Morecambe town centre footfall climbs as summer visitor numbers build

Morecambe town centre has recorded three consecutive months of rising visitor numbers this summer, with footfall climbing steadily from May through to July 2026 as visitors also spend longer in the town than ever before.

According to independent footfall data compiled by Place Informatics for Lancaster City Council, total visits to Morecambe town centre rose from 401,970 in May to 437,041 in June and 453,720 in July — an increase of almost 13% over the three months, as the town moved into its busiest summer trading period.

The Promenade’s Marine Central stretch, consistently the busiest part of the town centre, has driven much of that growth. Visits there rose from 97,217 in May to 108,398 in June and 122,144 in July — up more than 25% across the period — and by July the stretch alone accounted for 14% of all town centre street visits, its highest share of the year so far.

Visitors are also staying for longer. Average dwell time in the town centre rose from 62 minutes in May to 65 minutes in June and 69 minutes in July, running consistently ahead of last year throughout the summer.

David Waddington, Chair of Morecambe BID, said: “This is exactly the kind of momentum we want to see as we head into a new five-year term for the BID. Three months of consecutive growth, and people staying longer once they’re here, tells us Morecambe is doing something right. It’s a real credit to the businesses, venues and events that give people a reason to come and to stay.”

Councillor Martin Bottoms, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Regeneration, Tourism, Arts & Culture and Coastal Engineering (Morecambe Bay Independents, Bare Ward), said: “As we moved into the peak holiday period Morecambe showed signs of growth. With May and July visitors slightly down on last year the dwell time increased. Every month from May to July showed an increase in visitor numbers from the previous month.”

Morecambe BID Manager John O’Neill added: “These figures matter because they’re independently verified, not just anecdotal — and they back up what our members have been telling us all summer. As we prepare Morecambe for the next stage of its growth, including Eden Project Morecambe, understanding exactly how and when people are visiting the town centre is invaluable.”

The proportion of visitors travelling from within three miles of the town centre also grew across the summer, reaching 63.03% in July — its highest point of the three months — suggesting continued strong support from the local community alongside visitors travelling further afield.

The figures come as Morecambe BID begins a new five-year term through to 2031, with a strategic focus on preparing the town for significantly higher visitor numbers as Eden Project Morecambe develops.