Benchmark

UK Retail Parks – Week 35, 2025 Performance Update: location analytics Insights

UK retail parks experienced a slight –0.4% decline in footfall with enhanced dwell times. location analytics and location intelligence highlight overall modest trends and improved customer engagement.

Joe Capocci

Head of Growth @ huq

September 12, 2025

2 min read

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UK Retail Parks – Week 35, 2025 Performance Update: location analytics Insights

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Overall Performance

The latest figures from The Benchmark indicate that UK retail parks recorded an overall average daily footfall of 20,500 during the week ending 2025-09-07. The data reveals a modest week-on-week decline of –0.4% and a year-on-year decline of –1.8%. Dwell time, a key measure of customer engagement, improved significantly to an average of 72 minutes per visit, rising 2.9% in the current week and 5.9% compared to last year.

Regional Overview

A detailed regional analysis uncovers varied trends across the UK:

  • In England, retail parks saw an average daily footfall of 21,000. There was a week-on-week increase of 0.6%, although the year-on-year figure shows a small decline of –0.7%. Notably, dwell times improved to 74 minutes on average—a weekly increase of 1.4% and a remarkable 10.4% year-on-year rise, highlighting robust customer engagement.
  • Scotland experienced a notable decline, with average daily footfall dropping to 17,800. This represents a steep decline of 6.3% for the week and a year-on-year fall of –12.1%. Despite a weekly increase in dwell time by 5.2%, the average remains at 61 minutes, trailing behind England's figures.
  • In Wales, retail parks recorded an average daily footfall of 16,200. This figure dropped by 10% compared to the previous week and declined by –2.6% compared to last year, indicating mixed performance in the region.

Industry Comment

Joe Capocci, spokesperson for Huq Industries, commented on the trends: "Overall, the data highlights a sharp decline in Scotland’s footfall alongside modest gains in England, aligning with recent retail industry updates." This insight reinforces the importance of location analytics in understanding shifts in customer behavior and adapting to changing market dynamics.

These performance metrics underscore the crucial role of data-driven strategies in nurturing improved customer engagement across the diverse landscapes of UK retail parks.

Media: For all media and press enquiries, please contact media@huq.io

Day Part Visitation
Dwell Time Data
Footfall Data

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About Huq Industries

Huq Industries is the leading provider of location intelligence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, specialising in delivering high-quality data insights on footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance. By leveraging advanced analytics and an expansive data network, Huq Industries enables retailers and analysts to understand and respond to market trends effectively, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the changing landscape of high street and town centre commerce.


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Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to the most common questions about movement intelligence, retail expansion, and location analytics.

How does movement intelligence differ from traditional market research?
Traditional market research relies on surveys, demographics and historical reports. huq's movement intelligence uses real-world behavioural data to reveal where people go, how long they stay and how locations perform, giving teams a live picture of consumer activity.
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Yes. Compare stores, shopping centres, town centres or developments against competing locations using consistent metrics such as footfall, dwell time, catchment, visit frequency and commercial performance.
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