Week 6, 2025 High Streets & Town Centres Update: Location Analytics Insights
UK high streets record a slight 2.1% drop in dwell time. Discover how Location Analytics reveal key retail footfall trends.
Introduction
UK High Streets and town centres across the country recorded an overall average daily footfall of 28,800 for the week ending 16 February 2025, reflecting a modest week-on-week increase amid a slight annual softness in visitor numbers. Harnessing advanced Location Analytics, the data—supplied by Huq Industries—also offers valuable Location Intelligence insights into the shifting dynamics of regional retail data.
Regional Variations
Analysing the data further, the week’s results reveal distinct regional variations. In Scotland, town centres achieved an average daily footfall of 24,700, recording a noticeable weekly improvement of 10.1 percent. However, the annual comparison indicates that the region is still contending with overall softness. England’s performance was slightly more robust, with an average of 29,500 visitors each day and a modest week-on-week gain of 1.5 percent—highlighting steady high street performance—with the year-on-year figures offering a picture of relative stability, even as the slight negative annual trend calls for continual monitoring. Meanwhile, centres in Wales averaged 15,000 visitors daily and experienced a weekly increase of 5.4 percent, though the annual performance points to a more pronounced contraction in visitor numbers.
Dwell Time Trends
Dwell time across these centres further underscores the evolving dynamics of consumer behaviour. The overall average visit duration stood at 95 minutes, marking a 2.1 percent softening compared to the previous week, yet showing a marked improvement on a year-on-year basis. In England, the average dwell time paralleled the national average at 96 minutes, reflecting a negligible change despite the fluctuations in footfall. In Wales, visitors spent an average of 97 minutes in the centres—a figure buoyed by a weekly rise—while Scotland recorded the shortest visit duration, with an average of 82 minutes and a notable weekly drop. Specific centre examples demonstrate mixed signals, one example being a centre on Abbeydale Road in Nether Edge, Sheffield that observed a decline, and another on Stratford Road in Solihull that saw its performance soften.
Impact of Store Closures
This mixed performance comes at a time when the retail landscape is facing broader challenges. Recent industry news has highlighted a spate of store closures on the high streets. For instance, Daily Express reported that New Look is set to close a town centre shop in a matter of days, while The Sun detailed the closure of four more WHSmith stores. Similarly, Yahoo News UK noted the cessation of operations at a major Sports Direct outlet in Nottingham. These closures highlight the ongoing adjustments that many traditional retailers are having to make in response to changing consumer spending habits and an increasingly competitive market.
Economic and Weather Influences
Economic trends add further context to the data. A recent article from FashionUnited UK indicated that January storms provided a short-term boost to online and non-essential spending, a signal that while consumers are engaging with alternative retail channels, footfall in physical locations is subject to variability. Subsequent commentary from Retail Week raises questions on whether rising wages will sustain or reverse the current consumer spending habits across high streets. Although Investing.com UK and EDP24 have offered contrasting perspectives, the overall economic outlook appears mixed. Additionally, insights from The Irish News suggest that even modest growth in GDP may not immediately translate into more robust high street performance.
Weather conditions may also have played a role in shaping footfall patterns over the week. Reports from The Mirror noted that a deep freeze with temperatures dipping to -3°C affected parts of the UK, with snow expected to follow in several regions. Further warnings from Metro.co.uk about potential freezing rain could have had an impact on shoppers’ willingness to venture out, inevitably influencing retail footfall trends.
Industry Commentary & Conclusion
Joe Capocci, spokesperson for Huq Industries, commented, “Our latest data demonstrates that while there are encouraging signs in terms of week-on-week performance, particularly in regions such as Scotland and Wales, the broader context of high street retail remains complex. The interplay of weather conditions, local economic factors and evolving consumer behaviour means that retailers must remain agile in responding to these shifts.”
In conclusion, the latest data from Huq Industries reflects a nuanced picture for UK High Streets and town centres. While the overall picture shows a slight improvement in footfall numbers on a weekly basis, regional disparities and mixed dwell time trends caution against complacency. In an environment marked by retail closures, variable economic indicators and challenging weather conditions, stakeholders will need to monitor these trends carefully as they navigate a complex and evolving market landscape.
About Huq Industries
Huq Industries is the leading provider of location intelligence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, specialising in high-quality data insights on footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance. Traditional analytics show how stores are performing, but Huq goes further—uncovering why. By leveraging advanced analytics and an extensive location data network, Huq Industries helps retailers and analysts understand the real drivers of success, predict future trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimise store performance in an evolving high street and town centre landscape.
