The decline of Britain’s High Street is accelerating, as a new interactive map has revealed the closure of over 200 major retailer and bank branches in 2025. This rapid decrease in physical stores is impacting every region of the UK, with a multitude of prominent retailers and financial institutions succumbing to the closure trend.
High Street businesses are grappling with fierce competition from online stores, soaring commercial rents, and a sluggish consumer spending environment. The retail sector, particularly fashion retailers, is bearing the brunt of this onslaught, with well-known brands like New Look, Select Fashion, Monki, and Quiz Clothing shuttering multiple stores.
Aside from fashion retailers, major names like WHSmith and Homebase have also been compelled to downsize their store footprint in response to the challenging market conditions.
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Banks have not been immune to the upheaval, with over 60 branches shutting down in 2025, many of which were located in prime High Street positions. This move reflects the longstanding shift towards online banking, and major institutions such as Lloyds, Halifax, Barclays, and Bank of Scotland have all participated in the branch closure trend.
The impact of these closures is being unequivocally felt, as this week alone, Santander announced the impending closure of 95 branches in the upcoming months. Additionally, Morrisons divulged plans to shut down 17 convenience stores across the country.
An interactive map has been developed to allow individuals to identify which High Street businesses have already ceased operations in their respective areas during the initial trimester of 2025.
In addition to the 200 closures in 2025, numerous other outlets are slated for closure in the following months, as several major retailers undergo business reorganization. It is important to note that the map does not encompass stores confirmed for closure later in the year.
Business leaders are sounding the alarm, cautioning that an increase in national insurance contributions next month will place additional strain on employers, potentially leading to heightened price levels in the coming three months.
In 2024, a staggering 12,804 retail stores, leisure venues, and service outlets closed their doors. This figure encompasses both independent businesses and High Street retail chains featured in our compilation. The Center for Retail Research has projected a potential increase to 17,350 closures in 2025, with over 14,500 of these attributed to independent retailers.
Zelf Hussain, restructuring partner at PwC UK, highlighted the significant challenges confronting retailers in 2025, citing cautious consumer confidence, payroll cost hikes, and escalating business rates as factors that will continue to exert pressure on High Street retailers' profit margins.
Finally, a comprehensive list of the major retailers who have already closed stores in 2025 is provided below.