April’s footfall story is a familiar one for Scottish retail: calendar triggers and good weather create short, sharp surges while the year-on-year picture remains softer as shoppers continue to weigh up value, convenience and the “need to visit” factor. This also aligns with trends seen in years where Easter has fallen just outside of April.
Across all Scottish retail destinations, footfall rose +2.1% month-on-month driven overwhelmingly by high street visits (+3.7% MoM), where seasonal activations, Easter events and brighter days helped pull consumers into town.
However, the uplift wasn’t evenly shared. Retail parks and shopping centres saw only marginal uplifts of +0.4% month on month, reinforcing that April’s gains were likely more event-led (events, day trips, leisure-led visits) than destination led.
While April delivered month-on-month growth, annual comparisons remained lower across all Scottish retail destinations: overall footfall was -3.7% YoY, with high streets -5.4%, retail parks -2%, and shopping centres -1.7%. In summary, April was busier than March but it didn’t outperform last year and that may well be due to the shift in Easter holiday timings falling in the final week of March.
Calendar events and weather continue to shape footfall patterns
April’s performance was heavily influenced by the end of Easter at the start of the month and the build-up to the early May bank holiday at the end, effectively creating two ‘bookends’ that drove spikes in activity.
The first week of April saw a natural post-Easter slowdown, particularly across Scotland’s retail parks (-6.6% WoW), although high streets (+9.2% WoW) and shopping centres (+1.8% WoW) proved more resilient, supported by ongoing holiday events and town centre activations. As the Easter holidays concluded, footfall dipped more noticeably mid-month as consumers returned to routine, with weekday visits softening and activity concentrating around weekends.
However, the combination of warmer weather likely supported in rebuilding momentum in the second half of the month. Coastal towns across the UK saw particularly strong performance overall with an +8.8% increase in visits month on month, reflecting the appeal of day trips. These trends reinforce the growing importance of destinations offering a mix of retail, leisure and hospitality to drive continuous engagement.
Bank holidays boost late-month performance
Momentum continued into the final week of April as footfall rose in the lead up to the early May bank holiday. Retail parks (+6.7% WoW), high streets (+6.7% WoW) and shopping centres (+5.5% WoW) across Scotland benefitted from consumers preparing for the long weekend.
Short-term gains highlight longer-term shift in behaviour
In Case You Missed It:
April’s trends highlights a clear trend: footfall is increasingly driven by moments, whether it’s seasonal events, weather or major cultural occasions, rather than consistent underlying demand. High streets, especially, continue to benefit from this shift, leveraging experiences and events to drive visits.
However, the softer annual comparison reinforces the ongoing challenge for the sector. Consumers remain measured in their behaviour, combining fewer, more purposeful trips with a greater expectation of value and experience when they do visit.
As the retail calendar moves further into spring and summer, the ability to capitalise on key moments – such as the World Cup, music events and local summer activations – and convert them into sustained engagement, will be critical for destinations looking to drive both footfall and spend. With the right real-time data, retail leaders can ensure they have a comprehensive view of their retail portfolios and make decisions that drive efficiency, performance and growth.
