Scotland leads footfall recovery across UK town centres
The latest Town Centre Visitor Report from Place Informatics, a UK leader in visitor behaviour analytics, reveals a positive national shift, with average UK town centre footfall increasing by 2.87% year-on-year.
While this points to a broader recovery, the data also highlights significant regional differences, with every region across the UK experiencing some level of growth.
Using data from over 2,300 town centres, retail destinations, and tourism sites, the report highlights key regional trends, providing councils, BIDs, and local businesses with vital insights to drive strategic planning, attract visitors, and target investment.
According to the report, Scotland saw the highest growth with a 5.52% year-on-year increase in footfall.
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London followed closely with 4.37%, while the South-East saw 3.52% growth.
Other regions performing above the national average included North-West: +2.58%, Yorkshire and the Humber: +2.46%, South-West: +2.41% and West Midlands: +2.24%.
While modest growth was recorded in the North-East: +1.55%, Wales: +1.54%, Northern Ireland: +1.22%, East Midlands: +1.20% and East Anglia: +1.16%.
Place Informatics said the figures signal a "cautious but optimistic" rebound in visitor numbers, with all UK regions experiencing year-on-year growth in March for the first time in recent reporting.
The overall increase in footfall likely reflects a combination of rising consumer confidence, easing inflation, and signs of economic recovery across the UK, the visitor behaviour analytics firm added.
The St Enoch Shopping Centre in Glasgow (Image: St Enoch Centre)
Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the UK economy returned to growth in early 2025, with modest GDP increases and improving retail sales figures contributing to a more optimistic outlook.
At a local level, seasonal promotions, community events, and efforts to rejuvenate high streets—including government-backed regeneration schemes—have played a key role in attracting more people back to town centres.
Place Informatics believes that, as "inflation stabilises and wage growth begins to level or outpace living costs", consumers are "showing a greater willingness to spend and engage with local businesses, helping drive this sustained rise in footfall".
Clive Hall, CEO of Place Informatics, commented: 'It's encouraging to see footfall rising across all regions of the UK, signalling growing confidence among both visitors and local communities. While growth varies between areas, the overall trend is a positive sign as town centres prepare for the summer months. With the support of timely visitor insights, councils and businesses can make more informed decisions and make the most of the opportunities ahead.'
News of the report comes after a leading business figure in Glasgow declared that the city centre is "on the path to recovery".
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It comes following the release of new data which revealed an increase in the number of people visiting the area and continued growth in retail sales.
According to the latest figures from Glasgow City Council's City Centre Performance Dashboard, footfall in the city centre in the first quarter of the year rose by 3.7% - ahead of both the Scottish and UK averages.
March also saw an increase of 7.3% in footfall compared to March 2024, with Glasgow's main pedestrianised shopping area, Buchanan Street, experiencing a 10% rise in footfall.
Additionally, night-time footfall (between 6pm and 6am) rose 9.8% in the first quarter of the year, showing an uptick in visitors to the city centre as summer approaches.
Meanwhile, for the fourth consecutive month, Glasgow's city centre retail sales performance was ahead of Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester and the UK average.
Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: "The latest footfall figures are an encouraging sign that Glasgow city centre is on the path to recovery. A solid year-on-year increase in the first four months of 2025 is a clear signal that people are returning in greater numbers and crucially, they are spending. The rise in general retail sales and strength in health and beauty also reflects growing consumer confidence.
'It's testament to the resilience of our city centre and to the coordinated efforts of businesses, public sector partners, and the Council. As we build momentum, it's vital we maintain this focus, ensuring the city centre remains vibrant, accessible and competitive for Glaswegians and visitors alike.'
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