Easter footfall surpasses 2024 levels

Retail footfall across the UK remained largely flat in the week leading up to Easter, despite increased consumer activity as shoppers prepared for the long weekend.

According to data from MRI Software, high streets saw a modest drop in footfall, while retail parks and shopping centres experienced a rise, likely reflecting shoppers gearing up for Easter.

In total, footfall across all retail destinations was up 11.8% compared to the same week in 2024. High streets led with a notable year-on-year increase of 15.7%, followed by retail parks (+8.1%) and shopping centres (+7.1%).

Central London was a key beneficiary of seasonal tourism, with footfall levels remaining 25.8% higher than the same period in 2024, reflecting the area’s strong attraction for Easter holidaymakers.

While week-on-week changes were more modest, with high streets seeing a slight decline and shopping centres showing a boost of +13.5%, certain regions reported more notable shifts. Scotland saw the largest week-on-week decline of 6.6%, while the South East saw a more modest increase of 2.2%.

Coastal and market towns experienced a decrease in footfall, with weekly drops of 6.7% and 4.7%, respectively, which could suggest that some shoppers opted to travel abroad for their holidays.

However, on a year-on-year basis, both historic towns (+11.7%) and market towns (+10%) reported significant increases in footfall, possibly reflecting a preference for local or staycation-based activities.

GlobalData had earlier predicted that UK shoppers would spend £2.3bn over the Easter weekend, with 40% of consumers planning to spend more than last year.

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