Victoria Centre
Victoria Centre is a major shopping centre, market and residential complex in central Nottingham, England.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Victoria Centre is a large mixed-use development in central Nottingham, England, combining a shopping centre, a public market, a bus station and high-rise residential accommodation. It occupies the former site of Nottingham Victoria railway station, whose demolition began in 1967. The station clock tower and the former Victoria Station Hotel were retained; the hotel is now operated as a Hilton property. The replacement complex was designed by Arthur Swift & Partners and built by Taylor Woodrow between 1967 and 1972. The retail element occupies the lower and upper floors of the development. Its tenant mix has traditionally focused on fashion, department-store retail, high-street chains, food and beverage operators, cafés and restaurants. The centre also incorporates the Victoria Centre Market, which originally operated across both malls and later became concentrated on the upper mall. The market has sold fresh food, meat, fish and specialist goods including books, jewellery and haberdashery. It received a Greenest Market in the Midlands award from the National Market Traders Federation in 2008. A distinctive feature of the centre is the Aqua Horological Tintinnabulator, a kinetic water-powered clock designed by British sculptor Rowland Emett. Commissioned in 1970 and installed in late 1972, the animated clock became a well-known meeting point within the centre. It was dismantled, restored and temporarily exhibited in Birmingham in 2014 before being returned to Nottingham. The restored clock was restarted in June 2015 in a new position at the northern end of the upper mall. Victoria Centre has undergone several major changes. A food court opened in 1985, while a substantial refurbishment in the late 1980s introduced themed areas and a broader rebranding. In 1997, the centre was extended to create additional retail space and accommodate House of Fraser as an anchor tenant, alongside a wider refurbishment. Another redevelopment programme began in 2014 and was completed in summer 2015, adding a restaurant quarter near the clock tower and upgrading lighting, flooring, entrances and toilet facilities. The centre was also involved in Nottingham's wider competition between shopping destinations. Expansion plans announced in 2010 were intended to strengthen Victoria Centre against the Broadmarsh Centre and newer regional schemes in Derby and Leicester. After Capital Shopping Centres acquired Broadmarsh in 2011, competition authorities examined the potential effect of the company's concentration of Nottingham shopping-centre ownership. Nottingham City Council subsequently prioritised the redevelopment of Broadmarsh and indicated that it would delay approval for a Victoria Centre extension until work on Broadmarsh had begun. The centre was branded intu Victoria Centre after Capital Shopping Centres changed its corporate name to Intu in 2013. Intu Properties entered administration in June 2020. An Intu subsidiary, Intu SGS, obtained funding to take control of several centres, including Victoria Centre, while Global Mutual became asset manager and Savills became property manager. In November 2020, the property reverted to the Victoria Centre name. The centre remains an active retail and civic destination, although the future scale of its market operation has been affected by declining customer numbers and rising operating costs. Nottingham City Council announced the market's closure in December 2023, but reference material indicates that a limited number of stalls were still trading as of 2026.
History
Victoria Centre was built on the site of Nottingham Victoria railway station. The station was demolished from 1967, but its clock tower and station hotel were preserved. Arthur Swift & Partners designed the replacement mixed-use complex, and Taylor Woodrow constructed it between 1967 and 1972. The completed development included retail space, a bus station, offices and a substantial residential component. The residential blocks, known as Victoria Centre Flats, rise to 26 floors and approximately 256 feet, making the complex the tallest building in Nottingham according to the cited reference. The development contains 464 flats and approximately 36,000 square feet of office space. The retail centre opened in 1972 and initially included the Victoria Centre Market on both the lower and upper malls. The market offered fresh food and specialist goods and later became concentrated on the upper mall after the lower section closed in 2008. In the same year, it received recognition as the Midlands' greenest market from the National Market Traders Federation. The centre's most recognisable interior feature is the Aqua Horological Tintinnabulator, a kinetic clock and animated sculpture commissioned from Rowland Emett in 1970. Installed in late 1972, it used water-powered mechanisms, moving elements and music to create a public spectacle. The clock's programming was later adjusted so that it operated more frequently. Conservation work in 2014 included dismantling and temporary display in Birmingham. After further restoration in Nottingham, it was returned to the mall and restarted on 17 June 2015. A food court was introduced in 1985. A major refurbishment in the late 1980s reorganised the lower mall into themed courts, including Emett Court, Palm Court, Fountain Court, Neon Court and the Food Court. In 1997, the centre was extended and refurbished, with House of Fraser added as a major anchor. These works increased retail capacity and strengthened the scheme's department-store offer. In 2010, expansion was proposed to help Victoria Centre compete with the Broadmarsh Centre and shopping developments in nearby cities. Capital Shopping Centres acquired Broadmarsh in November 2011, leading to competition concerns about its position in Nottingham's retail market. Nottingham City Council made Broadmarsh redevelopment its priority and indicated that it would not support Victoria Centre expansion until visible work had begun on Broadmarsh. This prevented the proposed extension from advancing on the original timetable. Capital Shopping Centres adopted the Intu name in 2013, and the centre became intu Victoria Centre during a nationwide rebranding programme. Plans for another refurbishment were announced that year. Work began in February 2014 and concluded in summer 2015, delivering updated public areas, improved entrances and facilities, new lighting and flooring, and a restaurant quarter near the retained clock tower. Intu Properties entered administration in June 2020. An Intu subsidiary called Intu SGS arranged funding to take full control of Victoria Centre and several other properties. Global Mutual became asset manager and Savills became property manager. In November 2020, the shopping centre abandoned the intu identity and again traded as Victoria Centre. The market's later history reflects wider pressure on traditional indoor markets. Nottingham City Council announced in December 2023 that it intended to close Victoria Centre Market because of declining visitor numbers and higher costs. The supplied reference material states that, despite the announcement, a small number of traders remained active as of 2026. The centre itself continues to operate as a retail and mixed-use destination.
