Quick Read
- Trafford Centre saw record crowds for Boxing Day 2025, with queues forming before 8am.
- Stores like Boots, Zara, and Selfridges offered major discounts; Uggs were 50% off.
- Next remained closed to honor staff, while John Lewis opened at 10am.
- Some shoppers preferred online deals, but in-person excitement dominated the scene.
- Staff and reporters noted this was the busiest Boxing Day in years.
The crisp morning of December 26, 2025 saw a familiar scene unfold at Manchester’s Trafford Centre: winding queues, eager faces, and a palpable sense of anticipation. Boxing Day sales have become a ritual, but this year, the crowds were more intense than ever. As reported by Manchester Evening News, thousands of shoppers braved the early chill, some arriving before sunrise, determined to snag the best bargains.
Retailers responded in kind. Boots and Zara flung open their doors at 8am, with Selfridges following at 9am—each triggering a fresh surge of shoppers. Selfridges, in particular, was a magnet, with long yet orderly queues forming outside. The air buzzed with excitement as comfort-wear giant Uggs went on sale at a whopping 50% off, prompting a rush reminiscent of pre-pandemic consumer frenzies.
Not every store joined the early-morning rush. Next, a staple of British retail, stayed shuttered for the day, honoring its staff with a break—a gesture that resonated with many and sparked conversation about the evolving ethics of holiday retail. Meanwhile, John Lewis prepared to open at 10am, and other retailers like M&S scheduled their sales for December 27, spreading the shopping fever across several days.
The tradition of Boxing Day sales is relatively young, rooted in legislative changes from the late 1990s. When John Major’s government relaxed Sunday trading laws, shopping on Bank Holidays lost much of its moral stigma, setting the stage for the modern sales bonanza. Boxing Day itself only became a Bank Holiday in 1974, but the current spectacle—complete with social media updates and viral photos—feels like a distinctly 21st-century phenomenon.
Inside the Trafford Centre, the atmosphere was equal parts festive and competitive. Shoppers formed ‘long but polite’ queues, eager for the doors to open. Dianne Bourne, reporting live for Manchester Evening News, captured moments of excitement as crowds surged into Zara and Selfridges. One shopper, Mary from Bolton, proudly displayed her best bargain, embodying the thrill of the hunt that defines Boxing Day.
Yet not everyone was swept up in the shopping spirit. Comments on social media revealed a spectrum of attitudes: some poked fun at the annual scramble (‘Just buying this year’s tatt that didn’t sell’), while others preferred the comfort of home over the hustle of the mall. ‘We’ve got the internet now,’ one commenter quipped, highlighting the shift towards online shopping that has quietly transformed the retail landscape—even as the in-person rush endures.
The Arndale Centre, another Manchester hotspot, saw a quieter start, though stores like Lush still attracted impressive queues. Staff remarked that this year’s turnout was the busiest in years—a testament to the enduring appeal of in-person shopping, even in an age of digital convenience.
By mid-morning, Market Street—usually teeming with shoppers—was surprisingly subdued, a calm interlude before the expected lunchtime crowds. The removal of Christmas Market stalls left more space, but the energy was unmistakable as the city’s retail heartbeat pulsed with renewed vigor.
For many, Boxing Day at the Trafford Centre is more than a shopping trip; it’s a social event, a chance to reconnect after the quiet of Christmas Day. The bargains are part of the draw, but so is the shared experience—the camaraderie of queuing, the friendly competition, and the collective anticipation.
Still, the spectacle raises questions. Is the annual rush a sign of healthy consumer confidence, or does it reflect deeper anxieties about missing out? As online sales continue to grow, will the tradition of in-person Boxing Day shopping endure, or will it gradually give way to digital deals and doorstep deliveries?
For now, the Trafford Centre remains a focal point—a place where Manchester’s festive energy finds its fullest expression. Whether you’re in the thick of the crowds or watching from the sidelines (or the comfort of Anglesey, as one social media user mused), Boxing Day 2025 reminds us that, even in a rapidly changing retail world, some traditions are hard to break.
Based on eyewitness reports and social media reactions, Boxing Day 2025 at the Trafford Centre set new attendance records, highlighting both the resilience of physical retail and the evolving attitudes towards holiday shopping. The blend of excitement, criticism, and reflection captured in these events points to a retail culture in flux—where tradition, technology, and human connection continue to shape the story.