Wigan, United Kingdom

Capital City

With a population of 103,608, Wigan is a tough, working-class town saddled with an industrial past and a persistent bureaucratic headache. The legacy of coal mining and textile manufacturing permeates the air, and the town's Irish immigrants over the centuries have left an indelible mark on the local accent and culture. While Wigan boasts a vibrant music scene and some modest tourist appeal around its canal-side "Pier", the gritty realities of the place are never far from view. This is a city for those who value authenticity over flash, and can withstand the occasional dose of Orwellian working-class struggle.