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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Kieran Isgin

The best things to do in Wigan - from captivating theatre plays to wonderous nature walks

There's plenty to keep your, the family or the littles ones entertained in and around WIgan.

From quiet nature walks to high octane racing events, no matter your interests, Wigan will be able to provide something for you to get stuck into.

Many of the activities you'll find are open throughout the week which means you don't have to wait until the weekend to see what you can get up to in Wigan.

With that out of the way here is a breakdown of our top 10 things to do in Wigan.

Haigh Woodland Park

Haigh Woodland Park's play area for kids (Manchester Evening News)

Haigh Woodland Park offers a wide range of exploration activities for kids and adults while promoting a fun and healthy lifestyle.

Activities include high rope courses, adventure golf, a miniature railway, and wooded hiking trails.

The park is not too far away from the city centre and is only a small driveway with a spacious car park included for large vehicles.

Open from 8am to 6pm every day of the week..

Haigh Woodland Park is located on School Lane, WN2 1PE.

The Old Courts

The Old Courts offers a wide range of activities for all kinds of people (Adam Vaughan)

Based in the middle of the town centre, The Old Courts is a large art centre that is easily accessible while offering plenty of facilities.

A wide range of activities are hosted at the art centre which change on a weekly basis which can be found on the programme section of their website here.

Some of the centre's facilities include The Grand Caulty which provide live performances, The Old Court Theatre, The Isherwood Gallery and much more.

Open 10am to 5pm Monday - Friday. The Old Courts are on Crawford Street, WN1 1NA

Fairy Glen

Fairy Glen is perfect for a short yet quiet walk in nature (Lancs Police)

Fairy Glen is a nice little patch of greenery in Wigan which is perfect if you want to spend a bit of time away from the hustle and bustle of Manchester.

It is a great way to spend a quiet weekend.

It's important to note though that there is no car park at Fairy Glen and street parking is limited, therefore it may be a good idea to take public transport.

Fairy Glen s near Parbold. To find it the postcode is WN8 7TG.

Wigan Roller Rink

Wigan Roller Rink provides the full roller disco experience complete with cheesy light, music and the odd event every now and then.

The venue also offers snacks, a cafe, as well as a licences bar if you're looking for something a bit stronger, although it's probably not the safest idea to drink and roll!

Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 7pm to 9pm and open Saturday and Sunday 11am to 1pm, 2pm-4pm and 7pm to 9pm

Wigan Roller Rink is just outside the town centre, WN3 5BD.

Wigan Little Theatre

Wigan Little Theatre hosts a wide range of plays while heavily focusing on new productions and modern adaptions of classic stories such as Stevenson's Treasure Island.

If you fancy yourself a bit of an actor, they are also regularly holding auditions for upcoming productions - who knows, you could be the next star!

Wigan Little Theatre is on Crompton Street, WN1 3SL.

Three Sisters Racing Circuit

This is one for the car enthusiasts among you.

Three Sisters Circuit operates an outdoor race circuit which, surprisingly, offers family-friendly activities alongside licences races.

While your child might not jump into an F1 vehicle, they can get involved in karting events which are available for ages eight and upwards.

They also offer pro carts for adults which are capable of speeds of up to 60mph.

Three Sisters Race Circuit is in Ashton-in-Makerfield, WN4 8DD.

Museum of Wigan Life

This museum boasts a collection of Wigan's hidden gems which tell the history of the area and surrounding areas.

From Roman settlement to Northern Soul at Wigan Casino, the museum's local exhibit will be able to tell you the history of your area which you are likely unaware of.

Furthermore, their Ancient Egyptian exhibition was featured on BBC 2's Immortal Egypt with Joann Fletcher.

New exhibits are frequently being added to the museum so it's always worth visiting more than once to see what new things you can discover.

Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

The Museum of Wigan Life is on Library Street in the town centre, WN1 1NH.

Grange Farm

(ABNM Photography)

Grange Farm is an operating farm which is frequently growing new things while offering plenty of seasonal children's activities such as Halloween pumpkin picking,

The farm also provides a tearoom for a relaxing break as well as animal feeding, an indoor play barn, an outdoor play area, tractor rides and a maize maze.

Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5.30pm and on Sunday from 9am to 2pm.

Grange Farm is just over the border, and is Lowton, WA3 1JU.

Grand Arcade

(Copyright Unknown)


Wigan's central shopping centre is perfect for a day out if you're in need of some new clothes or other fancy items which can be bought from the high street shops located in the Grand Arcade.
The shopping centre also provides a few cafes so you can rest and have some food and a coffee before carrying on your big shopping spree.

Open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5.30pm and on Sunday from 10.30am to 4.30 pm

Grand Arcade is in Crompton Street, WN1 1BH.

Wigan parish church

(Adam Vaughan)

This historic All Saints' church allows visitors to explore the grounds on weekends which will help in taking in the historic and beautiful architecture of the building.

The interior of the church is adorned with intricate stained glass and idols while also regularly hosting music and local events for the community.

Wigan Parish of All Saints Church is on Bishopgate, WN1 1NL.

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