- 2023
Market closure announced
[1]Nottingham City Council announces the intended closure of Victoria Centre Market because of falling customer numbers and rising costs.
- 2020
Ownership and management arrangements change
[1]Intu's administration leads to a transfer of control involving Intu SGS, Global Mutual and Savills; the property later returns to the Victoria Centre name.
- 2015
Refurbishment completed and clock restored
[1]The major refurbishment concludes in summer, and the restored Emett clock is restarted on 17 June.
- 2013
Centre adopts the intu Victoria Centre name
[1]Capital Shopping Centres changes its corporate identity to Intu and rebrands the property accordingly.
- 2008
Market relocates to the upper mall
[1]The lower-mall section of Victoria Centre Market closes, leaving the market concentrated on the upper mall.
- 1997
Extension and House of Fraser arrival
[1]The centre expands its retail area, adds House of Fraser as an anchor and refurbishes the existing scheme.
- 1985
Food Court opens
[1]A dedicated food court is introduced on the lower mall.
- 1972
Victoria Centre opens
[1]The shopping and mixed-use complex is completed, with the market operating across the upper and lower malls.
- 1970
Rowland Emett commissioned to create the centre clock
[1]Kinetic sculptor Rowland Emett receives the commission for the Aqua Horological Tintinnabulator.
- 1967
Construction begins on the former Victoria station site
[1]Nottingham Victoria railway station is demolished and construction of the replacement mixed-use complex begins under Taylor Woodrow.
Products and positioning
A central Nottingham shopping and mixed-use destination combining national high-street retail, food and beverage, a historic market, public transport access and residential accommodation.
Shopping centre · 1972
Victoria Centre shopping centre
The core retail component of the complex occupies the lower and upper mall areas. It provides a mix of fashion, department-store, beauty, food, restaurant and other high-street businesses, supported by central Nottingham transport access and public facilities.
Indoor market · 1972
Victoria Centre Market
The market began across both malls in 1972 and later operated from the upper mall. Its traders have sold fresh food, meat, fish and specialist products such as books, jewellery and haberdashery. A council closure was announced in 2023, although limited trading reportedly continued afterward.
Public artwork and kinetic clock · 1972
Aqua Horological Tintinnabulator
Designed by Rowland Emett, this animated water-powered clock combines moving sculptural elements, chiming and music. It was installed in 1972, restored in the 2010s and returned to operation in 2015.
Brand decisions
2023
Planned closure of Victoria Centre MarketStrategyBackground
Nottingham City Council cited declining customer numbers and increasing costs in announcing the market's closure.
Action taken
The council announced that the market would close.
Aftermath
The supplied reference material reports that a limited number of stalls remained trading as of 2026.
2014
Major refurbishmentOtherBackground
The centre sought to modernise its public areas and improve its food and restaurant offer while expansion plans remained constrained by the priority given to Broadmarsh redevelopment.
Action taken
Refurbishment works began in February 2014, adding a restaurant quarter and upgrading lighting, flooring, entrances and toilet facilities.
Aftermath
The programme was completed in summer 2015.
2013
Adoption of the intu Victoria Centre brandStrategyBackground
Capital Shopping Centres changed its corporate name to Intu and undertook a large-scale rebranding of its shopping-centre portfolio.
Action taken
Victoria Centre was renamed intu Victoria Centre.
Aftermath
The property reverted to the Victoria Centre name in November 2020 after Intu Properties entered administration and its ownership and management arrangements changed.
Recent events
- 2023
Nottingham City Council announces Victoria Centre Market closure[1]
Other
The council announced plans to close the market, citing falling customer numbers and increasing costs. Reference material indicates that a reduced number of stalls continued trading afterward.
- 2020
Victoria Centre reverts from intu branding[1]
Bankruptcy · Leadership change
Following Intu Properties' administration and a restructuring of ownership and management arrangements, the centre dropped the intu name and returned to the Victoria Centre brand.
- 2015
Restored Aqua Horological Tintinnabulator returns to Victoria Centre[1]
Other
The Rowland Emett clock was restored and officially restarted at a new location on the upper mall after temporary exhibition and conservation work.
- 2014
Victoria Centre refurbishment begins[1]
Other
A major refurbishment started in February 2014, including new lighting, flooring, entrances, toilet facilities and a restaurant quarter around the clock-tower area.
- 2011
Victoria Centre expansion plans encounter competition concerns[1]
Regulation
Capital Shopping Centres' acquisition of Nottingham's Broadmarsh Centre prompted scrutiny by the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission over the potential concentration of shopping-centre ownership in the city. The issue affected plans to expand Victoria Centre.
Sources2 sources
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