After a lackluster performance in October, footfall in the UK experienced a strong rebound at the end of the month, largely driven by the school half-term holiday. Data from Springboard reveals that store visits in the New West End Company, a retail destination in central London, increased by 11.1% from October 24th to October 30th. Central London saw the highest increase in footfall, with a rise of 19.4% week-on-week. This performance was not only the best throughout the month but also came close to the 11.6% rise seen during the week leading up to the late May bank holiday.
Last week, high streets and shopping centers benefited the most from the boost in footfall, with increases of 12.1% and 15.2% respectively, compared to the previous week. In contrast, retail parks experienced a more modest increase of 4.7%.
The increase in footfall was even more significant over the course of five days, from Monday to Friday, with an overall rise of 15.5%. Shopping centers saw the highest increase at 20.6%, followed by high streets at 17.5%, and retail parks at 5.7%. Footfall increased across all types of town centers, but those with attractions appealing to visitors saw a greater rise in footfall compared to local high streets. Coastal towns experienced an 18.9% increase, while historic towns saw a rise of 12.6%. Regional cities outside of central London also saw a considerable increase of 16.1% in footfall.
The increase in footfall was not limited to specific times of the day. There was a 16% increase between 11am and 5pm, and a 12.7% increase post-5pm, compared to the previous week.
This boost in footfall last week helped narrow the gap from 2019, with footfall across all retail destinations at -10.9% compared to -15.3% the previous week. Footfall was also 34.8% higher than the same week in 2020, marking a 27.9% increase.
Overall, London has emerged as a shining example of the UK’s strengthened footfall, thanks to the school half-term holiday. The increase in footfall across various retail destinations is a positive sign for the industry and offers hope for recovery following a challenging period.
Links:
1. Springboard
2. New West End Company
