Major high street chains to shut in 2026 – full list (Image: Getty)
UK high streets are set for a challenging year, with more than 150 store closures planned for 2026. Shops affected include banks, fashion retailers, and numerous other businesses, indicating significant changes for both shoppers and workers. From well-known national brands to popular local stores, these closures highlight ongoing struggles in the sector.
Many retailers say rising costs, including higher National Insurance and minimum wage increases, are making it hard to stay open. Business rates are also a major concern. You can find the full list of all the store closures scheduled for 2026 below.
Read more: Major budget high street store to close huge store this week
Read more: Huge January blow for UK ‘ghost town’ as Primark to shut shop in days
Lloyds bank is to close 40 high street banks (Image: Getty)
Banks
Lloyds Banking Group has announced its strategy to shut 15 Halifax sites and 40 Lloyds branches nationwide this year. A spokesperson for Lloyds Banking Group previously stated: “The way people are banking has changed, with over 21 million customers choosing apps to manage their money.
“We’re providing more choice than ever before, bringing together the best in digital convenience with our people. Alongside our app, our customers can use any Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch, the Post Office or banking hubs for their everyday banking, and deposit cash at over 30,000 PayPoint locations.”
List of Lloyds Bank branch closures in 2026
Alfreton – January 1, 2026Ammanford – January 12, 2026Bideford – January 13, 2026Birmingham, Harborne – October 8, 2026Brigg – March 5, 2026Camborne – October 7, 2026Caterham – March 3, 2026Chepstow – October 7, 2026Chester-le-Street – January 14, 2026Deal – October 10, 2026Fleet – January 13, 2026Gillingam, Dorset – January 8, 2026Glossop – March 9, 2026Gorseinon – October 10, 2026Havant – January 1, 2026Hedge End – January 21, 2026Hedon – January 28, 2026Houghton le Spring – March 10, 2026Hucknall – March 4, 2026Ivybridge – January 14, 2026Lewes – January 19, 2026Liverpool Breck Road – March 4, 2026Manchester Moston – March 11, 2026Mitcham – January 8, 2026New Addington – January 1, 2026Okehampton – March 25, 2026Penzance – January 21, 2026Peterlee Yoden Way – March 3, 2026Petersfield – January 21, 2026Ryde – October 7, 2026Seaton – March 11, 2026Sleaford – March 13, 2026Stamford – October 13, 2026Stoke-on-Trent – October 30, 2026Swadlincote – January 20, 2026Thornbury Avon – February 2, 2026Totnes – January 8, 2026Totton – October 12, 2026Tunstall – March 9, 2026Wymondham – March 13, 2026
List of Halifax closures in 2026
Birmingham Bearwood – March 2, 2026Buxton – Spring Gardens – October 13, 2026Camborne – October 7, 2026Deal – January 22, 2026Hastings – January 22, 2026Havant – January 1, 2026Horsforth – February 2, 2026Middleton – January 8, 2026Nelson – March 4, 2026Peterlee – March 3, 2026Sleaford – January 1, 2026Skipton – January 26, 2026Wandsworth, London – January 15, 2026Yeovil – January 12, 2026
There are about 200 River Island stores across the UK (Image: Getty)
River Island
River Island will close 32 stores across the UK in January as part of a restructuring plan to address ongoing financial losses. The fashion retailer reported a £33.2 million deficit in 2023 following a 19% drop in sales. In addition, it will pay reduced rent on 71 stores, a move approved by a High Court judge in August.
The company cites the rise of online shopping and high costs of maintaining physical stores as key challenges. CEO Ben Lewis said the brand remains “much-loved” but has “a large portfolio of stores no longer aligned to our customers’ needs,” compounded by rising operating costs.
River Island operates over 200 UK outlets and employs around 5,500 people, though many roles are at risk due to the reorganisation. The company plans to relocate staff where possible.
