River Island is closing 27 stores while Cancer Research is shutting 88 shops, and several other retailers including Primark, Superdrug and Poundland have faced closures.
2026 is already shaping up to be a difficult year for Britain’s high streets. In recent weeks, many retailers have confirmed or carried out closures, impacting hundreds of shops and employees.
Charity shops, fashion outlets and beauty retailers have all been sharing the bad news. Some closures are scheduled for the coming weeks, whilst others have already been forced to shut permanently this January.
Here’s a full overview of all the store closures that have happebed or been confirmed recently.
River Island
A total of 27 River Island branches are due to close by the end of this month, following last year’s announcement of a restructuring plan. Bosses have pinned the shift from high street shopping to online retail as one of the key factors behind the current situation, reports the Express.
List of closures:
- Aylesbury – January 18
- Bangor Bloomfield – January 24
- Barnstaple – January 31
- Beckton – January 31
- Burton upon Trent – January 18
- Cumbernauld – January 24
- Didcot – January 31
- Falkirk – January 31
- Gloucester – January 31
- Grimsby – January 31
- Hanley – January 24
- Hartlepool – January 24
- Hereford – January 31
- Kilmarnock – January 24
- Kirkcaldy – January 31
- Leeds Birstall Park – January 18
- Lisburn – January 18
- Northwich – January 24
- Oxford – January 31
- Perth – January 18
- Poole – January 31
- Rochdale – January 31
- St Helens – January 24
- Surrey Quays – January 18
- Sutton Coldfield – January 18
- Taunton – January 18
- Wrexham – January 18
Tresspass
The popular sports and outdoor clothing brand Trespass has confirmed it will be shutting additional branches in 2026 after a series of closures last year.
The Southampton branch, on Above Bar Street, will permanently close its doors on March 9.
Poundland
The discount retailer has experienced a wave of store closures already this year, with further shutdowns expected. It was recently confirmed that nine more locations would be closing before the end of March:
- Bristol Avon Meads, Bristol – January 29
- Chichester – February 8
- Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland – February 8
- Crayford – February 11
- Feltham – February 8
- Gosport – January 29
- Nottingham (Chilwell) – February 13
- Urmston – February 16
- Winton, Dorset – February 6
Cancer Research
This iconic British charity shop has revealed plans to shut 88 stores by May 2026, with additional closures anticipated in 2027. The charity blamed ongoing financial challenges, including rising operational expenses and shifts in how shoppers behave.
The complete list of closures is:
- Aberdeen, 19 Rosemount Viaduct, AB25 1NE
- Airdrie, 5 Bank Street, ML6 6AF
- Balham, 168 Balham High Road, SW12 9BW
- Ballymena, 49 Ballymoney Street, BT43 6AN
- Banbury, 9 Parsons Street, OX16 5LW
- Barnstaple, Gammon Walk, EX31 1DJ
- Belfast, Bloomfield 17 Bloomfield Avenue, BT4 1RX
- Biggleswade, 24 High Street, SG18 0JL
- Birkenhead, Borough Pavement, CH41 2XX
- Birmingham, 245 High Street, Erdington, B23 6SS
- Bognor, 1-2 Clock Walk, P021 1SG
- Bolton, 6 Newport Street, BL1 1NB
- Bradford, 34-36 Ivegate, BD1 1SW
- Burton, On Trent 25 Station St, DE14 1AU
- Chesham, 34 High Street, HP5 1EP
- Clevedon, 1 Station Road, BS21 6NH
- Clydebank, 23 Sylvania Way South, G81 2UA
- Coatbridge, 20-22 Main Street, ML5 3AE
- Cotteridge, 20 Watford Road, Birmingham, B30 1JA
- Crewe, 10 Market Street, CW1 2EG
