Footfall in London’s West End has risen in the run-up to Christmas, even as national retail sales fell in November, according to separate datasets.
The New West End Company (NWEC) said pedestrian counts in the seven days before Black Friday were 9% higher than in 2024. Across Black Friday week, footfall increased by 4.1%, with a further 6.2% rise the following week.
NWEC said the weekend of 6 and 7 December was particularly busy, helped by Regent Street being made traffic-free and live performances on Oxford Street. It reported a 33.7% year-on-year uplift in footfall on Regent Street during the pedestrianisation, and a 25.1% rise on Oxford Street the next day.
The figures contrast with Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showing retail sales volumes across Great Britain fell by 0.1% in November, despite Black Friday promotions. The ONS said the discount period appeared to deliver a weaker than usual boost.
“This weekend we are still expecting one of our biggest weekends when people who have left it maybe to the last minute come in to buy presents and extra bedding and towels for guests,” said Rosie Hanley, brand director at John Lewis.
“Both events featured on-street festive activations and in-store offers and experiences, drawing crowds and causing footfall to surge by nearly a third across the weekend,” an NWEC spokesperson said.
Talk to us about your finances.
