England’s Ghost Towns: London Among 10 Areas Worst Hit by High Street Shop Closures

A new map has revealed the “ghost towns” of England, highlighting the areas worst affected by high street shop closures—with London featuring among the top ten. Concerns are mounting over the decline of town centres, where falling footfall and rising costs have forced many stores to shut their doors.

Research by barcodestore.uk has identified the towns hit hardest, showing that Ellesmere Port in Cheshire ranks worst relative to its population. Between 2015 and 2025, the town lost around 460 high street businesses—equivalent to 75 closures per 10,000 residents, or one for every 133 people. Other severely impacted locations include Norwich (40 closures per 10,000 people), Torquay (40), and Warrington (35). An interactive map allows users to check whether their hometown appears in the top ten.

The crisis has also drawn attention in the House of Lords, where peers recently reviewed ways to revive struggling high streets as part of a business rates inquiry. They recommended extending business rates relief to markets outside London, ensuring local authorities receive funding to maintain ownership and occupier records for commercial properties, and supporting councils in using new High Street Rental Auction powers.

Peers also urged the Government to provide local authorities with the right expertise for managing retail development and to clarify whether NHS services will be relocated to high streets. Finally, they suggested that new public services—such as libraries, diagnostic centres, and local government offices—should be prioritised for high street locations.

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