UK footfall fell again in July as the heatwave deterred shoppers from the high street.

Total UK footfall dropped by 2.1 per cent year-over-year (YoY) over the month from 5 July to 1 August, according to the latest BRC-Sensormatic data.

The figures marked an increase from -3.4 per cent over June.

High street footfall decreased by 3.8 per cent over the month, up from -6.2 per cent in June.

Shopping centre footfall also declined by 1.4 per cent YoY in July, up from -2.5 per cent the month prior.

However, retail park footfall increased by 1.2 per cent YoY over July, rising from -0.3 per cent the month before..

Footfall increased by 2.7 per cent YoY in Scotland and 2.6 per cent in Northern Ireland. It remained flat in Wales (0.0 per cent), and declined by 3.0 per cent in England.

British Retail Consortium (BRC) CEO Helen Dickinson said: “The heatwave continued to bear down on retail footfall in July, with high streets worst affected. 

“London was hit particularly hard as soaring temperatures made tube and train travel less attractive, with some commuters and shoppers opting to stay home. 

“Nonetheless, it was still an improvement on the previous month’s figures, when record-breaking sunshine saw footfall fall by an even bigger margin.”

She continued: “Climate change continues to deliver more and more extreme temperatures in the UK. 

“Retailers are responding by investing in both mitigations – such as more air conditioning and more efficient refrigeration units – and in sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions. 

“Unfortunately, business rates often punish stores for such investments, showing the need for government to look again at this broken system.”

Sensormatic head of consulting and analytics – EMEA Andy Sumpter added: “July saw UK retail footfall remain under pressure, with total visits down -2.1 per cent year-on-year. 

“While this represents an improvement on June’s -3.4 per cent, the broader trend remains challenging, with six of the first seven months of 2026 performing worse than the same period last year. 

“The exceptionally hot and historically dry weather is likely to have been a significant factor, discouraging shopping trips and particularly impacting high streets.”

He continued: “England recorded the weakest performance of any UK nation at -3.0 per cent, with London down -5.3 per cent, highlighting the continued challenges facing larger urban centres during periods of extreme heat. 

“There were, however, some positives. Retail parks returned to growth and shopping centres also saw visits increase, suggesting consumers are still willing to visit destinations, even if they are making fewer retail trips once there.

“While the UK has yet another new Prime Minister, retail is yet to experience any meaningful ‘Burnham Bounce’. 

“For retailers, the focus remains on converting these more selective visits into meaningful spend as the summer progresses.”

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