Boxing Day saw strongest increase in a decade at 4.4%
Boxing Day 2025 witnessed a significant surge in footfall across UK retail destinations, increasing by 4.4% from the previous year, marking the largest rise in a decade, reports BritPanorama.
According to analysts at MRI Software, overall footfall rose by 3.9% during the Christmas period, suggesting that the later timing of Christmas encouraged more last-minute shopping. Retail parks experienced a notable uptick with an impressive 8.8% increase, while high streets and shopping centres saw rises of 3.6% and 2.1%, respectively.
The increase in Boxing Day shopping was largely driven by evening activity, with foot traffic between 5pm and 11pm rising by an average of 9.6% year-on-year, benefiting leisure and hospitality sectors significantly.
This positive trend continued into Saturday, with an overall footfall increase of 1.6%. High streets led this growth with a 2.4% rise in visitors, although shopping centres experienced a slight decrease of 0.6%.
Retail analyst Jenni Matthews from MRI Software remarked that as family gatherings come to an end, consumer traffic is expected to rise further as shoppers prepare for New Year’s Eve. She noted that shoppers are likely to focus on sales, festive events, and essential food and drink purchases, contributing to a sustained retail momentum.
Matthews added, “These Christmas week trends provided a welcome boost for retailers following a challenging start to the year, highlighting both the importance of where Christmas falls in the calendar and the growing role of leisure-led footfall.” Such trends have remained strong throughout 2025.
In the West End of London, footfall on December 26 and 27 rose by 1.5% compared to the same period last year. New West End Company chief executive Dee Corsi reported a 1.7% increase in West End foot traffic on Boxing Day, driven by strong growth on Oxford Street, which saw a 5% rise.
Corsi expressed hope that the increased footfall would translate into sales, marking a positive end to the year despite ongoing cost pressures and a challenging economic environment nationwide.
The uptick in retail activity on Boxing Day illustrates how consumer behaviour can pivot in response to seasonal timing and economic conditions. As retailers navigate ongoing challenges, such trends may be pivotal in assessing the resilience of the UK retail market.
