The UK Top 10 Cities 2024-2029 report offers comprehensive insight and analysis of UK Top 10 Cities (including forecasts up to 2029), the key retailers, and consumer attitudes. It provides in-depth analysis of the following: the top 10 cities market size and forecasts, sector performance and forecasts, retailer usage across different cities, and consumer data. The report focuses on seven key sectors: clothing & footwear, electricals, furniture & floorcoverings, health & beauty, homewares, DIY & gardening and other. Consumer data is based on our 2025 UK How Britain Shops survey, using a panel of 9,000 nationally representative consumers.
The UK top 10 cities market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 2.0% between 2024 and 2029, faster than the previous five years between 2019 and 2024. This performance will be driven by resilient sector growth in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. The market faces challenges from weak consumer spending power in smaller cities and the threat of growing online shopping behaviour eroding crucial offline clothing & footwear spend.
The UK top 10 cities market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 2.0% between 2024 and 2029, faster than the previous five years between 2019 and 2024. This performance will be driven by resilient sector growth in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. The market faces challenges from weak consumer spending power in smaller cities and the threat of growing online shopping behaviour eroding crucial offline clothing & footwear spend.
Scope
- The top 10 cities market will achieve robust growth out to 2029, outperforming the total offline retail market
- The share of clothing & footwear spending in the UK top 10 cities market will fall faster than any other sector between 2024 and 2029
- London and Manchester will outpace the top 10 UK cities market in CAGR between 2024 and 2029. Bolstered by international retailer expansion, wealthy residents and strong fashion heritages
Reasons to Buy
- Identify the key cities for expansion and consumer spending power in the UK market, through our market forecasts and consumer data
- Understand the how leisure and tourism, hybrid working and expansion of international retailers will affect the top 10 cities
- Use our in-depth analysis of the challenges faced by the top 10 cities and how those consumers visiting, living and working in these cities shop
- View our by city sector forecasts to understand which retailers are likely to prosper by location in the next five years
Table of Contents
- Executive summary
- Key Trend: International retailers focus store expansion in cities
- Key Trend: Hybrid working reduces city centre footfall during weekdays
- Key Trend: Leisure and tourism increase consumer dwell time
- TOP 10 CITIES MACROENVIRONMENT
- Population by City
- Employment by City
- Mean Household Expenditure by City
- Real GDP Per Capita by City
- UK TOP 10 CITIES MARKET: MARKET SIZE AND FORECASTS 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities, five year growth 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities, market size 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities, channel growth 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Channel Size as a proportion of Total Retail, 2019, 2024 & 2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Channel Size as a proportion of Offline Retail, 2019, 2024 & 2029e
- UK TOP 10 CITIES MARKET: DETAILED PERFORMANCE AND FORECAST 2024-2029e
- Key Cities Trends
- UK Top 10 Cities, Share of Total Retail Market by City %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities, Share of Total Offline Retail Market by City %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities, Share of Top 10 Cities Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Market Size: Value and Forecast, 2024 & 2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Market: Summary
- UK Top 10 Cities Market Size, 2019, 2024 & 2029e & CAGR, 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Market: Growth, 2024-2029e
- UK TOP 10 CITIES MARKET: SECTOR PERFORMANCE AND FORECASTS 2024-2029e
- Key Sector Trends
- UK Top 10 Cities Market Sector: Value and Forecast, 2024 & 2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Market by Sector %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Share of Overall Offline Sector Sales, 2019, 2024 & 2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Share of Overall Sector Sales, 2019, 2024 & 2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Market Split by Food and Non-food, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Market Growth by Food and Non-food, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Food & Grocery Market, 2019-2029e
- UK Food & Grocery Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Clothing & Footwear Market, 2019-2029e
- UK Clothing & Footwear Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities DIY & Gardening Market, 2019-2029e
- UK DIY & Gardening Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Furniture & Floorcoverings Market, 2019-2029e
- UK Furniture & Floorcoverings Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Health & Beauty Market, 2019-2029e
