Easter weekend delivered a boost for UK retail as shoppers took advantage of the sunny weather.

Footfall over the Easter weekend covering Friday April 3 to Monday April 6, increased 3.4% year on year, according to MRI Software data.

Easter Monday saw the biggest jump in visits, as high street footfall that day jumped 21.1% year on year, as local events and warm weather drove people outside.

Retail parks and shopping centres on Easter Monday also saw a rise in visits by 5.2% and 9%, respectively. 

Over the entire weekend, UK high street footfall rose 4.1% annually, UK retail park visits edged up 1.8%, and UK shopping centres saw a 3.8% increase in footfall.

Week-on-week footfall was down 5.6% across all UK destinations, but coastal and historic towns across the country saw a boost in weekly and yearly visits over Easter.

MRI Software said: “While the lead up to Easter weekend was somewhat subdued, Easter weekend itself proved to be a busy one for UK’s retail destinations compared with Easter weekend 2025.

“These trends continue to highlight that, when the perfect conditions align, the holiday period continues to deliver a welcome boost for UK’s retail destinations.”

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