Living in Leigh

Living in Leigh

Leigh offers the perfect balance of suburban tranquillity and urban accessibility. Positioned neatly between Manchester and Wigan, the town has a well-established community feel — unhurried enough to feel genuinely neighbourly, yet with enough going on to keep daily life convenient. In recent years the town centre has been undergoing regeneration, and the results are starting to show: independent cafés and restaurants sit alongside traditional pubs and long-standing local businesses, giving Leigh a character that blends the familiar with the fresh. For outdoor space, Pennington Flash Country Park is a particular highlight — a large country park built around a lake and wetland habitat, popular with walkers, cyclists and birdwatchers throughout the year. Leigh Sports Village adds a modern leisure dimension, with a stadium, gym and swimming facilities that serve the wider borough.

Schools and education

Families moving to Leigh will find a solid range of schooling options at every stage. At secondary level, Fred Longworth High School in nearby Tyldesley is one of the better-known local choices, with a long-standing reputation in the area. There are several primary schools within and around the town covering both Church of England and non-faith options, meaning most families will have choices within a reasonable distance of home. As with anywhere, it's worth checking current Ofsted ratings and admission boundaries directly with Wigan Council, as these can change — but the overall provision in this part of Greater Manchester is generally well-regarded. For further and higher education, Wigan and Leigh College has a campus in the town, and Manchester's universities are readily accessible for older students.

Transport and connectivity

Leigh's location is one of its strongest practical assets. The town sits on key road corridors connecting Manchester to the east and Wigan to the west, making it a genuinely useful base for commuters heading in either direction. For rail travel, the nearest stations are at Atherton and Walkden, both of which offer regular services into Manchester city centre — typically taking under 30 minutes. Regular bus services connect Leigh town centre to Manchester, Wigan and surrounding communities, and the network is reasonably frequent throughout the day. Manchester Airport is accessible by car or public transport for those who travel regularly, and the wider motorway network is within easy reach, opening up connections across the North West.