- UK Health & Beauty Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Homewares Market, 2019-2029e
- UK Homewares Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Other Market, 2019-2029e
- UK Other Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e
- UK TOP 10 CITIES MARKET: CITY PROFILES
- London
- Birmingham
- Manchester
- Leeds
- Glasgow
- Edinburgh
- Sheffield
- Liverpool
- Cardiff
- Bristol
- CONSUMERS
- Key consumer trends
- UK City Demographic Breakdown, 2025
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased by City, 2025
- Top 3 Grocers Visited by City, 2025
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased from by City, 2025
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited by City, 2025
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased from by City, 2025
- Shopping Method Used by City, 2025
- Locations Shopped at by City, 2025
- METHODOLOGY, DEFINITIONS AND CONTACTS
- Population by Top 10 City, 2024, 2029e and CAGR (%) 2019-2024 & 2024-2029e
- Employment by Top 10 City, 2024, 2029e and CAGR (%) 2019-2024 & 2024-2029e
- Mean Household Expenditure by Top 10 City, 2024, 2029e and CAGR (%) 2019-2024 & 2024-2029e
- Real GDP Per Capita by Top 10 City, 2024, 2029e and CAGR (%) 2019-2024 & 2024-2029e
- Top 10 Cities Market Size Value and Forecast, 2024, 2029e and CAGR 2024-2029e
- Top 10 Cities Market Sector Value and Forecast, 2024, 2029e and CAGR 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Share of Overall Offline Sector Sales, 2019, 2024 & 2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Share of Overall Sector Sales, 2019, 2024 & 2029e
- London Sector CAGR (%) 2024-2029e
- Birmingham Sector CAGR (%) 2024-2029e
- Manchester Sector CAGR (%) 2024-2029e
- Leeds Sector CAGR (%) 2024-2029e
- Glasgow Sector CAGR (%) 2024-2029e
- Edinburgh Sector CAGR (%) 2024-2029e
- Sheffield Sector CAGR (%) 2024-2029e
- Liverpool Sector CAGR (%) 2024-2029e
- Cardiff Sector CAGR (%) 2024-2029e
- Bristol Sector CAGR (%) 2024-2029e
- Proportion of consumers working in a city that they do not live in 2025 %
- Proportion of consumers that have used leisure services in the last 12 months, 2022-2025 %
- Top 10 City Population CAGR (%) 2019-2024 & 2024-2029e
- Top 10 City Employment CAGR (%) 2019-2024 & 2024-2029e
- Top 10 City Mean Household Expenditure CAGR (%) 2019-2024 & 2024-2029e
- Top 10 City Real GDP Per Capita CAGR (%) 2019-2024 & 2024-2029e
- Top 10 Cities Market CAGR (%) 2019-2024 & 2024-2029e
- Top 10 Cities Market Value 2019-2029e
- Top 10 Cities Market Annual Growth (%) 2019-2029e
- Top 10 Cities Growth Rates (%) Versus Total Retail Sales 2019-2029e
- Top 10 Cities Growth Rates (%) Versus Total Offline Sales 2019-2029e
- Top 10 Cities Channel Size as a proportion of Total Retail, 2019, 2024 & 2029e (%)
- UK Top 10 Cities Channel Size as a proportion of Offline Retail, 2019, 2024 & 2029e (%)
- UK Top 10 Cities, Share of Total Retail Market by City %, 2019, 2024, 2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities, Share of Total Offline Retail Market by City %, 2019, 2024, 2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities, Share of Top 10 Cities Market %, 2019, 2024, 2029e
- Top 10 cities five-year growth rate %, 2019-2024 and 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities CAGR % 2019-2024 and 2024-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities retail value GBPm, 2019, 2024 and 2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Market: Growth %, 2024-2029ee
- UK Top 10 Cities Market by Sector %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Market Split by Food and Non-food, 2019-2029e %
- UK Top 10 Cities Market Growth by Food and Non-food, 2019-2029e %
- UK Top 10 Cities Food & Grocery Market Value, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Food & Grocery Market Annual Growth % vs Total Offline Sector Growth 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Food & Grocery Share of Total Offline Food & Grocery Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Food & Grocery Share of Total Food & Grocery Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Food & Grocery Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e %
- UK Top 10 Cities Clothing & Footwear Market Value, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Clothing & Footwear Market Annual Growth % vs Total Offline Sector Growth 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Clothing & Footwear Share of Total Offline Clothing & Footwear Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Clothing & Footwear Share of Total Clothing & Footwear Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Clothing & Footwear Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e %
- UK Top 10 Cities DIY & Gardening Market Value, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities DIY & Gardening Market Annual Growth % vs Total Offline Sector Growth 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities DIY & Gardening Share of Total Offline DIY & Gardening Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities DIY & Gardening Share of Total DIY & Gardening Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK DIY & Gardening Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e %
