Retail parks experienced a 6.9% surge in Boxing Day footfall compared to last year, while Britain's high streets and shopping centres saw declines of 2.4% and 2.6% respectively. The split performance highlights a continuing shift in UK shopping habits as overall retail destination footfall slipped 0.3%.
MRI Software, which monitors more than 660 retail destinations across the UK, recorded the figures by early Friday afternoon. Central London saw the steepest drop with footfall down almost 8%, while coastal towns surged 10% as shoppers combined sales with day trips.
Retail analyst Jenni Matthews told the Press Association: «It's a really positive start to Boxing Day, which we've not seen for a number of years. So really encouraging and especially given that the retail sector have had quite a tough start to the year as well. So this is a really, really strong close to the year.»
Katie Wyle, managing director of customer and retail operations for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in northern Europe, said Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City delivered strong performance: «Boxing Day at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City delivered a strong performance, with early indicators pointing to solid, broad-based trading across beauty and wellness, home and luxury. Visitors spent the day moving between shopping, dining and leisure, enjoying longer stays in our centres.»
Consumer experiences reflected cost pressures. Jaimini, a 45-year-old shopper from Harrow, told PA on Oxford Street: «This is probably the lowest that we've spent in god knows how many years. Usually we have bags and we think 'oh why didn't we bring a suitcase with us to put all the shopping, it's easier to carry' but we've literally got a bag each this time.» She attributed the reduced spending to being «more aware of what you're buying» and a perceived lack of appealing offers.
Donnel, a 25-year-old primary school worker from south-west London, emphasized careful budgeting despite increased spending: «You got to be spending wisely. I'm always prepared so I'm always making sure I'm saving or I've saved already for months and months in advance so then when I do come to shop I am shopping, I know I've got money to spend so I should be OK.»
Post-Covid Retail Shift
Boxing Day trading patterns have evolved significantly since the pandemic. Matthews told PA: «Pre-Covid, we rarely saw stores close on Boxing Day. If we remember going back 10, 15 years Next would have queues, they'd be opening their doors as early as 4 or 5am. I think since Covid there is more of a focus on thanking the retail staff as well that have been so busy over the Christmas period, having that extra day off. There's more family time as well so I think there has been a sort of change in behaviour when we look at pre-Covid times compared to now.»
Major retailers including Next, John Lewis, Poundland, Wickes and Iceland closed their stores on Boxing Day. Many sales launched online as early as Christmas Eve, with brick-and-mortar sales beginning Saturday, 27 December.
Economic Pressures Shape Spending
Barclays forecasts total Boxing Day sales spending of £3.6 billion, down £1 billion from £4.6 billion in 2024. However, shoppers who do participate plan to spend more, with average budgets rising to £253 from £236 last year. Just over a quarter of consumers planned to participate, down from 28% in 2024.
Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said cost-consciousness defined 2025 shopping behavior: «Shoppers have demonstrated just how cost-conscious they are throughout 2025, and we expect that we'll see this play out during the Boxing Day sales, particularly with AI empowering consumers to shop smarter and seek out the best deals.»
Visa data showed overall UK festive spending increased 3.6% year-on-year from 1 November to 23 December, with electronics spending up 8.4%. The retail parks' strong performance appears driven by their combination of shopping, hospitality and leisure options, creating what Wyle described as a «full-day occasion, combining retail, dining and leisure rather than focusing on a single transaction.»
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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