London’s West End saw an increased number of shoppers last week as overseas visitors continued to take advantage of sterling’s weakness.

According to data released by the New West End Company, footfall in the West End was up 1.2 per cent, year-on-year, with Oxford Street up 3.7 per cent.

The news comes in the wake of Westfield London opening and at the end of a month that has seen further evidence of deteriorating consumer confidence.

New West End Company chief executive Richard Dickinson said: “Footflow is only part of the story. It’s whether shoppers are actually buying when they visit that counts. The West End is fortunate in that 50 per cent of our 200m annual shoppers are from overseas, with Middle Eastern money and the Euro pound [exchange rate] providing a much needed boost to the tills of the West End stores last week.”

Noel Saunders, managing director of John Lewis Oxford Street, said: “The last week in October, which coincided with the White City opening, we saw a year-on-year increase in footfall and sales.”

The figures for the first week of November follow tough trading in the West End during October, although still significantly better than the national trend.

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