- Derby, 826 Osmaston Road, Allenton, DE24 9AA
- Dewsbury, 22 Longcauseway, WF12 8EN
- Dudley, 258 Castle Street, DY1 1LQ
- East Barnet, 276 East Barnet Road, EN4 8TD
- Edinburgh, 9-10 Ormiston Terrace, Corstorphine, EH12 7SJ
- Epping, 197 High Street, CM16 4BL
- Fakenham, 26 Market Place, NR21 9BS
- Falkirk, 18 Vicar Street, FK1 1JL
- Galashiels, 55 High Street, TD1 1RZ
- Gillingham, 90 High Street, ME7 1AX
- Glasgow, 420-424 Victoria Road, G42 8YZ
- Gosport, 98 High Street, PO12 1DS
- Gravesend, 34 New Road, DA11 0AB
- Halesowen, 79 High Street, B63 3BQ
- Harrogate, 24A Oxford Street, HG1 1PU
- Hazel Grove, 129B-C London Road, Stockport, SK74HH
- Hemel Hempstead, 101 Marlowes, HP1 1LF
- High Wycombe, 8 Church Street, HP11 2DE
- Hornchurch, 8 Station Lane, RM12 6NJ
- Keswick, 24 Main Street, CA12 5JD
- Kings Lynn, 61 High Street, PE30 1AY
- Lancaster, 54-54A Market Street, LA1 1HS
- Leeds, 28 L&S Lane, LS1 6LB
- Lincoln, 254 High Street, E20 1QJ
- Lisburn, 4 Smithfield Square, BT28 1AD
- Louth, 20 Market Place, LN11 9PD
- Ludlow, 3 Castle Street, SY8 1AS
- Maidenhead, 101 High Street, SL6 1JX
- Maidstone, 19 Gabriels Hill, ME15 6HR
- Market Drayton, 27 High Street, TF9 1QF
- Melton Mowbray, 6 South Parade, LE13 0PU
- Merthyr, Tydfil 14 Graham Way, CF47 8BT
- Mill Hill, 37 The Broadway, NW7 3DA
- Moreton, 242 Hoylake Road, CH46 6AD
- Newark, 26 Stodman Street, NG24 1AW
- Newcastle, Under Lyme 19 Ironmarket, ST5 1RF
- Northwood, 38 Green Lane, HA6 2QB
- Paddock Wood, 5 Commercial Road, TN12 6EN
- Penrith, 10 Angel Lane, CA11 7BP
- Perth, 27 Scott Street, PH1 5TQ
- Redditch, 4 Market Place, B98 8AA
- Redruth, 71 Fore Street, TR15 2AF
- Retford, 25 Carolgate, DN22 6BZ
- Ross On Wye, 11 Market Place, HR9 5NU
- Rotherham, 74 Effingham Street, S65 1AL
- Rushden, 22 High Street, NN10 0PW
- Selby, 40A Gowthorpe, YO8 4ET
- Sevenoaks, 137 High Street, TN13 1UX
- Shrewsbury, 9 High Street, SY1 1SP
- Sidmouth, 19 Fore Street, EX10 8AL
- Skipton, 91 Caroline Square, BD23 1DA
- Slough, 8 Park Street, SL1 1PD
- Southend On Sea, 5 Warrior House, Southchurch Road, SS1 2LZ
- St Ives, 6 High Street, TR26 1RR
- Stalybridge, 44A Grosvenor Road, SK15 1RR
- Stockport, 26 Princes Street, SK1 1SE
- Stoke, 44 Devonport Road, Plymouth, PL3 4DH
- Swansea, 19 Union Street, SA1 3EH
- Swindon, 28 Havelock Street, SN1 1SD
- Tiverton, 15 Bampton Street, EX16 6AA
- Urmston, 16 Station Road, M41 9JN
- Welling, 26C Bellegrove Road, DA16 3PU
- Welwyn Garden City, 20 Howardsgate, AL8 6BQ
- West Bromwich, 203 High Street, B70 7QZ
- Whitby, 70 Baxtergate, YO21 1BL
- Wick, 36 Bridge Street, KW1 4NG
- Wigston, 6 Bell Street, LE18 1AD
- Workington, 26-32 Murray Road, CA14 2AG
Malin and Goetz
This popular beauty retailer, knonw for its skincare, haircare and fragrance ranges, confirmed last week that all its UK branches would shut after entering administration, putting more than 70 jobs at risk.
The brand has also paused UK online orders temporarily, though products remain available through retailers such as Space NK and John Lewis.
The stores closing are:
- Seven Dials
- Soho
- Spitalfields
- Islington
- Canary Wharf
- Battersea Power Station
- Borough Yards
Primark
At the start of this month, Primark shut its Dartford branch in the Orchard Shopping Centre – believed to be its first closure in approximately 10 years.
The Primark cafés operating within selected stores are also reportedly closing at four sites – Glasgow Braehead, Edinburgh Princes Street, Birmingham High Street and Belfast Royal Avenue. However, no Primark employees are understood to be affected by this decision.
