Hindley is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. Lying three miles (5 km) east of Wigan it covers an area of 1044 hectares. Historically in Lancashire, Hindley (which includes Hindley Green) borders the towns of Ince-in-Makerfield, Aspull, Westhoughton, Atherton and Westleigh in the former borough of Leigh. In 2001, Hindley had a population of 23,457, increasing to 28,000 at the 2011 Census. It forms part of the wider Greater Manchester Urban Area.

The name Hindley is derived from the Old English hind and leah, meaning a "clearing frequented by hinds or does".

The town is first recorded as Hindele in 1212 and then variously as "Hindeleye" [1259], "Hyndeley" [1285 and 1332],Hindelegh[1301], "Hyndelegh" [1303 and 1375]. The first recorded use of its current spelling, Hindley, was in 1479.

Hindley covers an area 2,527 acres, mostly pasture and the underlying rocks are the coal measures. Some ancient woodland remains today in Borsdane Wood which is protected as a Local Nature Reserve. Hindley town centre is approximately three miles east of Wigan and adjoins Leigh on its south east side. The pattern of roads is little changed from medieval times, the road from Prescot to Bolton, A58, and road linking Ormskirk with Boothstown, the A577 cross near the town centre.