MRI Springboard’s Coronation Commentary

Diane Wehrle, MRI Springboard’s Marketing and Insights Director provides a commentary on footfall over the Coronation weekend.

The Coronation – a once in a lifetime event for many – somewhat inevitably drew consumers away from stores and destinations on Saturday 6^th May as many were watching the proceedings.  Footfall across all UK retail destinations was -20.8% lower than the previous Saturday over the day as a whole, and -24.6% lower between 10am and 3pm when the ceremony and parade took place. 

However, MRI Springboard’s data highlights that there was a significant variation across different towns and cities with uplifts in footfall in many.  In Central London the increase in visitors to the Capital coming to witness the event in person meant the drop in footfall over the day as a whole from the week before was far smaller at -9.3% and footfall between 10am and 3pm was virtually on par with the previous week (-0.2%) and in non-retail areas of Central London it was +8.5% higher than last week during that five hour period.  In Knightsbridge – a location with an iconic British brand but more distant from Westminster Abbey so easier to access – footfall over the day as a whole was +9.7% higher than on the previous Saturday, and a staggering +57.7% higher than the week before over the five hours from 10am to 3pm.

There were also uplifts in footfall in other towns and cities across the UK, as big screens were erected in some high streets to enable shoppers to watch the proceedings.  In King Edward Street in Hull footfall was +3.9% higher than last Saturday between 10am and 3pm, and in New George Street in Plymouth footfall was +7.8% higher over those five hours.  In Market Square in Sunderland footfall was -20.5% lower during the event itself, but +11.9% higher over the 24 hour period.

On Saturday footfall across all UK retail destinations was -13.2% lower than on the same day last year, but in Central London it was +11.3% higher than on same Saturday in 2022, +24.3% higher in non-retail areas of Central London and +9.2% higher in Knightsbridge.  Over the five hours between 10am and 3pm the uplift from last year in London was even greater; +21.5% across Central London, +46.4% higher in non-retail areas of Central London and +56.2% higher than last year in Knightsbridge.

Across all UK retail destinations on Saturday footfall was -21.8% the 2019 level, but in Central London it was just -6.1% below 2019 and in non-retail areas of Central London it was +10% higher than on the same day in 2019.  Over the five hours between 10am and 3pm, footfall in Central London was on par with the 2019 level (+0.2%) and a staggering +32.9% higher than 2019 in non-retail areas of Central London.

On Sunday, the day following the Coronation, footfall across the UK’s retail destinations was just -1.1% lower than last Sunday during the early May bank holiday weekend.  It appears that Central London was still attracting visitors on Sunday, as footfall  in the capital was +2% higher than last Sunday.  However, some consumers also made the most of the dry warm weather to make day trips elsewhere in the UK, as footfall in coastal towns was +7% higher than bank holiday Sunday last week and +2.4% higher in historic towns.

Footfall was +7.3% higher than on the same Sunday last year across all UK retail destinations and +14.1% higher in high streets, which is likely to be a result of parties and activities taking place in town centres.  Footfall in Central London was +13.7% higher than last year and only -9.1% lower than in 2019.  In non-retail areas of Central London with tourist attractions, footfall on Saturday 6th May was +21.5% higher than last year and just -3.8% lower than in 2019.