List of River Island closures in 2026
Aylesbury, BuckinghamshireBangor Bloomfield, Northern IrelandBarnstaple, DevonBeckton, Greater LondonBrighton, East SussexBurton-Upon-Trent, DerbyshireCumbernauld, ScotlandDidcot, OxfordshireEdinburgh Princes Street, ScotlandFalkirk, ScotlandGloucester, GloucestershireGreat YarmouthGrimsby, LincolnshireHanley, StaffordshireHartlepool, County DurhamHereford, HerefordshireKilmarnock, ScotlandKirkcaldy, ScotlandLeeds Birstall Park, West YorkshireLisburn, Northern IrelandNorthwich, CheshireNorwich, NorfolkOxford, OxfordshirePerth, ScotlandPoole, DorsetRochdale, Greater ManchesterSt Helens, MerseysideSurrey Quays, Greater LondonSutton Coldfield, WarwickshireTaunton, SomersetWorkington, CumbriaWrexham, Wales
Primark will close one branch’s doors this year (Image: Getty)
Primark
Primark will close its Dartford store on Saturday, January 3, marking its first UK store closure in a decade. Staff at the branch have been made redundant, with customers encouraged to visit nearby stores in Bexleyheath and Bluewater.
Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s UK South and South East sales director, said the closure was due to extensive repair work that was “not viable given the proximity of two other stores.” She added that over half of the affected staff have been offered roles at nearby locations, while the company is providing support to those leaving. Nibbs thanked the Dartford community and customers for their support over the years.
Trespass
The outdoor clothing specialist with around 300 locations will close one outlet next year, after shutting branches in Watford and Buckinghamshire in 2025. Trespass will shut its Southampton branch on Above Bar Street on March 9.
Poundland is known for its cheap prices (Image: Getty)
Poundland
After undergoing a substantial reorganisation and considerable shop closures already, the discount chain is preparing to shut a further 14 outlets by February 2026, taking the overall closure count to 100. The affected branches are running clearance promotions offering discounts of up to 40%.
List Poundland store closures in 2026
Bexhill, East Sussex – January 5Ponders End, Greater London – January 5Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland – January 5Faversham, Kent – January 6Mitcham, Greater London – January 14Liverpool, Merseyside – January 15Yeovil, Somerset – January 16Cameron Toll, Edinburgh, Scotland – January 20Nottingham Eastpoint, Nottinghamshire – January 22Lymington, Hampshire – January 23Christchurch (47 High Street), Dorset – January 23Bristol Avon Meads, Bristol – January 29Winton, Dorset – February 6Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland – February 8
Cancer Research revealed in October that it would shut 88 shops by May 2026 (Image: Getty)
Cancer Research
The charity revealed in October that it would shut 88 shops by May 2026, owing to escalating operational expenses and shifting shopping habits.
The two-year programme could result in “up to 100 more” outlets closing by April 2027, trimming its portfolio to approximately 320 shops. However, it’s not entirely about retrenchment. The charity intends to launch 12 ‘superstores’ by 2028 on retail parks.
List of Cancer Research stores closing
AberdeenAirdrieBalhamBallymenaBanburyBarnstapleBelfast BloomfieldBiggleswadeBirkenheadBirminghamBognorBoltonBradfordBurton On TrentCheshamClevedonClydebankCoatbridgeCotteridgeCreweDerbyDewsburyDudleyEast BarnetEdinburghEppingFakenhamFalkirkGalashielsGillinghamGlasgowGosportGravesendHalesowenHarrogateHazel GroveHemel HempsteadHigh WycombeHornchurchKeswickKings LynnLancasterLeedsLincolnLisburnLouthLudlowMaidenheadMaidstoneMarket DraytonMelton MowbrayMerthyr TydfilMill HillMoretonNewarkNewcastle Under LymeNorthwoodPaddock WoodPenrithPerthRedditchRedruthRetfordRoss On WyeRotherhamRushdenSelbySevenoaksShrewsburySidmouthSkiptonSloughSouthend On SeaSt IvesStalybridgeStockportStokeSwanseaSwindonTivertonUrmstonWellingWelwyn Garden CityWest BromwichWhitbyWickWigstonWorkington
