Bristol booms as fastest growing regional city, with footfall soaring by 4.5%

Global commercial real estate advisor Avison Young has released new data which shows that Bristol is leading the charge in regional footfall growth, recording a 4.5% increase in visitor numbers over the past year, against an average of 1.9% across 10 of the UK’s major cities.

The data, collected by Visitor Insights from January-August 2025 and compared to the same period in 2024, published this week by Avison Young, covers footfall in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London’s West End, Manchester, and Newcastle.

As workers, shoppers and tourists continue to return to city centres, Bristol has recorded the highest percentage increase in footfall year to date, and is also performing strongly compared to H1 2019, with footfall just 9.6% below pre-pandemic levels.

This autumn, Marks & Spencer will return to the city centre following a two-year absence, occupying the 80,000 sq ft, former House of Fraser unit in Cabot Circus, a move expected to further boost visitor numbers in Bristol. Alongside this, iconic music venue Motion announced plans to open a brand-new site in the city, boosting the night-time visitor economy.

London’s West End has seen a 4.9% rise in footfall, bringing in an extra 6.8 million visitors up to August 2025. With ongoing theatre debuts, including the launch of Jamie Lloyd’s interpretation of Evita attracting thousands to watch Rachel Zegler’s balcony performance and the news that Beetlejuice The Musical will transfer from Broadway, footfall is expected to continue to increase through to 2026.

Elsewhere in the UK, Edinburgh has benefited from a 3.6% increase in city-centre footfall compared to last year, as consumer confidence continues to grow. Meanwhile, Birmingham and Newcastle saw increases of 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively, signalling a steady but more modest recovery in these cities compared with the strong growth seen in Bristol and London.

Rising footfall in some of the UK’s regional centres highlights a broader trend of renewed urban activity, driven by a combination of returning office workers, leisure shoppers, and increased international visitors.

Julian Watts, Regional Managing Director, Bristol at Avison Young, said:
“Bristol’s city centre is thriving, with workers, shoppers, and tourists all contributing to a clear momentum of recovery and growth. The 4.5% uplift in footfall demonstrates the city’s resilience and ongoing appeal, not only compared to last year but also when benchmarked against pre-pandemic levels.

“This is hugely positive news for investors and occupiers alike, and for the key growth sectors we have here in the wider South West region, including technology, creative and digital, and financial services, all of which will benefit from increased footfall.

“With major retailers like Marks & Spencer also returning to the heart of Bristol, confidence in the city centre is only set to grow further, creating a positive cycle of investment, vibrancy and economic opportunity.”

Lesley Males, Director, Market Intelligence at Avison Young, added:
“It’s hugely encouraging to see increased growth in visitor numbers across the UK’s major city centres. The return of workers, tourists, and shoppers is breathing new life into our urban areas, with regional cities like Bristol showing particularly strong momentum.

“High-profile retail openings, cultural events, and improved infrastructure are all contributing to greater vibrancy and resilience. While average footfall remains below pre-pandemic levels, the continued upward trend is a positive signal for investors, occupiers, and local authorities alike.”

Avison Young’s Databites report on city-centre footfall growth can be viewed in full here.