Half Term And Storm Benjamin Knocked Retail Footfall Last Week

MRI Software's latest weekly footfall analysis (week commencing 19th October 2025) shows how Storm Benjamin and the October half-term shaped shopper behaviour across the UK. Overall footfall fell by 1.9% from the week before, driven by a sharp 6.1% drop in high street visits as the storm hit hardest on Sunday and Monday. 

In contrast, retail parks and shopping centres proved resilient, rising by 1.9% and 2.9% week on week as families took advantage of half-term breaks. Market towns and Central London saw the steepest declines, both down around 6%, while the East of England was the only region to record growth at 0.9%. 

On an annual basis, overall footfall remained 4.2% lower, reflecting ongoing pressure on high streets compared to the steady appeal of retail park formats. The data highlights how weather, timing, and convenience continue to shape shopper patterns heading into the key pre-Christmas period.

Week 43 – SUN-SAT (19th - 25th October)

UK retail destinations saw overall footfall fall by -1.9% last week from the week before, as Storm Benjamin swept across much of the country. The impact was largely felt in high streets where visits dropped sharply by -6.1%. The worst declines came on Sunday and Monday where footfall plummeted by an average of -15.4% as the storm hit hardest. 

In contrast, retail parks and shopping centres remained resilient as overall performance for the week remained higher week on week by +1.9% and +2.9%, respectively. These gains were likely bolstered by the start of the October half-term holiday, which helped drive visits on Friday up by +3.9% and +8.8% in retail parks and shopping centres, respectively. High streets, however, saw mixed activity levels with another severe drop recorded on Thursday (-8.7%) coinciding with more heavy rain across many parts of the UK. This downward trend continued into Friday and Saturday with footfall falling by an average of -2.9%.

All town types saw a drop in footfall, aligning with trends seen in high streets; market towns (-6.8%), Central London (-5.9%) and office dense locations within the capital (-5.9%) saw the steepest declines week on week. At an annual level, coastal towns (-9.2%) and market towns (-8.8%) bore the brunt which may well be due to weather influences and staggered school holiday timings. Regionally, the East of England recorded a +0.9% uplift from the week before whereas all other regions recorded declines.

Annually, overall footfall levels remained -4.2% lower. Again, this was driven by a -7.5% drop in high street visits followed by less severe declines in shopping centres (-1.4%) and retail parks (-0.2%). While weather hit the high street hard last week, the resilient format of retail parks and shopping centres continue to attract shopper and reinforces the experience, accessibility and diversity pillars of retail performance.

Week 43 – MON-SUN (20th - 26th October)

UK retail destinations saw overall footfall rise marginally last week from the week before, despite Storm Benjamin sweeping across much of the country. The impact was largely felt in high streets where visits dropped week on week The worst declines came on Monday where footfall plummeted as the storm hit hardest. 

In contrast, retail parks and shopping centres remained resilient as overall performance for the week remained higher week on week. These gains were likely bolstered by the start of the October half-term holiday, which helped drive visits on Friday in retail parks and shopping centres, respectively. High streets, however, saw mixed activity levels with another severe drop recorded on Thursday coinciding with more heavy rain across many parts of the UK. This downward trend continued into Friday and Saturday with footfall continuing to fall but rebounded on Sunday following the impact of Storm Benjamin in the week prior.

All town types saw a drop in footfall, aligning with trends seen in high streets; market towns, Central London and office dense locations within the capital saw the steepest declines week on week. At an annual level, coastal towns and market towns bore the brunt which may well be due to weather influences and staggered school holiday timings. 

Annually, overall footfall levels remained lower. Again, this was driven by a drop in high street visits followed by less severe declines in shopping centres and retail parks. While weather hit the high street hard last week, the resilient format of retail parks and shopping centres continue to attract shopper and reinforces the experience, accessibility and diversity pillars of retail performance.

Source : MRI Software

Image : monkeybusinessimages / iStock / 496648303

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