Miniature Worlds

A collection of classic indoor models and toys from around the world

An Introduction to Miniature Worlds

Situated opposite the railway station in Hoveton, Miniature Worlds is Wroxham's newest attraction and offers numerous classic model and toy displays from around the world. Displays cover classic's such as 00, HO, N & G gauge model railways, Scalextric, Lego and Cindy Dolls. The major displays are themed "worlds" and are named Great Britain, European, Japanese, Little Brick World and Desert Race. Each of these displays is described below. Miniature Worlds has been created by 3 generations of the Green Family - Sean, Robert and Ray, who have created enough models to fill a football pitch sized building. Their work took 3 years of hard work to complete and is continually evolving, with new additions and modifications. The model exhibition is open all year round and is a short walk from the centre of Wroxham.

Local Websites

Miniature Worlds Website (see for opening times and entry prices)

Miniature Worlds Guided Picture Tour

We start our tour of Miniature Worlds at the first display, which depicts Great Britain. Situated in the main hall, this model is one of the largest 00 scale layouts in the UK and takes you on a journey from a busy urban station into the great British countryside. The layout is over 500 square feet in size and includes traditional English village scenes and a large viaduct canal basin. It covers all era of the Great British railway from steam to the modern trains.
Part of the Great Britain model layout at Miniature Worlds
The start of the journey at the urban railway station	Inter City Trains from various train operating companies
A typical British rural scene	Trains represent all era's of the Great British railway
A traditional pub situated on a canal bank	A model village scene

Next, we move to the Japanese Layout. This detailed model is the largest N scale model railway layout on public display in the UK. It depicts Japan in miniature, including both urban and rural scenes. Bullet trains whizz along the rails from the heart of a Japanese city across bridges to the countryside. Virtually all the models have been sourced from Japan and it is an authentic representation of a Japanese high-rise city.
Part of the Great Britain model layout at Miniature Worlds
A Japanese City in Miniature	The harbour section of the Japanese layout
A Japanese city train	A windfarm at the far end of the Japanese layout

The largest layout at Miniature World's is the European Layout. This fabulous model is the largest HO scale model railway layout on public display in the UK. It depicts a journey through Europe from a theme park, through a city, past castles and into the hills, ending in a snowy mountain village. The journey starts in a fairground which includes a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, bumper cars, log flume and various roundabouts. You then move into a typical European city, complete with realistic buildings and vehicles. Eventually you reach the corner of this 'L' shaped layout, where a castle sits on top of a hill, with a lake scene below. The layout then changes to mountains, where bridges take the trains through the steep terrain and finally to a mountain village, which shows a wonderful Christmas snow scene.
Part of the European Layout at Miniature Worlds
Model Theme Park	Fairground rides at the start of your European Journey
Model European City	HELP! Part of the town is on FIRE!
The station in the shadow of the Castle	A Lake in the hills of Europe
Trains cross bridges in an Alps like scene	The European journey ends in a snowy village

THINGS TO FIND
Aimed at younger visitors, each model layout has a number of hidden characters to find. You need to look carefully, but hidden among the models are characters including the Railway Children, Father Christmas, Dr Who Daleks and Batman.

Next in the main hall is the slot car layout called the Desert Race. This Scalextric model depicts a desert grand-prix race, with multiple race tracks, roadway and even a rally course. This course is built from standard 1/32 scale Scalextric track and is believed to be one of the largest automatically operated slot car layouts in the UK. Each car runs under automatic control, speeding up for the straights and slowing down for the bends as the cars race each other through the desert scene. Opposite the track layout is a fabulous display of Scalextric cars from the 60's to the present day.

A car speeds around a bend in the desert Scalextric layout

Twists and turns of the desert race track

The start-line and grand-stand

Working on the cars in the pits

Part of the desert rally track

Adjacent to the desert racetrack is a display of Scalextric cars

Sitting in the centre of the main hall is Little Brick World. This amazing display is made up of thousands of Lego bricks and depicts a complete city with an airport, railways, buildings, roads, cars and people. The layout is made from over 50,000 Lego pieces from the last 10 years, many of which are no longer available to buy. Hidden in the city is a few surprises such as Marty McFly's parked car and a Batmobile.
Little Brick World made of Lego
The Lego railway and construction site!	The Firestation in the centre of the city
The transport hub of Little Brick World	A wedding taking place in Little Brick World

Moving into Hall 2, we find the Garden Layout. This is based on G scale model railway items and is set out in a garden environment, for which the waterproof G scale is intended. The trains run automatically and stop/start at stations and the ends of the lines.
The Garden Railway Layout in Hall 2
G Gauge Trains on the Garden Layout	The seaside part of the Garden Layout

Other displays at Miniature Worlds include Dolls Houses, Cindy Dolls, Arcade Classic Electronic Video Games and various other models, toys and games. These are scattered around the main hall and make an interesting alternative to the themed railway layouts.
A collection of Cindy Dolls at Miniature Worlds
A collection of Dolls Houses	A collection of classic arcade video games

Finally a look at the building itself, which is segmented into an entrance foyer and two halls. Hall one contains the majority of the layouts, with much of hall 2 available for expansion. As the entire attraction is indoor, it can be enjoyed regardless of the weather outside. Car parking is available and a cafe in the entrance foyer offers hot and cold drinks and snacks.
Inside the main hall, Miniature Worlds, Wroxham
Miniature Worlds in Wroxham	The Cafe at Miniature Worlds

10 Things to SEE & DO at Miniature Worlds

Take a journey from an urban station into the English countryside on the Great Britain layout

Experience a Japanese city and take a Bullet Train into the Japanese countryside

Take a trip through Europe from a fairground, through a city and into the snowy mountains

Watch a thrilling car race through the Desert in the UK's largest automatic Scalextric layout

Count the bricks in the massive and detailed city scene made entirely of Lego

Have fun in the Garden watching the automatically controlled large trains

Investigate the other displays including Dolls Houses, Cindy Dolls and other models

Enjoy a free video game on the collection of classic arcade games

Find all the hidden characters in the layouts

Take a rest and have a refreshment in the cafe

Our Verdict

Miniature Worlds is a brilliant addition to Wroxham and is a great indoor adventure. Obviously it will appeal to any model lover, but anyone who enjoys children's toys will also enjoy a visit. With promised changing displays, it makes an enjoyable couple of hours while in Wroxham.