Walking Through History (Episode 1): The Way to Wigan Pier

Tony Robinson embarks on spectacular walks through some of Britain’s most historic landscapes, uncovering the richest stories from the country’s past. In each episode, Tony follows a bespoke route that allows him to explore the history of a particularly colorful period or event — as well as the breathtaking landscapes where those events took place.

In this episode, Tony follows The Way to Wigan Pier, tracing the footsteps of George Orwell and exploring Britain’s industrial heartland. Wigan Pier, once a coal loading jetty on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, became famous through Orwell’s 1937 book The Road to Wigan Pier, which highlighted the harsh realities of working-class life in northern England.