The performance is driven by its exceptionally high density of active retail businesses (27.5 per sq km) and the lowest vacancy rate among the top three at 7.4%.

As the UK’s largest city and economic hub, its scale and footfall naturally support stronger retail resilience. Despite a modest increase in footfall of 4.76% over the past year, the capital’s spending power and economic output, reflected in a GDHI of £25,739, firmly cement its position at the top.

Manchester takes second place, combining strong business dynamism with one of the highest business birth-to-death ratios in the ranking (1.24), signalling a healthy level of entrepreneurial activity. However, this growth is set against challenges, including a 10.5% vacancy rate and a 6.46% decline in monthly footfall.

Even so, with high retail density and a solid GDHI of £16,814, Manchester’s high streets remain active and evolving, reflecting a city in transition rather than decline.

Glasgow ranks third, showing a strong balance of retail activity and business survival, with a birth-to-death ratio of 1.21 and relatively low vacancy compared with other major cities at 11.7%.

While footfall has fallen by 3.5%, the city maintains a steady retail presence with 13.3 active businesses per sq km. With a GDHI of £17,463, Glasgow’s high streets reflect a mix of resilience and pressure, still busy and functional, but facing the same broader shifts in consumer behaviour seen across the UK.

On the other side of the scale, Wakefield ranks as the weakest high street, showing extremely low retail density with just 0.9 active businesses per sq km and a vacancy rate of 14.4%.

While the business birth-to-death ratio remains marginally positive at 1.03, this is not enough to offset an 8.98% decline in monthly retail footfall. With a GDHI of £17,314, the city’s high street reflects very limited commercial activity and ongoing pressure on consumer demand.

Sunderland ranks second weakest, with 2.9 active retail businesses per sq km and the highest vacancy rate overall at 16.8%.

Although the business birth-to-death ratio sits at 1.09, indicating some new business activity, this is outweighed by a 7.33% drop in retail footfall over the past year.

Further findings from the study include:

Over a third (34%) of Brits said they would be encouraged to visit more if there were more independent and local shops.
Almost two in five (39%) of Brits believe their high street is in decline, with more than a third of Brits (38%) believing there are too many vape shops.

Rank
City
Number of active retail businesses per sq kilometre
Share of high street services vacant (%)
Business Birth-to-Death Ratio
Monthly Retail footfall change in the past year (%)
GDHI*

Strongest

1
London
27.5
7.4%
1.16
4.76
£25,739

2
Manchester
26.7
10.5%
1.24
-6.46
£16,814

3
Glasgow
13.3
11.7%
1.21
-3.5
£17,463

4
Liverpool
14.3
9.5%
1.15
-6.46
£16,201

5
Brighton and Hove
17.0
9.2%
1.04
-10.41
£20,887

Weakest

1
Wakefield
0.9
14.40%
1.03
-8.98
£17,314

2
Sunderland
2.9
16.80%
1.09
-7.33
£16,058

3
Stoke-on-Trent
8.0
16.30%
1.07
-9.72
£15,716

4
Cardiff
7.2
12.40%
1.10
-14.24
£16,378

5
Kingston-upon-Hull
9.1
15.10%
1.13
-8.98
£14,774

*Gross Disposable Household Income per capita