Southsea Model Village
ENTRY
from £6.50
WHERE
Southsea
What it’s like
Wander a miniature village built into an old fort, chase the Thomas & Friends model train and duck into tunnels underneath.
This is a walk-round model village with a bit of an edge to it, because it's built inside an old fort rather than on a flat lawn. Kids can climb inside the fort itself for a proper view out over Southsea, poke around dark twisting tunnels underneath the village, and there's a quiz to do as you go round if you want an excuse to slow down and actually look at the models rather than just marching past them.
The Thomas & Friends chase activity is the bit that'll stick, especially for a train-mad five-year-old, and there's an arts and crafts tunnel and a play area too if the models alone won't hold their attention for a full hour. Most people spend 45 minutes to an hour going round, then add on extra time for a picnic or an ice cream from the café, which does hot drinks and warm food if you'd rather not carry sandwiches.
It's £6.50 for a child and £7.50 for an adult, or £25 for a family of four, which is fair for an hour out but does add up if you're bringing grandparents too (seniors are £7). Your ticket's valid all day, so you can wander off for lunch and come back in without paying twice.
One thing worth knowing before you go: there are no toilets on site, just public ones at the nearby canoe lake, so time that visit accordingly. The fort setting also means some slopes and uneven surfaces alongside the paved paths, and seating around the route is limited.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- 45 minutes before closing
- Parking
- Public Pay & Display parking along the seafront esplanade outside the village entrance
- How long to allow
- 45 minutes to an hour walking through the models, plus extra time for picnic or ice cream
- Food
- Café serving hot drinks, warm food and snacks
- Parties
- Birthday parties available from £15 per child
- Worth knowing
- Family ticket includes free return visits when booked in advance
- Last entry is 45 minutes before closing
- Summer holidays the village stays open until 6.30pm rather than the usual 4.30pm
- Halloween brings a skeleton takeover with spooky decor and climbing from 17 to 31 October
- Family tickets booked in advance come with a free return visit
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£6.50 for a child, £7.50 for an adult, £7 for a senior, or £25 for a family of two adults and two kids.
Do we need to book ahead?
You can just pay on the gate. Booking online in advance mainly helps you skip queues, though timed events need booking ahead to avoid missing out.
How long does a visit take?
Around 45 minutes to an hour for the models themselves, plus whatever time you spend on a picnic or ice cream after.
Are there toilets on site?
No, there are none in the village. The nearest public toilets are at the canoe lake nearby.
Is it OK for a pushchair or wheelchair?
Most of the route is paved and accessible, but the old fort means there are some slopes and uneven patches, and seating along the way is limited.
Can we leave and come back later in the day?
Your ticket is valid all day, so you can head off for lunch and return.
Is there parking nearby?
There's pay and display parking along the seafront esplanade right outside the entrance.
Do you do birthday parties?
Parties start from £15 per child and include a free adult per child, party food with soft drinks, play area access, arts and crafts, and the Thomas & Friends chase activity.
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