Visit Atherton town centre and discover a wide range of quality shops, nestling in a bustling centre. Parking is free and with a great choice of places to eat and drink, Atherton puts the fun back into shopping.
For evening entertainment, Atherton has a number of established traditional pubs and delightful restaurants, catering for every taste.
The local traders group and pub watch work closely with local ward councillors, Greater Manchester Police and Wigan Council, through the Risk Management initiative to deliver a safe town centre environment. This partnership has enabled the installation of CCTV with significant funding from the council, government and support from local traders.
History
The origin of the name Atherton has several possibilities. However, historians believe it is almost certainly derived from the Anglo-Saxon words for 'stream' (adre) and 'village' (tun). 'Adre-tun', the settlement near the stream, became know as Atherton over the centuries. Seven small streams run through or border on Atherton.
The town's rich heritage is celebrated each year during the Atherton Festival in May.
