Cambs city named among UK's best shopping areas that people are flocking to

Cambridge city centre has been hailed as the country's top shopping destination for 2024. The list was released by Newmark Retail as part of its annual Vitality Rankings.

The rankings look at the performance of 1,000 UK retail centres. They analyse a range of factors, including retail unit vacancy rate, the change in vacancy rate, space being adapted for other uses, shopper spend per annum and footfall figures.

The university city regained the number one spot for the first time since 2019 and ranked 35 spaces higher than the year before. It is believed that this is due to the return of tourists, students and shoppers, all of which reaching pre-pandemic levels.

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Cambridge is widely known for its retail offering, with more than 250 independent businesses, a seven-day market, and a plethora of big high street names lining the city streets. With products such as clothes, home furnishings, jewellery, books, art and other gifts all readily available, there will always be something for everyone.

There are also three shopping centres - The Grafton, Lion Yard and Grand Arcade - which all offer visitors a mix of retail and leisure options to keep them busy for the day. The likes of Sidney Street, Petty Cury, St Andrew's Street and Market Street are also packed with upmarket stores and cafes to explore and enjoy.

Andy Metherell, Head of Consultancy & Analytics at Newmark's UK & EMEA Retail Practice, who leads the Vitality Rankings, said: "Luxury destinations have attained higher positions in this year’s rankings as the cost-of-living crisis – caused by inflation and other economic headwinds – is less likely to impact shoppers in locations like Chelsea, Sloane Street and Knightsbridge.

"Affluent commuter towns have also retained their high positions as local residents are more likely to undertake hybrid working and therefore shop in their local towns more often than before the pandemic, helping to maintain vitality and occupier performance.

"However smaller locations whose shoppers are more vulnerable to the cost-of-living crisis have fallen down the rankings as pandemic-related factors, such as vaccination rates or the presence of convenience retail, are no longer driving high street vitality.

"The return of tourists and pre-pandemic shopping habits have also boosted the performance of major shopping destinations such as Westfield Stratford City, Leeds city centre and Liverpool city centre. Larger retail centres have returned to higher rankings despite being a challenging year for retailers and consumers."

The full list is available to view on the Newmark website. For more information, click here.

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