The makeup of Great Britain’s high streets has changed dramatically. See what the data says about where you live
From department stores to discount shops, bookmakers to beauty salons, the makeup of Britain’s high streets has shifted dramatically since 2019. Shopping-led town centres are giving way to areas increasingly dominated by services, food, and leisure – but the scale and shape of that change varies widely from place to place.
The last six years have coincided with a series of shocks to the economy. Lockdowns during the Covid pandemic disrupted footfall and accelerated online retail, while Brexit, energy bill hikes, a cost of living crisis and national changes to wages and employer tax contributions have piled further pressure on both independent businesses and national chains. What remains on Britain’s high streets – and what has disappeared – offers a snapshot of how the country shops, eats and spends its time.
Enter your postcode to explore the types of high street businesses that were operating near you in 2019 and how that picture compares with 2025. Unfortunately, our data does not cover Northern Ireland.
We have selected a few interesting categories here, but this isn't a comprehensive list of all types of shops.
