A North East town close to the border with North Yorkshire has been named the best place to shop in the region - and made the top 50 in the whole of the UK.

Yarm has been named the best place to shop in the North East in the Newmark Retail Vitality Rankings for 2024. 

The study analysed towns across the country using variables including shopper spend, vacancy rate as well as the number of bank branches lost before 2019.

Nationally, Yarm was placed 43rd for its "retail health" and was the only town in the North East to appear in the top 50. 

Since 2019, Yarm has moved up 22 rankings and beats out Horsham as well as Richmond in West London.

Along its High Street, Yarm contains a variety of home and art stores, jewellers as well as independent restaurants and pubs.

Nestled in a steep bend of the River Tees, Yarm is well known for its scenic views along its main shopping stretch, still partly cobbled for parking.

Only one other area in the region made the top 100 - Newcastle Upon Tyne, which came in 80th place.

Elsewhere, towns in the South and South East dominated the rankings and were noted for their high concentration of luxury brands.

Cambridge City Centre stole the top spot overall, moving up 36 places from its 2022 ranking. Second and third were Cobham and Wimbledon Village, both also in the south of England.

James Ebel, Vice Chairman of Retail UK & EMEA noted: "It is great to see major shopping destinations rebounding and restoring their retail vigour.

"These areas experienced significant shifts in visitor numbers during the pandemic, yet their key attributes - diverse retail offerings, accessibility, and ample space - have helped them to recover as people resume their usual shopping habits.

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"We are similarly witnessing a resurgence in occupier demand for space, especially along Oxford Street in the West End. Substantial redevelopment is underway there, particularly along the street's western side.

"As retailers eagerly await shoppers’ return, many prominent brands have newly staked their claim, quickly transforming this world-renowned retail destination.

"While certain areas are still experiencing vacancies, an overall trend of rejuvenation offers a chance for fresh brands and concepts to break into the market."