Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

How busy have the shops been this Christmas where you live ??

43 replies

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 15/12/2023 21:11

Went to my nearest city to do some Christmas shopping yesterday and was shocked at how dead it was. Not only that but how full the shops were, even primark was full of snuddies, pj's etc and had slashed the prices, usually they're impossible to get hold of by now.........it was sad to see tbh. I've noticed online too, massive discounts on toys etc. I think stock just isn't moving.

My own town is the same, not that we have many shops, is it similar in your area ? And what is it? Is it due to online shopping or because people are bloody skint?? !

OP posts:

cheezncrackers · 15/12/2023 22:17

Oxford Street was busy this afternoon, but not packed pavements like it would've been once upon a time the week before Christmas. I got the feeling there were a lot of tourists - not many people looked like Londoners to me (too much dawdling!).

The roads in my town have been hell this week, there are cars parked all over the place and town centre was busy on Weds. I need to go in next week, so I'll see then what it's like in the shops.

Junegirl15 · 15/12/2023 22:35

Also agreeing that Birmingham has been rammed. Went in one Saturday about three weeks ago and I have never seen it so busy. It was not fun! Will go one evening next week for a few last bits and hope it is not too bad

TinPanSally · 15/12/2023 23:42

I did most of mine a few weeks ago. This year we are having lots of useful gifts - edible, wearable, consumable. And a few things that I’ve found in charity shops. Less frittering.

Sainsbury's was really busy today.

catscalledbeanz · 15/12/2023 23:42

Cardiff is crazy. Trains packed to sardines and shops queuing out the door (well primark anyway) l. It's a tiny city with inadequate transport anyway but the past week has seen it fuller than I've known in thirty years. I really thought the COL crisis and online shop would threaten the high street but this week has handed me a lesson. I'm dreading going back Monday- I'm there for work and the rest of the year the trains are empty (I get a table seat every journey usually) and the city deserted (which I like selfishly but also know is terrible long term)

Namenumber3 · 15/12/2023 23:52

SE here and it’s pretty busy. Sundays are rammed in the supermarket. Schools break up today so expecting it to mental everywhere from now on.

PickAChew · 16/12/2023 00:00

The Metrocentre has been dead for.a few years.

More surprisingly, Newcastle was very quiet, yesterday lunchtime. It was busy last Friday but it was the first week after the GNE bus strike and those buses were free for the week.

Not so long ago you would be carried along by the crowds, less than 2 weeks Before Christmas.

What's left of Durham city centre was pleasantly busy but not packed, on Tuesday.

PickAChew · 16/12/2023 00:01

PNdora did have a big queue, mind.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 16/12/2023 00:24

I've been into Liverpool a few times in the past few months and each time it's surprised me how busy it was.

@AnyFucker I'm surprised you saying that about The Trafford centre - we went last Friday - granted we were there for 10 so didn't have an issue with the car park - and it was really busy. All the food places had long queues, the only shop that wasn't busy was Vans and that's probably because it was the first shop we went into.

@AllAroundMyCat both my husband and I took time off work as we wanted to go together - next week though I shall absolutely be stretching the definition of 'working from home'! (I am leaving the role at the end of the week so just tying everything up )

howdoesyourgardengrowinmay · 16/12/2023 00:26

People are shopping online, delivery vans are all over the place.

coxesorangepippin · 16/12/2023 02:27

Yeah I've been WFH this week aka not doing a fucking thing either lolz

garlictwist · 16/12/2023 05:20

I live in thé city centre and think it's been really busy lately. I've done all my shopping online though

Northernsouloldies · 16/12/2023 05:36

Appears busy but that's only because there are fewer shops, Aberdeens main shopping street lots of empty units same in shopping centres.

terraced · 16/12/2023 06:25

We have a stall at Christmas markets and they've been busy on the whole. Shops seem quiet though.

Crumblecakes · 16/12/2023 10:39

AllAroundMyCat · 15/12/2023 21:38

Utterly rammed.
I'm assuming the WFH brigade have wangled time off from their screens. 🙄

I WFH and you know actually work so I’m going out today to get my last Xmas bits, on the weekend when I don’t work. Bizarre comment 😂

Allmarbleslost · 16/12/2023 10:43

Birmingham is unbearably busy.

GMsAWinner · 16/12/2023 10:52

I tend to go into town really early (8.30) so miss the busy part of the day. I do work in a town centre store though, and we're literally thrashing our targets every day - Xmas temps have been cut back this year, but customers are still waiting despite long queues.

BeckhamSeven · 16/12/2023 10:56

Our local shops have been chaos for the last couple of weekends (independent type shops) but I think I've bought everything online this year. Either delivery or click and collect. I've bought a few bits and pieces from our local retailers, but not as much as in past years.

SnappersUnflatteringSelfie · 16/12/2023 11:02

I work in non food retail, we have been super busy and hectic, with the occasional quietish week day. I don't usually work weekends but I assume it's even busier then.

Flip

1 2