Retail Parks Footfall Report: Week 3, 2025

Footfall Data Overview

Retail Parks in the UK have demonstrated varied performance in terms of footfall, dwell time, and weekday visitation across different regions, according to the latest footfall data from Huq Industries. The data, covering the week ending January 26, 2025, highlights significant regional differences in retail activity, essential for location intelligence analytics. In terms of footfall, most regions have experienced a decrease compared to the previous week, with the North West, London, and the North East seeing declines of approximately 2.8%, 1.1%, and 2.1% respectively. However, the average daily footfall has generally decreased across all regions year on year, with notable declines in areas such as Wales and the South East, where the decreases are much greater.

Dwell Time Analysis

Dwell time, which measures the average length of a visit, shows a more positive trend. For instance, in Scotland, the average visit dwell time has increased by over 30% year on year, indicating that while fewer people may be visiting, those who do are staying longer. Other regions like London and the East Midlands also show increases in dwell time, suggesting a potential shift in consumer behaviour towards longer, more purposeful visits.

Weekday Visitation Trends

Weekday visitation shares, which indicate the proportion of visits occurring during working weekdays, have seen slight increases in some regions like Scotland, where there is a noticeable increase of approximately 10% week on week. However, other regions like the South West and the West Midlands have experienced declines in this metric.

Market Outlook

Based on the direction of the latest footfall data and trends from the same period last year, it is likely that the coming four weeks will see continued regional variations in footfall and dwell time. This trend suggests that location intelligence companies should consider these fluctuations when planning site selection and retail strategies. Overall, the data from Huq Industries provides valuable insights into the changing patterns of retail activity across the UK, with significant regional variations that could impact retail strategies moving forward.