MRI Software: UK high streets see lift as weather and events drive footfall

Warm weather and major events lifted UK retail footfall, with high streets up +4.5% week on week and coastal towns seeing a strong +7.2% year-on-year rise, highlighting the combined power of seasonal conditions and destination-led travel, the latest data from MRI Software reveals.

Despite strong end-of-week performance, footfall dipped by an average of -1.5% earlier in the week across all UK retail destinations, with Central London affected by tube strikes driving a -3.5% midweek decline week on week.

Footfall rose year on year across all UK retail destinations last week, with high streets, shopping centres and retail parks all showing similar growth.

As temperatures rose last week, so did retail footfall across UK’s high streets and retail parks by +4.5% and +1%, respectively, whereas shopping centres saw no change last week compared to the week prior.

The week itself proved relatively strong; aside from a dip in visits averaging -1.5% across all UK retail destinations on Monday and Tuesday, the remainder of the week saw strong performance with footfall peaking on Friday and Saturday averaging an +8.1% uplift in high streets. This is encouraging especially in the lead up to the early May bank holiday.

The sun shone for many of the town types monitored by MRI Software as visits to Coastal towns rose by +7.2% year on year and +7.1% week on week. Meanwhile, as Central London faced a fresh set of tube strikes, this did little to deter visits to the capital; the week revealed a dip in visits from Tuesday to Thursday averaging -3.5% compared to the same time period in the week before. However, this was short-lived as marathon runners graced the city for the 46th annual TCS London Marathon resulting in visits rising week on week by an average of +6% on Friday and Saturday, and +20.1% on Sunday continuing to reinforce the impact of global events in driving footfall.

Overall, footfall continued to soar year on year by +5.6% in all UK retail destinations however this is most likely due to the comparison being against Easter weekend last year and Sunday comparisons sitting against Easter Sunday. High streets noted a +6% uplift in visits with shopping centres and retail parks also recording similar increases of +5.2% and +5.2%, respectively.

Week 16 -MON-SUN (20th – 27th April)

Warm weather and major events lifted UK retail footfall, with high streets up +4.6% week on week and coastal towns seeing a strong +6.5% year-on-year rise, highlighting the combined power of seasonal conditions and destination-led travel.

Despite strong end-of-week performance, footfall dipped by an average of -1.5% earlier in the week across all UK retail destinations, with Central London affected by tube strikes driving a -3.5% midweek decline week on week.

Footfall rose year on year by +1.7% with high streets leading the charge, whereas shopping centres and retail parks revealed a modest decline in visits.

As temperatures rose last week, so did retail footfall across UK’s high streets and retail parks by +4.6% and +2%, respectively, whereas shopping centres saw a marginal uplift of +0.1% last week compared to the week prior.

The week itself proved relatively strong; aside from a dip in visits averaging -1.5% across all UK retail destinations on Monday and Tuesday, the remainder of the week saw strong performance with footfall peaking on Friday and Saturday averaging an +8.1% uplift in high streets. This is encouraging especially in the lead up to the early May bank holiday.

The sun shone for many of the town types monitored by MRI Software as visits to Coastal towns rose by an average of +6.5% both week on week and year on year. Meanwhile, as Central London faced a fresh set of tube strikes, this did little to deter visits to the capital; the week revealed a dip in visits from Tuesday to Thursday averaging -3.5% compared to the same time period in the week before. However, this was short-lived as marathon runners graced the city for the 46th annual TCS London Marathon resulting in visits rising week on week by an average of +6% on Friday and Saturday, and +20.1% on Sunday continuing to reinforce the impact of global events in driving footfall.

Overall, footfall continued to soar year on year for high streets as visits rose by +4.3% whereas retail parks and shopping centres recorded declines of -0.7% and -1.3%, respectively. however this is most likely due to the comparison being against the week following Easter last year.

Central London footfall data