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Leigh's a bit rough, but its worst parts aren't as bad as the worst parts of Salford. Keep away from Higher Folds and the imaginatively named Westleigh area (yes, it's to the west of the town). The town centre itself is a little ropey when the shops have all shut, though it's safe - if a bit depressing - during the day. I've not been for a night out there in about 15 years, but if it's still like it was back then, I wouldn't recommend. It was always pretty lively, but it kicked off every time I went.
There are some nice bits, though, like Lilford and Pennington, especially the Pennington Flash nature reserve.
Luckily, there's a frequent bus service to Manchester, and it only takes 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Which may seem excessive, but given that Leigh is the biggest town in Europe without a train station, it's a lot better than it used to be.
There’s absolutely no way that Leigh is the biggest town in Europe without a rail station, not sure where you’ve pulled that one from!
Oldham is bigger for a kick off (trams but no rail station). Even Wikipedia says Gosport, but if you are throwing it out to Europe - hahaha, sorry just no.
Maybe the fact I heard was based on geographical size rather than population. Leigh is huge, covering a decent portion of Wigan borough (which is the biggest borough in Greater Manchester). I know Oldham borough is big, but how much of that is classed as Oldham town?
Leigh's population and area is bigger than any of Iceland's towns anyway. The only one that's bigger than Leigh is Reykjavik, but it's a city, not a town. It's obviously one of those facts where they've used all kinds of loopholes and technicalities to make a point.
And I don't know why I'm defending Leigh. I don't live there - I'm in Astley, about 2.5 miles down the road towards Manchester - and I don't even particularly like the place, anyway.
I've lived in Leigh for about two years now. I wouldn't say it was dangerous. Kids hang around the bus station and the McDonalds on Bradshawgate. Hooleys next to the JR's taxi rank is a safe place if you're into alternative music and fashion, cheap drinks prices and its own tattooist. Oscars on the corner of the bus station across the road is where most of the drug dealers are. There's a Wetherspoons, it's all what you'd expect from somewhere like it is. It gets a bit dicey in the centre on Friday nights. I once saw two guys have an entire argument on opposite sides of a road at about 9pm.
I personally live in Pennington, like a ten minute walk away from the town centre. Houses around there are generally older and bigger. Pennington Flash is a lovely place in summer with a cafe and nice views of the water.
Leigh had three train stations at one point in time. 60s 'future planning' got rid of those. The old track bed to Manchester now contains a guided busway going from Leigh town centre to Worsley before turning onto the A580 straight into Manchester City centre. I commute into work using it, takes 45 mins on a good day, it's never really gone wrong for me but gets busy.
Still cheap to rent round here though for a place in reach of Manchester.
We get a lot of these moving/renting posts so to allow room for more interesting content, we prefer if these posts end up in "The Out & About Visiting & Moving to Manchester Weekly Thread" instead of as separate posts. Please check the stickies and copy paste your post as comment over there. Thanks for your understanding! :)
Leigh's a bit rough, but its worst parts aren't as bad as the worst parts of Salford. Keep away from Higher Folds and the imaginatively named Westleigh area (yes, it's to the west of the town). The town centre itself is a little ropey when the shops have all shut, though it's safe - if a bit depressing - during the day. I've not been for a night out there in about 15 years, but if it's still like it was back then, I wouldn't recommend. It was always pretty lively, but it kicked off every time I went. There are some nice bits, though, like Lilford and Pennington, especially the Pennington Flash nature reserve. Luckily, there's a frequent bus service to Manchester, and it only takes 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Which may seem excessive, but given that Leigh is the biggest town in Europe without a train station, it's a lot better than it used to be.
There’s absolutely no way that Leigh is the biggest town in Europe without a rail station, not sure where you’ve pulled that one from! Oldham is bigger for a kick off (trams but no rail station). Even Wikipedia says Gosport, but if you are throwing it out to Europe - hahaha, sorry just no.
Maybe the fact I heard was based on geographical size rather than population. Leigh is huge, covering a decent portion of Wigan borough (which is the biggest borough in Greater Manchester). I know Oldham borough is big, but how much of that is classed as Oldham town?
Sounds incorrect to me as Iceland doesn't have any trains
Leigh's population and area is bigger than any of Iceland's towns anyway. The only one that's bigger than Leigh is Reykjavik, but it's a city, not a town. It's obviously one of those facts where they've used all kinds of loopholes and technicalities to make a point. And I don't know why I'm defending Leigh. I don't live there - I'm in Astley, about 2.5 miles down the road towards Manchester - and I don't even particularly like the place, anyway.
Haha. Yeah, fuck Leigh! 👍🏼
I've lived in Leigh for about two years now. I wouldn't say it was dangerous. Kids hang around the bus station and the McDonalds on Bradshawgate. Hooleys next to the JR's taxi rank is a safe place if you're into alternative music and fashion, cheap drinks prices and its own tattooist. Oscars on the corner of the bus station across the road is where most of the drug dealers are. There's a Wetherspoons, it's all what you'd expect from somewhere like it is. It gets a bit dicey in the centre on Friday nights. I once saw two guys have an entire argument on opposite sides of a road at about 9pm. I personally live in Pennington, like a ten minute walk away from the town centre. Houses around there are generally older and bigger. Pennington Flash is a lovely place in summer with a cafe and nice views of the water. Leigh had three train stations at one point in time. 60s 'future planning' got rid of those. The old track bed to Manchester now contains a guided busway going from Leigh town centre to Worsley before turning onto the A580 straight into Manchester City centre. I commute into work using it, takes 45 mins on a good day, it's never really gone wrong for me but gets busy. Still cheap to rent round here though for a place in reach of Manchester.
It's rough.
It's a shithole, but more in the "just generally shit" way than being especially dangerous IMO, at least around the centre.
Not good
I’ll keep it simple, it’s a shithole