Week 41, 2025 Retail Parks Performance Update: Footfall Trends

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The latest weekly data from Huq Industries' Benchmark monitor reveals that UK retail parks have experienced a modest decline in footfall during Week 41 of 2025. With an average of 20,000 visitors per day across the nation, footfall numbers have dipped by 2.5% on a week-on-week basis and 3.7% compared to the same period last year.

Despite this slight softening, longer dwell times suggest that visitor engagement remains robust. Across the board, retail park visitors are spending more time on site with an average dwell time of 74 minutes, a 5.7% increase from the previous year. This trend highlights that while fewer people may be visiting, those who do are engaging more deeply with the retail experience.

Regional breakdown shows varied performance across the UK. In England, daily averages sit at 20,300 visitors, in line with national trends. However, Scotland's retail parks have seen a steeper decline, averaging 18,900 visitors per day, whereas Welsh locations recorded 17,100 daily visitors. Notably, dwell time also varied regionally: England led with an average visit lasting 77 minutes, Scotland experienced a unique pattern of weekly increases despite overall annual dips, and Wales reported the shortest visits, averaging just 51 minutes.

Industry experts are taking a measured view amid these mixed signals. Joe Capocci from Huq Industries observed that the marked softening in Scotland's footfall, in conjunction with recent developments in retail park openings, underscores shifts in consumer behaviour as well as an encouraging trend of increased engagement through longer visits. Overall, even as footfall numbers see a slight dip, enhanced visitor interaction could point to a more engaged consumer base, offering interesting insights for retail operators navigating the changing landscape.

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