West End festive sales expected to rise 1.3% to £1.7bn
International sales are predicted to rise by 1.9% year-on-year, while domestic spending is expected to edge up by 0.9%
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London’s West End is expected to post a 1.3% rise in festive season sales this year, with total spending over November and December forecast to reach £1.7bn, according to the New West End Company.
The business partnership said flight bookings to London across the two months were up 2.8% on 2024, driven partly by higher numbers of high-spending visitors from the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Qatar.
International sales are predicted to rise by 1.9% year-on-year, while domestic spending is expected to edge up by 0.9%. The figures suggest overseas tourism will again be the main source of seasonal growth for the district.
New store openings have supported trading through the year, including Ikea’s new Oxford Street branch and flagship sites for Space NK, Rolex and Michael Kors. Topshop has also returned to the area with a pop-up inside Liberty.
Dee Corsi, chief executive of New West End Company, said: “The West End is an iconic destination all year round, but it becomes truly exceptional during the festive season. Our sales forecast reflects its resilience as a flagship destination, backed up by on-street surveys which reveal the depth of loyalty and affection visitors have for the West End. That said, it is clear that consumers are still feeling the pinch and, whilst the West End’s appeal to visitors is enduring, growth is stalling.
“This year’s late Budget offers a crucial opportunity for the government to supercharge the UK’s appeal to tourists, boost domestic consumer confidence, and back British businesses, during the most important trading period of the year.”
She added: “Bold, targeted growth measures, such as exempting retail, leisure and hospitality operators from a ‘super tax’ business rates multiplier, are exactly what we need.”
The organisation said visitor sentiment in the district remains positive. Surveys found that satisfaction and loyalty were higher than a year earlier, with 77% of respondents saying they were on a planned visit, compared with 58% in 2024.
