UK Shopping Centres – Week 18 2025 footfall retail Performance Update

Overall Performance

The latest week's footfall data for UK Shopping Centres indicates a mixed picture for visitor activity. Centres recorded a modest week-on-week increase of 3.8% in average daily footfall, reaching 31,100 visitors per day, though still 6.8% lower than the same week last year. Notably, although the average dwell time saw a slight decline of 1.7%, settling at 117 minutes, it remains 19.4% higher on an annual basis.

Regional Analysis

In England, shopping centres continue to perform robustly, with an average daily footfall of 33,300. Despite being down by 5.6% year-on-year, the week-on-week performance improved by 4.2% and dwell times also showed a favorable 2.5% increase compared to last week. Scotland's centres experienced stronger week-on-week performance with a 5.1% uplift, averaging 23,200 visitors daily, although overall year-on-year trends remain negative. Dwell time in Scottish centres was recorded at 75 minutes, showing minor weekly softness and minimal annual change. In contrast, Welsh centres lagged behind, with an average of 8,600 daily visitors and experiencing a significant decline in both weekly and annual footfall figures. The dwell time in Wales was particularly low at 49 minutes, with marked drops noted in weekly performance and over the longer term.

Industry Comment

Joe Capocci from Huq Industries commented on the trends, stating, "We observed the sharp decline in footfall in Welsh centres, an insight further supported by recent retail industry news developments." This comment underscores the challenges faced by Welsh centres and the shifting landscape in visitor behaviours across the UK.

The data highlights the evolving retail environment across the UK, with regional disparities and changes in visitor habits representing both opportunities and challenges for the retail sector.

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