Wigan, need I say more?

5. The Trencherfield Mill Engine, should be placed at number 1.


I would also dispute that Wigan is in Manchester!
and that anybody visiting 'Greater Manchester' would consider visiting Wigan, unless they had to.

haigh country park.no1 attraction?

potholed car park costs £1.50p

dearest cafe in christiandom.

rides all £2 for two minutes,try that with 6 grandkids in tow.

muddy tracks all over the woods.

an my mates lad says its the wettest golf course his ever been on, £20 at the w/e for coming off like you have been a fortnight in the trenches.

some no1 attraction, shoot the ceo of wigan leisure trust.

no wonder people give wigan a miss.

Checking the Parish Church clock.

Jo anne - is there a plaque search thingy? I'm sure I saw something recently when the Borough in Bloom thing was on - plaques on buildings and there is a guide.

Or maybe that was just to do with the flowers - I'll have to have a google.

Don't forget the dam.

And the nearby Tyldesley monument.

A plaque search thingy seems vaguely familiar, Veg Grower? Dostaf, did you post something about blue plaques, recently?

Dostaf - and the nearby Tyldesley monument Tsk.

Blue plaques have been recently mentioned, Jo Anne, but I'm struggling to remember. Possibly the Frank Randle and George Formby ones. Are there any more?

VG, Tyldesley Monument. Not far from the dam.

You didn't think I meant Bongs, did you? The only bongs in Wigan are in the Parish Church. (Expect contradictions)

Dostaf - no, I know where the monument is, there is a dam where he was born too.

(Expect contradictions) I should think so too!

Where was he born, VG?

Saves Tonker asking later.

English Heritage - Blue Plaques Search London Boroughs + downloadable info about Liverpool & Merseyside, Southampton, Birmingham and Portsmouth

Not convinced about bongs and the appeal of the parish church's clock. The dam does deserve a mention.

Dostaf - Tonker, wouldn't ask - he would tell you in no uncertain terms.

Good job I checked seems he wasn't born where I thought he was. He was born in Woodplumpton.

'Good job I checked'

You mean it was a good job I checked you?

I won't tell him if you don't, VG.

The bongs are important to some of us, Jo Anne.

Yes, but this thread is considering the 'top' things to do in Wigan.

Jo anne - with respect, it was Dostaf who brought up the subjects of Tyldesley, Bongs etc. send him in the corner, its his fault.

Watching the traffic lights change.

Veg Grower - I was responding to Dostaf's mischievous mention of bongs - I don't mind other places being mentioned at all.

'mischievous mention of bongs'

Bongs = Tyldesley

Bongs also = The lovely noise from the Parish Church.

Don't forget watching the bacon slicer at the co op.

The lovely noise from the Parish Church - doesn't really make Wigan more appealing though, Dostaf. Nor traffic lights changing. Mischief!

I heard the bird scaring sounds emitted from Wigan Life Centre recently - people might flock to hear those.

Glad you've heard it, Jo Anne.

Bloody awful din.

Enough to fricken everybody away. Supposed to be the noise of a distressed pigeon, apparently.

I heard it vaguely in the background whilst walking from The Grand Arcade onto Millgate(?) and only stopped to attend to it properly due to you mentioning it on WW. (I tried to capture the sound on video, but it was ineffective) I listened incredulously - it's a bit surreal.

You could always have No 1 - Fast train from Northwestern Station. I'm sure that is in Wigan.

It is, Bobbygal.

Two steam locomotives + eleven coaches should be spotted there on Monday, 29th Oct at 19:43.
recent thread

bobbygal Are you any relation to the Gallaghers who used to live in Sherwood Drive Worsley Hall. Sorry to go off topic.

No Marie, I'm a Kitt Greener from way back. I'm not a Gallagher. Very close though!!!

Did you know tonker that it is a well known fact that repeating yourself will send you mad.

I personally have spent many a happy hour just staring at the big face in Millgate and pondering on the meaning of life!

It definitely drives the rest of us mad, Kerry.

The Vertical Face is undoubtedly something that's made Wigan big-headed, Nightshift, and is a good place for reflection.

I really have to add my 2p cos there was no mention of having a Pie in a Pie shop

That can be a contentious issue, Piccyme123. I prefer vegetable pasties.

Skateboarding on 'the marble'.

catch the Bus into Leigh