How we rate each store

What we look at

Ten things, all about the streets around a store rather than the shop itself. A store surrounded by houses is easy to deliver from. One on a bypass with fields behind it is harder, however lovely the shop is.

• People within 3 miles
  How many people live within about three miles of the store.counts a lot
• Neighbourhoods in range
  How many separate neighbourhoods sit inside the usual delivery distance.counts a lot
• People per square mile
  Busy streets bring more drivers and riders, so deliveries turn up sooner.counts a lot
• Nearest neighbourhood
  The distance from the store to the first neighbourhood around it.counts a fair bit
• People within 5 miles
  How many people live close enough to pop to this store for someone.counts a fair bit
• Directions covered
  Whether homes sit on every side of the store or only one.counts a little
• Biggest area nearby
  The size of the largest neighbourhood within reach.counts a little
• Other Lidl within 5 miles
  Other Lidl stores close by, in case this one cannot help.counts a little
• Areas within a mile
  How many neighbourhoods sit within a mile, an easy walk or a short hop.counts a little
• To the town centre
  How near the store is to a town or city centre.counts a little

What the mark means

Each of the ten gets a mark out of ten, and we put them together into one score, leaning on the ones that matter most. A high score means plenty of people live close by, which usually means plenty of drivers and riders too.

A low score is not a black mark against the shop. It usually just means the store sits somewhere quieter. Plenty of people get lovely deliveries from stores near the bottom of our list.