- UK Top 10 Cities Electricals Market Value, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Electricals Market Annual Growth % vs Total Offline Sector Growth 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Electricals Share of Total Offline Electricals Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Electricals Share of Total Electricals Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Electricals Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e %
- UK Top 10 Cities Furniture & Floorcoverings Market Value, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Furniture & Floorcoverings Market Annual Growth % vs Total Offline Sector Growth 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Furniture & Floorcoverings Share of Total Offline Furniture & Floorcoverings Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Furniture & Floorcoverings Share of Total Furniture & Floorcoverings Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Furniture & Floorcoverings Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e %
- UK Top 10 Cities Health & Beauty Market Value, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Health & Beauty Market Annual Growth % vs Total Offline Sector Growth 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Health & Beauty Share of Total Offline Health & Beauty Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Health & Beauty Share of Total Health & Beauty Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Health & Beauty Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e %
- UK Top 10 Cities Homewares Market Value, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Homewares Market Annual Growth % vs Total Offline Sector Growth 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Homewares Share of Total Offline Homewares Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Homewares Share of Total Homewares Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Homewares Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e %
- UK Top 10 Cities Other Market Value, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Other Market Annual Growth % vs Total Offline Sector Growth 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Other Share of Total Offline Other Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Top 10 Cities Other Share of Total Other Market %, 2019-2029e
- UK Other Market Growth by City, 2024-2029e %
- London Retail Market Value and Annual Growth %, 2019-2029e
- Profile of UK Consumer Who Live or Work in London, 2025 %
- Sector Share Within London Market %, 2024 & 2029e
- Birmingham Retail Market Value and Annual Growth %, 2019-2029e
- Profile of UK Consumer Who Live or Work in Birmingham, 2025 %
- Sector Share Within Birmingham Market %, 2024 & 2029e
- Manchester Retail Market Value and Annual Growth %, 2019-2029e
- Profile of UK Consumer Who Live or Work in Manchester, 2025 %
- Sector Share Within Manchester Market %, 2024 & 2029e
- Leeds Retail Market Value and Annual Growth %, 2019-2029e
- Profile of UK Consumer Who Live or Work in Leeds, 2025 %
- Sector Share Within Leeds Market %, 2024 & 2029e
- Glasgow Retail Market Value and Annual Growth %, 2019-2029e
- Profile of UK Consumer Who Live or Work in Glasgow, 2025 %
- Sector Share Within Glasgow Market %, 2024 & 2029e
- Edinburgh Retail Market Value and Annual Growth %, 2019-2029e
- Profile of UK Consumer Who Live or Work in Edinburgh, 2025 %
- Sector Share Within Edinburgh Market %, 2024 & 2029e
- Sheffield Retail Market Value and Annual Growth %, 2019-2029e
- Profile of UK Consumer Who Live or Work in Sheffield, 2025 %
- Sector Share Within Sheffield Market %, 2024 & 2029e
- Liverpool Retail Market Value and Annual Growth %, 2019-2029e
- Profile of UK Consumer Who Live or Work in Liverpool, 2025 %
- Sector Share Within Liverpool Market %, 2024 & 2029e
- Bristol Retail Market Value and Annual Growth %, 2019-2029e
- Profile of UK Consumer Who Live or Work in Bristol, 2025 %
- Sector Share Within Bristol Market %, 2024 & 2029e
- Proportion of UK Consumers Visiting, Working or Living in Birmingham 2025 %
- Proportion of UK Consumers Visiting, Working or Living in Bristol 2025 %
- Proportion of UK Consumers Visiting, Working or Living in Cardiff 2025 %
- Proportion of UK Consumers Visiting, Working or Living in Edinburgh 2025 %
- Proportion of UK Consumers Visiting, Working or Living in Glasgow 2025 %
- Proportion of UK Consumers Visiting, Working or Living in Leeds 2025 %
- Proportion of UK Consumers Visiting, Working or Living in Liverpool 2025 %
- Proportion of UK Consumers Visiting, Working or Living in London 2025 %
- Proportion of UK Consumers Visiting, Working or Living in Manchester 2025 %
- Proportion of UK Consumers Visiting, Working or Living in Sheffield 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased Overall UK, 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased Birmingham, 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased Bristol, 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased Cardiff, 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased Edinburgh, 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased Glasgow, 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased Leeds, 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased Liverpool, 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased London, 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased Manchester, 2025 %
- Top 5 Sectors Purchased Sheffield, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited Overall UK, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited Birmingham, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited Bristol, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited Cardiff, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited Edinburgh, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited Glasgow, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited Leeds, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited Liverpool, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited London, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited Manchester, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Visited Sheffield, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased Overall UK, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased Birmingham, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased Bristol, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased Cardiff, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased Edinburgh, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased Glasgow, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased Leeds, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased Liverpool, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased London, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased Manchester, 2025 %
- Top 3 Grocers Purchased Sheffield, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited Overall UK, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited Birmingham, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited Bristol, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited Cardiff, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited Edinburgh, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited Glasgow, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited Leeds, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited Liverpool, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited London, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited Manchester, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Visited Sheffield, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased Overall UK, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased Birmingham, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased Bristol, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased Cardiff, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased Edinburgh, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased Glasgow, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased Leeds, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased Liverpool, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased London, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased Manchester, 2025 %
- Top 3 Non-Food Retailers Purchased Sheffield, 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, Overall UK 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, Birmingham 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, Bristol 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, Cardiff 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, Edinburgh 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, Glasgow 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, Leeds 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, Liverpool 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, London 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, Manchester 2025 %
- Shopping Method Used by City, Sheffield 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, Overall UK 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, Birmingham 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, Bristol 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, Cardiff 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, Edinburgh 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, Glasgow 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, Leeds 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, Liverpool 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, London 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, Manchester 2025 %
- Locations Shopped at by City, Sheffield 2025 %
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- Sephora
- Miniso
- UNIQLO
- Sports Direct
- Holland & Barrett
- Gymshark
- Zara
- H Beauty
- Hollister
- Hotel Chocolat
- Puma
- IKEA
- Pop Mart
- Kenji
- Trinny
- TALA
- Apple
- Claire's
- Size?
- Moss
- All Saints
- Space NK
- Primark
- Fujifilm
- House of Fraser
- Selfridges
- John Lewis
- Arc'teryx
- Boss
- Alo Yoga
- Marks & Spencer
- Knoops
- Sostrene Grene
- Nike
- Aesop
- Neom
- H&M
- Debenhams
- Fjallraven
- Next
- Atkinsons
- Boots
- Flannels
- Berksha
- TK Maxx
- Harvey Nichols
- Atrid & Miyu
- Lidl
- ASDA
- Sainsbury's
- Tesco
- Aldi
- Amazon
- B&M
- Argos
- Home Bargains
- B&Q
