Businesses will welcome the increased footfall in December, as it comes amidst a challenging economic climate for hospitality. Liverpool Business Improvement District records key data including footfall and spend across the city centre, as part of its work to support business.

It has recorded 2.268m people visiting the city centre in the first ten days of December, a 13.9% increase on the same week in 2024.

With Christmas attractions open across the city – including the Christmas market at St George’s Hall, The Elf on the Shelf, Liverpool Winter Festival at the Pier Head- the busy December sees a record-breaking year continue which has seen the highest level of hotel rooms (July) and footfall beat the level last set pre-Covid in 2019.

The busiest day of the festive season so far has been Saturday 6 December, which saw 357,437 people visit the city centre. The peak was at 3pm in the afternoon. The figure is 74% higher than the same Saturday last year, which was a washout thanks to Storm Darragh. Sunday 7th, which saw the annual Santa dash take place with 11,000 runners, reached 251,353 in the city centre, up 11% compared with the same day in 2024.

Liverpool BID represents over 800 businesses in the city centre and funds 80% of the Christmas lights. Their CEO is Bill Addy,

“This comes at a crucial time for businesses, particularly hospitality. It is part of our role as support to make sure we have the most positive environment in which to do business. That means supporting activity that draws people into the city centre and creates a friendly welcome.

This is a tough time for business, so an increase in footfall increases positivity of a solid final quarter of the year. We will be starting 2026 with a renewed campaign to help hospitality, who are facing a projected on average increase of 25% in Business Rates, increased staffing costs and costs for utility bills. This is hitting our favourite independents and smaller businesses harder than most.

When people are coming into the city centre we want them to feel confident about ensuring the money they spend is going to help keep those businesses that we love open and thriving for the New Year”.