"EPA Christmas shoppers have turned to the streets of central London to buy their presents this year, with high street footfall in the West End bucking the national trend. In the week before Black Friday, the fourth Friday of November, footfall was up 9% on 2024, according to data from the New West End Company (NWEC). Across Black Friday week, it was up 4.1% and the following week up by 6.2%."
"The NWEC said the traffic-free event on Regent Street boosted footfall by 33.7% compared with the year before, and the following day of live performances on Oxford Street increased it by 25.1%. "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," the spokesperson said."
"Out on Oxford Street, one woman told the BBC she and her friend had their day of shopping planned. "John Lewis for coffee, followed by Selfridges, and then we might have steak for lunch," she said. "We won't stop yapping, eating and shopping." Others said they had finished the bulk of their Christmas shopping at the start of the month."
Central London’s West End experienced strong footfall growth during late November and early December. In the week before Black Friday footfall rose 9% year-on-year, Black Friday week was up 4.1%, and the following week increased 6.2%. A traffic-free Regent Street event boosted footfall 33.7% year-on-year, and live performances on Oxford Street raised it 25.1%, producing an overall weekend surge approaching one third. National retail sales fell unexpectedly in November according to ONS data. Major retailers like John Lewis anticipated busy weekends with last-minute shoppers buying presents and extra bedding for guests.
Read at www.bbc.com
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