SKIPTON has been named as one of Britain’s leading shopping locations according to new research ranking the nation’s best performing retail centres.

The town is ranked second, behind Ilkley, in Yorkshire and the Humber, and 12th overall in a list of 1,000 retail centres compiled by strategic retail property consultancy, Harper Dennis Hobbs.

Skipton climbed 98 places compared to last year’s rankings as more people chose to stay local because of coronavirus restrictions.

According to several factors, the HDH Vitality Ranking determines the health of high streets and shopping centres, including the change in residents’ movement, vacancy rates, and suitability to local consumers' demands.

The researchers say smaller towns such as Skipton have outperformed city centre destinations as consumers’ shopping habits have become very localised due to the pandemic.