The Decline of UK High Streets - Stories from Aberdeen to Wick

17th January 2026

The decline of Britain's high streets is not just a matter of statistics. It is a story written in shuttered shopfronts, fading signage, and the memories of communities who once relied on these spaces for daily life.

From major cities to small villages, the closures tell a tale of economic upheaval and cultural change.

Aberdeen: Union Street's Struggle
Aberdeen’s Union Street, once a proud granite boulevard, has become a symbol of Scotland’s retail retreat. In 2025 alone, well-known names such as Sally Beauty, Geek Retreat, Decathlon, Clarks, Fat Face, Hollister, and Superdry departed. For locals, the closures are more than commercial losses; they represent a hollowing out of civic pride. Where bustling crowds once gathered, empty units now dominate, leaving residents to wonder how their city centre can reinvent itself.

Dundee: A City Centre in Transition
Dundee, long known for its cultural renaissance, faces a parallel challenge on its high street. Fashion chains and banks have scaled back, leaving gaps in the city’s retail fabric. While the V&A Museum and waterfront development bring visitors, the everyday shopping experience has diminished. The contrast between cultural investment and retail decline highlights the complexity of modern urban regeneration.

Inverness: The Highland Capital’s Retreat
Inverness, gateway to the Highlands, has seen closures in both fashion and banking. For a city that serves as a hub for surrounding rural communities, the loss of branches and shops is particularly acute. Residents from outlying villages who once relied on Inverness for services now face longer journeys or digital alternatives, reshaping the role of the city in regional life.

Wick: Banking Hubs as Lifelines
In Wick, the closure of bank branches struck at the heart of community life. Locals described it as an "erosion of a way of life," where face-to-face banking was not just a service but a social ritual. The planned transformation of the former RBS building into a banking hub offers hope, blending modern technology with a physical presence to restore some of what was lost.

Thurso: A Mirror of Wick’s Decline
Thurso, another Highland town, has mirrored Wick’s struggles. Retail contraction and reduced services have left residents feeling abandoned. For communities at the edge of the mainland, closures are not easily offset by alternatives — the nearest functioning branch or store may be hours away, underscoring the vulnerability of rural high streets.

Tain: Shrinking Footprints
Tain, with its smaller retail footprint, has also felt the impact of closures. As banks and chain stores retreat, the town’s high street has weakened, reflecting the broader Highland pattern of decline. For residents, the closures are not just about convenience but about identity — the high street as a marker of community vitality.

Beyond the Highlands
Wider Scottish Struggles
Elsewhere in Scotland, towns such as Argyll and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway, and Falkirk have experienced high closure rates. In these regions, the combination of geographic isolation, limited transport, and economic pressures has compounded the decline. The closures are not just economic events but cultural ruptures, reshaping how communities interact and sustain themselves.

Seeds of Renewal
Despite the bleakness, there are signs of resilience. Banking hubs, independent cafes, and community-led regeneration projects are emerging as lifelines.

In Wick, the repurposing of the RBS building is emblematic of a new approach: blending modern needs with local identity.

Across the UK, pop-up markets and grassroots initiatives suggest that while the high street may never return to its former glory, it can evolve into something more locally rooted and adaptive.