A major UK charity has confirmed that it will be permanently closing 88 of its shops by next year. Cancer Research UK revealed that the move is part of a major reorganisation to make its retail operations more efficient and protect its ability to support vital cancer research.
The charity is set to close nearly 200 stores within two years as part of the first phase of a wider plan to address growing financial challenges. These closures are a response to rising staffing costs, the ongoing decline of traditional high street retail, and the increasing shift toward online shopping, all of which have put pressure on the charity’s resources. The move is likely to save millions of pounds, which will be redirected towards cancer research, the charity said.
The affected shops include areas from Aberdeen to Swansea which will impact both paid staff and thousands of volunteers, reports The Standard.
Cancer Research UK says it had no choice but to make these changes due to ongoing financial pressures. Rising costs—especially higher National Insurance contributions, inflation affecting energy, stock, and logistics—and shifts in how people shop have all played a role.
When the plan is finished, the charity will focus on around 320 top-performing high street shops. Its online marketplace will also shut down in early 2026, ending sales of donated items through external resale sites.
Meanwhile, the charity is planning to grow its retail presence by opening 12 new “superstores” by 2028. These large, out-of-town or retail park-style shops are designed to provide more space and better value for customers. The charity says that this shift, along with its wider reorganisation, is expected to save around £12.4 million over the next five years—money that will be redirected to support life-saving cancer research.
Aberdeen, 19 Rosemount Viaduct, AB25 1NE
Airdrie, 5 Bank Street, ML6 6AF
Balham, 168 Balham High Road, SW12 9BW
Ballymena, 49 Ballymoney Street, BT43 6AN
Banbury, 9 Parsons Street, OX16 5LW
Barnstaple, Gammon Walk, EX31 1DJ
Belfast, Bloomfield 17 Bloomfield Avenue, BT4 1RX
Biggleswade, 24 High Street, SG18 0JL
Birkenhead, Borough Pavement, CH41 2XX
Birmingham, 245 High Street, Erdington, B23 6SS
Bognor, 1-2 Clock Walk, P021 1SG
Bolton, 6 Newport Street, BL1 1NB
Bradford, 34-36 Ivegate, BD1 1SW
Burton, On Trent 25 Station St, DE14 1AU
Chesham, 34 High Street, HP5 1EP
Clevedon, 1 Station Road, BS21 6NH
Clydebank, 23 Sylvania Way South, G81 2UA
Coatbridge, 20-22 Main Street, ML5 3AE
Cotteridge, 20 Watford Road, Birmingham, B30 1JA
Crewe, 10 Market Street, CW1 2EG
Derby, 826 Osmaston Road, Allenton, DE24 9AA
Dewsbury, 22 Longcauseway, WF12 8EN
Dudley, 258 Castle Street, DY1 1LQ
East Barnet, 276 East Barnet Road, EN4 8TD
Edinburgh, 9-10 Ormiston Terrace, Corstorphine, EH12 7SJ
Epping, 197 High Street, CM16 4BL
Fakenham, 26 Market Place, NR21 9BS
Falkirk, 18 Vicar Street, FK1 1JL
Galashiels, 55 High Street, TD1 1RZ
Gillingham, 90 High Street, ME7 1AX
Glasgow, 420-424 Victoria Road, G42 8YZ
Gosport, 98 High Street, PO12 1DS
Gravesend, 34 New Road, DA11 0AB
Halesowen, 79 High Street, B63 3BQ
Harrogate, 24A Oxford Street, HG1 1PU
Hazel Grove, 129B-C London Road, Stockport, SK74HH
Hemel Hempstead, 101 Marlowes, HP1 1LF
High Wycombe, 8 Church Street, HP11 2DE
Hornchurch, 8 Station Lane, RM12 6NJ
Keswick, 24 Main Street, CA12 5JD
Kings Lynn, 61 High Street, PE30 1AY
Lancaster, 54-54A Market Street, LA1 1HS
Leeds, 28 L&S Lane, LS1 6LB
Lincoln, 254 High Street, E20 1QJ
Lisburn, 4 Smithfield Square, BT28 1AD
Louth, 20 Market Place, LN11 9PD
Ludlow, 3 Castle Street, SY8 1AS
Maidenhead, 101 High Street, SL6 1JX
Maidstone, 19 Gabriels Hill, ME15 6HR
Market Drayton, 27 High Street, TF9 1QF
Melton Mowbray, 6 South Parade, LE13 0PU
Merthyr, Tydfil 14 Graham Way, CF47 8BT
Mill Hill, 37 The Broadway, NW7 3DA
Moreton, 242 Hoylake Road, CH46 6AD
Newark, 26 Stodman Street, NG24 1AW
Newcastle, Under Lyme 19 Ironmarket, ST5 1RF
Northwood, 38 Green Lane, HA6 2QB
Paddock Wood, 5 Commercial Road, TN12 6EN
Penrith, 10 Angel Lane, CA11 7BP
Perth, 27 Scott Street, PH1 5TQ
Redditch, 4 Market Place, B98 8AA
Redruth, 71 Fore Street, TR15 2AF
Retford, 25 Carolgate, DN22 6BZ
Ross On Wye, 11 Market Place, HR9 5NU
Rotherham, 74 Effingham Street, S65 1AL
Rushden, 22 High Street, NN10 0PW
Selby, 40A Gowthorpe, YO8 4ET
Sevenoaks, 137 High Street, TN13 1UX
Shrewsbury, 9 High Street, SY1 1SP
Sidmouth, 19 Fore Street, EX10 8AL
Skipton, 91 Caroline Square, BD23 1DA
Slough, 8 Park Street, SL1 1PD
Southend On Sea, 5 Warrior House, Southchurch Road, SS1 2LZ
St Ives, 6 High Street, TR26 1RR
Stalybridge, 44A Grosvenor Road, SK15 1RR
Stockport, 26 Princes Street, SK1 1SE
Stoke, 44 Devonport Road, Plymouth, PL3 4DH
Swansea, 19 Union Street, SA1 3EH
Swindon, 28 Havelock Street, SN1 1SD
Tiverton, 15 Bampton Street, EX16 6AA
Urmston, 16 Station Road, M41 9JN
Welling, 26C Bellegrove Road, DA16 3PU
Welwyn Garden City, 20 Howardsgate, AL8 6BQ
West Bromwich, 203 High Street, B70 7QZ
Whitby, 70 Baxtergate, YO21 1BL
Wick, 36 Bridge Street, KW1 4NG
Wigston, 6 Bell Street, LE18 1AD
Workington, 26-32 Murray Road, CA14 2AG