2025 has been a challenging year for the UK’s high streets and banking sector. From household names on the high street to major banks, a wave of closures has reshaped the retail and financial landscape. Rising operational costs, changing consumer habits and a continued shift toward online services have forced companies to rethink their strategies. Many retailers and banks have announced closures as part of restructuring plans, cost-cutting measures or responses to declining footfall.
High street staples like WHSmith, New Look, and River Island have shuttered multiple locations, while supermarkets such as Morrisons have closed underperforming stores to focus on more profitable outlets. The banking sector has also been affected, with Lloyds and Halifax closing hundreds of branches as more customers move to digital banking apps.
Here’s a closer look at 11 major names that closed shops or banks across the UK in 2025.
1. Lloyds – 218 branches closed
Lloyds Banking Group cited changing customer habits, with more than 21million people now using mobile apps to manage their money. Customers can still access services via other Lloyds, Halifax, or Bank of Scotland branches, the Post Office, or PayPoint locations.
(Image: Getty)
2. Morrisons – 145 stores closed
The supermarket chain closed 145 locations, including 17 convenience stores and 52 cafes, following a review that identified areas where operating costs outweighed usage and customer value.
(Image: Getty)
3. River Island – 33 stores closed
As part of a restructuring plan approved by the High Court, River Island closed 33 stores, reduced rents and wrote off debt for 71 locations. Out of over 200 shops nationwide, 122 remain unaffected.
(Image: Getty)
4. Poundland – 71 stores closed
Poundland’s recent sale led to a company-wide restructure, closing multiple stores by the end of 2025. Locations affected include Leicester, Blackpool, Carlisle, Sidcup and dozens more across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
(Image: Getty)