Superdrug
Healthcare and beauty retailer Superdrug has confirmed that its established shop at 38A Dudley High Street will shut at month’s end following more than 40 years serving the town.
It’s scheduled to close on January 31.
Edinburgh Woollen Mill
The retailer, boasting over 100 UK outlets, has announced the closure of its Dereham, Norfolk store. Large signs in the windows now inform customers that it is “closing down” and that “all stock must go”.
The signs also disclose the reason for the Dereham branch’s closure, with smaller text stating: “Subject to landlord negotiations.”
NatWest
It’s not only high street retailers shutting their doors. Several banks are also facing difficulties, with NatWest revealing that multiple branches will be closing.
The bank confirmed that customers will receive a 12-week notice period following a branch closure announcement and will be informed of the exact closing date via a poster displayed in the branch, or through a closure guide available in-branch or online.
- Ashby-de-la-Zouch – closing date to be confirmed
- Cromer – closing January 27, 2026
- Evesham – closing in 2026, date to be confirmed
- Launceston – closing, date to be confirmed
- Market Drayton – closing March 4, 2026
- Portishead – closing, date to be confirmed
- Torquay – closing, date to be confirmed
Lloyd’s Bank
Lloyd’s has announced the closure of an additional 24 banking branches this year. The group, which also runs Halifax and Bank of Scotland, stated that banking habits are evolving, with more customers choosing to use apps to manage their finances, indicating a significant shift from in-person banking towards mobile and online services.
- Hedon – Closing January 28, 2026
- Thornbury Avon – Closing February 26, 2026
- Peterlee Yoden Way – Closing March 3 2026
- Hucknall – Closing March 4, 2026
- Liverpool Breck Rd – Closing March 4, 2026
- Brigg – Closing March 5, 2026
- Caterham – Closing March 5, 2026
- Glossop – Closing March 9, 2026
- Tunstall – Closing March 9, 2026
- Houghton le Spring – Closing March 10, 2026
- Manchester Moston – Closing March 11, 2026
- Seaton – Closing March 11, 2026
- Sleaford – Closing March 12, 2026
- Wymondham – Closing March 12, 2026
- Okehampton – Closing March 25, 2026
- Camborne – Closing October 7, 2026
- Chepstow – Closing October 7, 2026
- Ryde – Closing October 7, 2026
- Birmingham – Harborne – Closing October 8, 2026
- Deal – Closing October 8, 2026
- Totton – Closing October 10, 2026
- Gorseinon – Closing October 12, 2026
- Stamford – Closing October 13, 2026
- Stoke-on-Trent – Closing October 30, 2026
Halifax
In total, 14 Halifax branches have already closed in January or are scheduled to close later in the year.
- Middleton – Closed January 8, 2026
- Havant – Closed January 15, 2026
- London – Wandsworth – Closed January 15, 2026
- Yeovil – Closed January 12, 2026
- Seaford – Closed January 19, 2026
- Deal – Closed January 22, 2026
- Hastings – Closed January 22, 2026
- Skipton – Closed January 26, 2026
- Horsforth – Closing February 24, 2026
- Birmingham Bearwood – Closing March 2, 2026
- Peterlee – Closing March 3, 2026
- Nelson – Closing March 4, 2026
- Camborne – Closing October 7, 2026
- Buxton – Spring Gardens – Closing October 13, 2026
Bank of Scotland
2026 has already seen some Bank of Scotland branches shut their doors, with more expected to follow in the upcoming months.
- Larkhall – Closed January 8, 2026
- Bellshill – Closed January 12, 2026
- Glasgow – Anniesland – Closed January 12, 2026
- Tain – Closed January 12, 2026
- Erskine – Closed January 13, 2026
- Nairn – Closed January 20, 2026
- St Andrews – Closed January 20, 2026
- Castle Douglas – Closed January 22, 2026
- Gairloch – Closing January 29, 2026
- Alexandria – Closing March 2, 2026
- Annan – Closing March 2, 2026
- Bishopbriggs – Closing March 4, 2026
- Helensburgh – Closing March 5, 2026
- Dingwall – Closing March 25, 2026
- Largs – Closing March 25, 2026
- Grangemouth – Closing October 8, 2026
- Hawick – Closing October 7, 2026
