City centre full of potential as festive retail rush approaches

The positive stats mean Leeds is also bucking the national trend, with the average vacancy rate elsewhere across the country currently at around 12.4 per cent.

The news comes against the backdrop of more hugely encouraging figures in the city centre so far this year, with a staggering footfall of 45,291,505 recorded by specialist cameras measuring pedestrian movement in eight key areas including Briggate, The Headrow and Albion Street.

The data means an average footfall of 1,332,103 every week across the city centre so far in 2026.

Footfall on Briggate alone this year to date stands at 8,502,173, an average of 250,063 every week, with footfall across the city centre currently consistently up on the same period last year.

The number of people in the city centre is expected to reach its highest points of the year in the upcoming months, with hundreds of thousands of people set to attend the spectacular Light Night Leeds on October 28 and 29.

And November will see Christmas officially arrive in Leeds, with Christmas shopping and a programme of seasonal activities likely to drive a huge annual surge in visitors to the city centre.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy said: “It’s hugely encouraging to see the city centre performing so impressively as we prepare for what’s likely to be the busiest and most exciting period of the year for shoppers and visitors.

“A great deal of partnership work has gone into making our retail areas and public spaces a unique and welcoming experience, and the consistently strong performance and resilience of our local economy demonstrates the success of that work.

“With these impressive figures as a foundation, we’re all set to welcome hundreds of thousands of people to the city for what is sure to be another remarkable season for Leeds.”

More details about Light Night Leeds and Christmas activities are set to be released in the coming months.

ENDS