The summer holidays are here, and Brits are back to shopping – especially if it means a family day out. This week’s footfall figures show a clear increase in retail activity, and that could be good news for property investors.

Family Fun Fuels Footfall

The school holidays have kicked off, and people are heading out to shop, eat and play. Footfall across all retail destinations rose by a healthy +4.8% last week compared to the week before. This is especially good news for shopping centres, which saw a +6.9% jump in footfall, likely driven by families looking for a full experience of retail, leisure and dining.

The Coast is Calling

It’s not just the kids back from school; the summer sun is out, and people are flocking to the coast. Coastal towns saw a massive +9.1% increase in footfall compared to the previous week, and regional cities outside London also saw a healthy +7.4% boost. This is a sure sign of the holiday season in full swing, and a great opportunity for investors in these areas.

Central London: A Mixed Bag

Central London saw a +2.5% increase in footfall compared to last week, but a significant +7.8% increase compared to last year. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including the “back to office” trend and people taking day trips to the city during the holidays.

Wales Lags Behind

While most regions saw positive footfall increases, Wales lagged behind, with a -2.4% drop week-on-week and a -6% decline year-on-year. This could be because families are opting for vacations abroad or to other parts of the UK where footfall is higher.

A Mixed Picture for the Year

Footfall across all retail destinations rose slightly compared to the same period last year, with high streets leading the charge with a +3% increase. However, shopping centres saw a -2.5% decline year-on-year, likely due to families choosing to travel abroad.