Many British high streets are facing challenges due to online competition and consumer spending constraints, resulting in numerous vacant shops and closed businesses in town centers across the country.
Despite these difficulties, there are some town centers that are flourishing, and these lively areas are being highlighted based on Newmark’s latest retail Vitality Rankings for 2025.
Cambridge, a university city, has been ranked as the top location for shopping in the UK in 2025, benefiting from its wealthy residents, student community, and active nightlife, maintaining its position as the most successful retail hub in the country.
Notably, Chelsea in London has moved up to second place from tenth in the rankings due to its appealing mix of upscale shops, pubs, and bars, including prominent areas like Sloane Square.
Additionally, Kingston upon Thames in London secured third place, followed by Bath city center in fourth place, with Bluewater shopping center in Dartford, Wimbledon Village, and Milton Keynes also making the top rankings.
Rounding up the top positions were Knightsbridge in London, Leeds, and Westfield Stratford City. Researchers noted that smaller cities such as Bath, Brighton, and Edinburgh have been climbing the rankings steadily, thanks to their affluent customer base.
This year, major cities and dedicated shopping centers experienced significant increases in foot traffic and performance, contributing to their improved rankings.
Newmark emphasized that despite the return to office work, hybrid working arrangements continue to support retailers in boosting their profits.
Shoppers, especially those visiting larger cities or shopping centers, are engaging in more extensive shopping trips and spending more money, rather than making quick purchases or casual browsing, according to the group.
However, not all areas saw positive trends. Cobham in Surrey dropped to 21st place from its previous position of second in the rankings, while Oxford city center fell from 14th to 20th place, and Harrogate slipped to 25th place from 17th.
Will Chamberlain, Newmark’s associate director of new business, mentioned that retailers are consolidating their presence by reducing stores in lower footfall areas and focusing on prime locations with high foot traffic to drive sales effectively.
Chamberlain also highlighted the importance of providing shoppers with memorable and personalized in-store experiences as a key strategy for retailers aiming to boost sales.