Drake Circus Centre, Plymouth
The Drake Circus Shopping Centre is a prominent 425,000-square-foot (39,484 square meters) covered shopping mall situated in the heart of Plymouth. Officially opened in October 2006, the building was designed by the London-based architectural firm Chapman Taylor and constructed by Bovis Lend Lease. Its location, immediately behind the preserved Charles Church—the city's civilian war memorial—adds historical significance to the site.
Despite its contemporary design, the shopping center received mixed reactions upon its debut. Shortly after opening, it won the infamous Carbuncle Cup, an award for architectural design deemed the worst in the United Kingdom. However, this critique was balanced by industry recognition in 2007 when Drake Circus secured two national retail awards, including the prestigious “Shopping Location of the Year” by Retail Week magazine.
The name 'circus' refers to the original purpose of the site: an open, circular area where several roads converge. Initially developed as a large oval roundabout in the early 20th century, Drake Circus served as a junction for four main roads and several smaller ones. The roundabout housed Edwardian-era shops and became known for the “Guinness Clock” landmark added in 1937, visible to those traversing Old Town Street.
While the original Drake Circus structure survived the Plymouth Blitz during World War II, it was demolished in 1966-67 under the Plan for Plymouth, making way for a newer roundabout and renaming a section of the main road as Drake Circus. The first shopping center at this site, featuring open-air malls and a prominent C&A store, was built in 1971.
The expansion occurred in 2019 with the addition of “The Barcode,” an entertainment complex adjacent to the main mall. This addition enhanced the center’s appeal by providing a range of entertainment options, reinforcing Drake Circus’s position as a major commercial and social hub in Plymouth.
The civil and structural engineering for the new build was overseen by Clarke Nicholls Marcel (CNM London), contributing to the center’s modern structural integrity and design.
Despite its contemporary design, the shopping center received mixed reactions upon its debut. Shortly after opening, it won the infamous Carbuncle Cup, an award for architectural design deemed the worst in the United Kingdom. However, this critique was balanced by industry recognition in 2007 when Drake Circus secured two national retail awards, including the prestigious “Shopping Location of the Year” by Retail Week magazine.
The name 'circus' refers to the original purpose of the site: an open, circular area where several roads converge. Initially developed as a large oval roundabout in the early 20th century, Drake Circus served as a junction for four main roads and several smaller ones. The roundabout housed Edwardian-era shops and became known for the “Guinness Clock” landmark added in 1937, visible to those traversing Old Town Street.
While the original Drake Circus structure survived the Plymouth Blitz during World War II, it was demolished in 1966-67 under the Plan for Plymouth, making way for a newer roundabout and renaming a section of the main road as Drake Circus. The first shopping center at this site, featuring open-air malls and a prominent C&A store, was built in 1971.
The expansion occurred in 2019 with the addition of “The Barcode,” an entertainment complex adjacent to the main mall. This addition enhanced the center’s appeal by providing a range of entertainment options, reinforcing Drake Circus’s position as a major commercial and social hub in Plymouth.
The civil and structural engineering for the new build was overseen by Clarke Nicholls Marcel (CNM London), contributing to the center’s modern structural integrity and design.
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Drake Circus Centre on Map
Sight Name: Drake Circus Centre
Sight Location: Plymouth, England (See walking tours in Plymouth)
Sight Type: Shopping
Sight Location: Plymouth, England (See walking tours in Plymouth)
Sight Type: Shopping
Walking Tours in Plymouth, England
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
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This part of town has always been a meeting place, where people would come regularly... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.5 Km or 0.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.5 Km or 0.3 Miles