Oxford city centre has seen a considerable rise in footfall this autumn, with nearly half a million more visitors than the same period last year.

Figures from Oxford City Council reveal a positive increase, against national trends, for the city.

From September to November 2023 more than 8 million people visited the city, compared to just 7.5 million for the same period in 2022.

The data also shows that September 2023 specifically saw the highest boost, hosting 2.8 million visitors, an 11.6 per cent upsurge compared to the same month in 2022 which accounted for only 2.5 million.

It was also noted that almost half of all visitors were from postcodes in Oxfordshire.

The wave of increased footfall wasn’t restricted to the streets but felt across local businesses within the city, with the covered market witnessing particularly notable highs.

The market had 253,305 visitors between September and November 2023 in contrast to 229,843 in 2022 and only 227,230 in 2019.

The market has recently announced the launch of four new businesses.

This will include a bakery, and the mix of uses now offers the widest-ever selection of specialist artisan produce, cafés, bars, gifts, experiences, fashion, and lifestyle products.

Emily Scaysbrook, owner and director of independent board game shop, Hoyles, said: "Here at Hoyles we're delighted to see footfall up 20% on last year and 75% up on pre-pandemic levels this November.

"We're excited to see what Christmas brings."

As the festive season arrives, the number of visitors is expected to climb even higher.

The city centre is expecting a busy Christmas, lining up a multitude of festive experiences for its visitors and has encouraged residents to make use of public transport services to attend.

Councillor Susan Brown, cabinet member for inclusive economy and partnerships, said: "As we head into the festive season, I'm really pleased to see Oxford city centre thrive and footfall continue to buck national trends.

“I know this is a challenging time for local businesses, so it’s wonderful that the increase is directly filtering through to local independent businesses, such as Hoyles, and the Covered Market.”

The city’s recovery and increase in footfall are credited to the Oxford City Council initiatives.

In 2022, the council adopted the City Centre Action Plan which details various strategies intended to boost the resilience of Oxford city centre and retain its vibrancy and appeal.

Such improvements span from the redevelopment of Clarendon Centre and Covered Market regeneration to the transformation of key landmarks like the Oxford Train Station, Oxpens, and The Store Hotel.