Footfall rose in retail destinations last week

Footfall in UK retail destinations climbed by 11.1 per cent last week on the previous seven days, stated recent reports citing new figures.

As per the data from footfall specialist Springboard, high streets and shopping centres saw the biggest increases in the week with respective uplifts of 12.1 per cent and 15.2 per cent. Meanwhile, retail park footfall rose by 4.7 per cent.

Due to the week falling in half term, Springboard found that towns that are more attractive to visitors saw bigger increases in footfall compared to local high streets. The number of visits to coastal and historic towns rose by 18.9 per cent and 12.6 per cent respectively, while Central London footfall rose by 19.4 per cent. 

Regional cities outside of the capital also benefited from half term visits with an uplift of 16.1 per cent.

“The October school half term holiday last week delivered a noticeable boost to footfall across UK retail destinations, with an increase in activity from the week before across all three key destination types – the largest since the week before the late May bank holiday – and double digit rises in both high streets and shopping centres,” Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said.

“All types of high street benefited, but consumers clearly took the opportunity to travel further afield as the increases in footfall in coastal towns, historic town, Central London and regional cities outside of the capital were at least twice that in market towns.”