Footfall across UK shops increased by 5% on Christmas Eve compared with the week before, driven by grocery shopping, figures show.
Sunday’s surge in footfall was attributed to consumers favouring retail parks and shopping centres to buy last-minute gifts and household items before some supermarkets closed on Christmas Day and have reduced hours on Boxing Day.
Footfall at retail parks increased by 20.9% compared with last week and was up 16.8% at shopping centres, according to data from industry analyst MRI Software.
However, Christmas Eve footfall is down by 30% compared with last year. The fall is largely due to the day falling on a Saturday last year – making for a noticeably stronger day of trading, MRI Software said.
This year, many stores and destinations operated normal Sunday trading hours, possibly resulting in a more subdued Christmas Eve than is typically expected for retailers.
However, dozens of people queued outside Selfridges on Oxford Street in London before it opened on Sunday.
Fred and Angie Gay, from Essex, have been coming to the West End every 24 December for the past 20 years and were looking for a Christmas present for her.
Mrs Gay said: “We’re waiting for Selfridges to open just to have a little look, but my favourite store is Liberty’s. It’s just nice to be up here for Christmas time really, get into the festive spirit.”
Hanouf, from Saudi Arabia, said she comes to London every Christmas and appreciates the city’s “vibes” during the festive season. The 28-year-old said she was on the hunt for Apple AirPods and items from upmarket fashion brand Longchamp for herself, but also gift sets for friends because she had not yet started her Christmas shopping.
She added that London was her “favourite spot at Christmas”, saying: “I come here yearly, the Christmas lights, the Christmas vibes, the restaurants.”
PA Media contributed to this report
