Opened in 1964 to celebrate the life and works of Shakespeare, this center houses the author's collections and provides a meeting place for literary scholars and researchers.

Following the acquisition of William Shakespeare’s Henley Street house in 1847, the museum staff initially were housed in the Birthplace itself. However, the Birthplace quickly began to acquire a significant amount of Shakespeare-related books, manuscripts and documentation. In 1891, the trustees were incorporated by an Act of Parliament, thereafter becoming known as The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. By 1903, the collections had grown too big for just the Birthplace. The Trust moved into a house adjoining the site, but that too was quickly filled. Despite this house being extended twice, by the 1950s the Trust realised it needed a purpose built property to house its ever-growing collections.

In June 1961, Princess Alexandra of Kent laid the foundation stone, and demolition of the existing building began in December that year. The main structure of the Centre was completed by 1963 and officially opened on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth, a year later.

The finished Shakespeare Centre was a multi-functional building to be used as a study centre, public exhibition space, and offices for the Trust’s staff. It included a library, archive, and reading room. The ground under the Centre and surrounding areas was excavated, then built into safe rooms and climate controlled storage areas for the expanding collections.

The year 2010 saw the Shakespeare Centre become a Grade II listed building.