Store closures are impacting Britain's high streets, shopping centres, train stations and airports

A major high street retailer is closing down multiple stores across the UK in a blow to millions of customers.

WHSmith is pulling the plug its trendy souvenir line of shops, which are situated in train stations and airports, The Sun reports.

Three of the brand's Curi.o.city souvenir shops are shutting down at St Pancras International station in London, nd at both the North and South terminals of Gatwick Airport.

The closures come barely three years after the retailer first introduced the concept in 2023.

Gatwick will lose the brand entirely as a result of the decision, which forms part of WHSmith's wider effort to reduce its physical retail footprint, as first reported by Retail Week.T

The move represents a setback for a chain that was conceived as a premium alternative to WHSmith's standard travel retail offering.

Curi.o.city was born partly from the ashes of Paperchase, which fell into administration in 2023.

WHSmith took on former head-office staff from the collapsed stationery chain and repurposed some of its old premises for the new brand.

Each shop stocks travel gifts, cards, notebooks, accessories and souvenirs designed to reflect the particular city or region where it trades.

Four branches will continue operating: Bristol Airport, Belfast City Airport, and the Selfridges department stores in Birmingham and Manchester.

It should be noted that the closures are distinct from the recent business overhaul affecting WHSmith's former high-street operation.

The retailer offloaded its UK high-street division to Modella Capital, holding on to its travel business, which runs shops across airports, railway stations and hospitals.

Separately, more than 100 TG Jones stores are set to shut permanently following a major restructuring that received High Court approval in July.

WHSmith's travel division, which encompasses the remaining Curi.o.city outlets, continues to sit within the listed group's portfolio.

Here is a full list of the Curi.o.city stores shutting down: