Anyone seeking peace, quiet, and, above all, freedom from neighborly disturbances may have dreamt, at least once, of living on their very own island — and now, in the United Kingdom, that wish could become reality. Drake’s Island, one of the most recognizable landmarks of Plymouth Sound, has returned to the market and is for sale with an asking price that tops 2 million pounds… about 2,326,000 euros. The project, however, already envisions the construction of a sought-after hotel.
Drake’s Island is for sale
In the United Kingdom Drake’s Island is back on the market: the price is staggering, but a major tourism project is already planned with the creation of an exclusive hotel right here. It isn’t a typical private seaside property… at 6.4 acres (about 2.60 hectares) it carries with it a heritage difficult to separate from the future real estate project: defensive batteries, underground structures, protected buildings, and many structures currently unused.
The asking price currently exceeds 2 million pounds, i.e. over 2,326,000 euros! It isn’t the first time it has been put on the market: it had already been purchased in 2019 by entrepreneur Morgan Phillips and it was put back on sale in 2024 without a completed transfer of ownership.
The history of Drake’s Island
Before becoming Drake’s Island, the island was known as St Nicholas Island. The name stemmed from a medieval chapel on the site, later demolished in the 16th century. The location, nearly at the center of the maritime gateway to Plymouth, soon determined its function. The name it is known by today naturally recalls Francis Drake. The English navigator departed from Plymouth in 1577 for the voyage that would take him to circumnavigate the globe, returning three years later. In 1583 Elizabeth I named him governor of the island.
As time passed, the defenses were expanded, updated, and adapted to the evolving military needs. Spain and France were long considered the main threats. Much later, the island retained a strategic role during World War II. It was only in the 1960s that the Ministry of Defence returned the site to the Duchy of Cornwall, effectively closing a very long military chapter.
The hotel project on Drake’s Island
For whoever buys Drake’s Island, the value will not be purely historical. The real issue is what it could become in the coming years. The site already holds planning permission for a 43-room hotel, complemented by spaces for visitors and activities related to research and the marine environment.
The project would necessarily have to coexist with the constraints imposed by the protection of the island’s heritage. Transforming a former fortress into a tourist destination, however, isn’t easy, as it requires restoring ancient buildings, upgrading access, addressing safety, and keeping intact the elements under protection.
There is, however, a precedent: in 2023 the island reportedly generated about £590,000 in gross receipts (around €686,000) through guided tours, private tours, events, adventure days, theatrical performances, and use as a filming location.
