Benchmark

UK Shopping Centres – Week 15, 2025 Performance Update: Footfall Retail

UK shopping centres experienced a slight dip in visitor numbers in week 15, 2025, with footfall retail trends and footfall data signalling a cautious consumer environment.

Joe Capocci

Head of Growth @ huq

April 24, 2025

2 min read

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UK Shopping Centres – Week 15, 2025 Performance Update: Footfall Retail

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Overall Performance

The latest footfall retail figures and data from The Benchmark report that UK shopping centres recorded an overall average daily footfall of 32,500 during week 15, 2025. Compared to previous periods, this signifies a modest decline, reflecting a cautious consumer environment amid recent headwinds, with the primary key performance indicator signaling a degree of stability.

Additional Insights

Additional footfall analytics and statistics further underscore the reported trends, suggesting that while the overall performance remains relatively stable, slight regional variations are evident.

Regional Breakdown

A closer look at regional data highlights notable differences. In England, centres recorded an average daily footfall of 34,400, maintaining a relatively steady flow of visitors despite a modest decline compared to earlier performance. In contrast, Scotland's centres attracted an average of 25,300 daily visitors with moderate week-on-week changes. However, the situation in Wales was more challenging, with centres observing an average of only 11,200 daily visitors accompanied by a sharp decline in footfall. This calls for tailored local strategies to address the unique challenges each region faces.

Visitor Engagement

Footfall numbers alone do not tell the full story. Dwell time data provides critical insights into visitor engagement. Across the UK, shoppers spent an average of 109 minutes per visit during week 15. In England, the average visit duration increased slightly to 113 minutes. However, Scotland’s centres saw a decrease in visit duration, averaging 82 minutes per visit, while in Wales, despite the decline in footfall, shoppers spent an average of 74 minutes per visit. These findings highlight the need to balance visitor quantity with quality engagement.

Industry Comment

Joe Capocci, a spokesperson for Huq Industries, remarked, "The sharp decline in Welsh centres, in contrast to the resilience observed in English locations, and recent retail industry news underscore the evolving landscape of UK shopping environments." His comments underline the importance of regional adaptation and strategic initiatives in addressing the ongoing changes in the market.

Conclusion

Week 15 of 2025 presents a nuanced picture of the UK shopping centre landscape, where overall stability is challenged by regional disparities and shifting consumer behaviors. Retailers and shopping centre operators must heed these insights, leveraging comprehensive footfall analytics and engagement data to navigate the evolving market dynamics effectively.

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

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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.
Can movement data help benchmark locations against competitors?
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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