The top Christmas hotspots in England revealed

A new study by MRI Software, a leader in retail intelligence solutions, has revealed England’s top Christmas hotspots for festive days out.

The retail experts have created their Christmas Hotspots Index, ranking English cities based on the following metrics:

• The number of Christmas related activities per km²
• The number of Google searches for Christmas related activities per capita
• The increase in high street footfall from October-December 2024 vs 2023
• The increase in shopping centre footfall from October-December 2024 vs 2023

The research crowned Cambridge as the top Christmas hotspot for 2025. York placed in second, followed by Northampton in third. Bristol and Norwich make up the rest of the top five. 

Cambridge named the top Christmas hotspot in England

Cambridge is the city that sits at the top of MRI’s Christmas hotspots index, with a total score of 75/100. The city in the East of England ranks in the top 10 for all four categories, but does particularly well when it comes to the number of Christmas related activities per km². There are 134 festive events per km², a total only bettered by Reading (158 per km²) and Oxford (149 per km²).

Cambridge also ranks fourth for Google searches of Christmas activities per 1,000 people searching from Cambridge, ninth for YoY increase in high street footfall during the Christmas shopping season, and fifth for increase in shopping centre footfall.

In second place is York, with a total score of 69/100. York has the highest number of Google searches per capita with 824 searches per 1,000 locals. York can also boast the second highest increase in high street footfall during the Christmas period, and the seventh highest for increase in shopping centre footfall.

Northampton ranks third with a total score of 67/100. Despite having one of the lowest rates of Google searches for festive activities, Northampton has the highest increase in high street footfall at 26.7%, and the second highest for increase in shopping centre footfall between October and December – 11.5%.
Just behind in fourth place and a total score of 66/100 is Bristol. Bristol ranks in the top five for both Google searches per capita and increase in high street footfall.

Completing the top five is Norwich with a total score of 65/100. Norwich ranks in the top 10 for all four categories.
Rounding off the top 10 are Liverpool at 61/100, Manchester on 60/100, and Derby, Birmingham, and Oxford all on 56/100.
Derby is the city with the highest increase in shopping centre footfall at 12%, but saw a 3% decrease in high street footfall which impacted their overall ranking in MRI’s Christmas hotspots index.

Despite not making the overall top 10 due to decreases in footfall, Reading is the city with the most Christmas activities per km² – 158, followed by Oxford in second with 149.

Jenni Matthews, Retail Insights Analyst at MRI Software, commented on the findings of the study:

Our Christmas Hotspots Index provides some great insight into how different cities are preparing for one of the peak trading periods in the retail calendar.

Last year, the data revealed that places like Cambridge, York and Northampton aren’t just offering a great festive experience – they’re also seeing meaningful increases in footfall, which is a strong indicator of consumer confidence and an encouraging sign for retailers. A trend we foresee continuing into the Golden Quarter this year.

We’re seeing that cities investing in festive events, attractions and experiences are reaping the benefits, with engaged shoppers, vibrant high streets and bustling shopping centres during the key trading period.