Town centre numbers grow

Nairn town centre recorded 18,251 visitors in April 2025, showing encouraging signs of sustained growth and recovery,  a 3.7 percent year-on-year increase compared to April 2024, when the town welcomed 17,646 visitors.

The year-on-year uplift of over 600 additional visitors reflects growing footfall and interest in the area, pointing to a positive trend that supports local businesses and the wider town economy. This growth comes despite a general decline in localised movement seen in many towns, suggesting that Nairn’s offer— be it through retail, food and drink, events, or scenery — is increasingly appealing to both residents and visitors from surrounding areas.

Visitor behaviour is also shifting in encouraging ways. In April 2025, the average dwell time increased to 58 minutes, up six minutes from April 2024. This indicates not only that more people are visiting Nairn, but that they are choosing to stay longer, an important factor for economic impact, as longer visits often correlate with increased spending in shops, cafes, and other local services.

While the majority of visitors still come from within a close radius, there’s been a diversification in visitor origin. Although the proportion of visitors living within three miles dropped from 51.22% in March 2025 to 42.52% in April, this suggests a broader geographic appeal, with more visitors travelling from further afield. In particular, high-spend visitor volumes remain strong, which together account for a significant proportion of the town’s economically valuable footfall.

Overall, the increase in both volume and quality of visits points to a thriving town centre that is continuing to attract attention and encouraging longer, more meaningful engagement from a wide range of visitors.