Scotland delivered a standout performance in August, with footfall across all retail destinations rising 3.5% month on month and 4.7% year on year. Growth was recorded across every destination type and high streets led the way, with visits up 4.0% on July and 6.5% on August 2025, comfortably outperforming wider UK trends. Back-to-school shopping helped lift activity towards the end of the month, but much of the momentum came from a packed tourism and events calendar, with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and wider festival season drawing visitors from across the UK and further afield.
Whilst England dealt with repeated heatwaves followed by heavy rain and flash flooding, Scotland’s more settled weather meant visitors could make the most of festivals, attractions and local events, which encouraged longer dwell times and repeat visits. This helped Scotland’s town and city centres hold strong levels of activity throughout the month, as people combined cultural experiences with shopping and eating out. The 6.5% annual rise in high street footfall shows the value major events bring to local businesses, and how good placemaking and destination programming can create visitor demand that goes well beyond retail.
The wider backdrop is encouraging too, with the NielsenIQ Consumer Confidence Index climbing three points to -14 in August, its highest level in two years, as people feel more optimistic about their personal finances and the economy. With Christmas approaching, the lessons from festival season are particularly relevant, as shoppers increasingly look for memorable experiences alongside their purchases. Spending is also being spread over a longer festive period, from Black Friday right through to Christmas, and several retailers including Home Bargains have announced they’ll close on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year. As Jenni Matthews, Retail Insights Analyst at MRI Software, puts it, August showed the value of creating destinations people want to spend time in, not just shop in.
