London's West End sees footfall boom over sunny weekend

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jun 1, 2021

There are early hints that the sunny weather that seems to have transformed the UK in just the past few days could have a beneficial effect on retail destinations with news that central London saw a football boom during the three-day holiday weekend.

On Tuesday, the New West End Company (to represent businesses in the area) reported that total footfall rose 67% over the long weekend, compared to the previous weekend’s figures when the weather was definitely not spring-like.

Given that shops and cafés, bars, and restaurants are all now open for business, this is undeniably good news.

Added to this was the fact that visitor traffic was up 31% compared to the bank holiday at the beginning of May, NWEC said.

Jace Tyrrell, NWEC’s chief executive, added: “The first bank holiday since the easing of restrictions for hospitality has proved to be a hit for the West End. As the weather improved, so too did numbers on the high street, as visitors flocked back to the district. Our businesses have been patient, raring to get back into action, and the last few days have reinforced our belief that the public is as ready as we are to return.”