Small Town Feel. Big Town Energy – Bury’s Footfall Surge Shows Town Centre is Thriving
Bury town centre is seeing a surge in visitor numbers, thanks to a dynamic mix of culture, events, and strategic partnerships designed to give people more reasons to visit — and stay.
In April 2025, Bury recorded a +5.1% increase in footfall year-on-year, outperforming both the North West average (+3.2%) and the UK average (+3.9%). Year-to-date, footfall is also up +2.6%, with 1.38 million visits recorded in April — 66,859 more than April 2024.
Town-Wide Events and Culture Drive Growth
Bury BID is working with partners across the town to deliver a diverse and engaging programme:
Bury Comic Con, now a major town centre-wide event, is delivered in partnership with The Rock, Mill Gate Shopping Centre, Bury Art Museum, The Fusilier Museum, and The Met, activating the entire town with pop culture, cosplay and community.
The Met, Bury’s renowned cultural venue, continues to anchor the live music and performance scene.
A growing collaboration between The Met and independent record café Wax and Beans plus their intimate in store events is fuelling a vibrant grassroots music offer, appealing to younger and music-enthusiastic audiences.
Bury Market remains a magnet for food lovers, offering local produce, global flavours, and unique shopping experiences.
The town is gearing up for the return of the Bury Food and Drink Festival this July, which will bring together street food, live demos, family activities, and local producers for a weekend of culinary celebration.
Heritage Anchors Longer Visits
Visitors are staying longer in Bury, with March seeing average dwell time increase to 51 minutes — 24% of people stayed between 60–90 minutes. Attractions like the East Lancashire Railway, Fusilier Museum, and Bury Art Museum continue to draw footfall and deepen visitor engagement.
National Momentum, Local Success
April’s sunshine and Easter weekend lifted national retail and leisure activity. UK-wide, retail sales rose +1.2%, and entertainment spending surged +13.2%. Bury kept pace, particularly in key retail hubs like Mill Gate Shopping Centre, which accounted for 25% of all town centre footfall.
The town is also benefiting from a growing base of high-spend visitors, particularly from M33 and BL8 postcodes.
The Verdict: Bury is Booming
“We’re seeing the results of investing in the things people value — live events, food, music and culture,” said Nigel Shields, Town Centre Director at Bury BID. “Bury is thriving because we’re offering something authentic and exciting that gives people a reason to keep coming back.”
With summer ahead and Bury Comic Con in June and the Food and Drink Festival in July, Bury is on track to sustain its growth and remain one of the most vibrant town centres in the North West.
