Home   Colouring Pages   Days Out   Education   Food   Health   Parenting   Pregnancy & Babies   Printables   Shopping   Travel

 

  

Bekonscot Model Village

Bekonscot Model Village

Now, I am not even going to pretend to be unbiased here. I love Bekonscot. My grandmother took my mother to Bekonscot, my mother took my sister and me to Bekonscot, and I now delight in taking my own children. It is the oldest model village in the world, having been created 75 years ago in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, the hobby of Roland Callingham. It consists, in fact, of six villages, each with roads, shops and houses connected by a railway and surrounded by dwarf trees, alpine plants and koi ponds.

Amongst these villages are an aerodrome, a coal mine, a cathedral, a zoo, schools and a fairground. There is a burning house complete with smoke and 1930's fire fighters. There are back-to-back terraces and country mansions. Many of the streets are lined with shops, some named after original Beaconsfield businesses, the rest have names which are possibly some of the worst puns ever made.

Bekonscot Model Village

The trains are the highlight for many of the visitors, especially the male ones of all ages. Chasing them around the village was great fun for me as a child; however it's not so easy nowadays as it seems much busier than I remember it (rose-tinted glasses and all that).

The village is different every year, as models are removed for repair and new ones added. You can even watch the model makers at work. This year there is a new play area for children, and in a nice touch, a model of this has been added to the village too. Another recent addition to this attraction is a ride-on railway, which runs at weekends and school holidays. In fact The Bekonscot Light Railway has just been extended due to popular demand.

With a reasonably priced refreshment area, room for picnicking and baby changing facilities it is a great day out for all the family with something for gardeners (the wonderful planting is often overlooked) and fish fanciers. The delight on the faces of the children visiting and the inevitable tantrum at leaving time (and that's just me) is testament to its enduring charm. It is a fabulous place and one that warrants visiting over and over again. Any profits go to charity as well.

It opens for the year in the weekend before the local February half term holiday and closes at the end of the October half term week. Opening times are 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week.

Visit the website Bekonscot.com for more information and to build your own virtual village, a sort of Lilliputian Sim-City.

Bekonscot Model Village, Warwick Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 2PL

Roald Dahl Children's Gallery, Aylesbury, Bucks
The Living Rainforest, Newbury, Berkshire
Latest Kids Movies at the Cinema

The Bluebell Railway
Arriving at Sheffield Park station is like stepping back in time. You are transported back to the golden age of steam, with an amazing attention to detail. In fact, it is so good that film and television companies often use it to provide authentic period settings for their productions; you may have seen it on the films The Railway Children, The Ruby in the Smoke and Miss Potter.

Spirit of Brooklands
The surprise hit day out of last summer was a visit to the Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey.It was the one day out that the kids were still enthusiastically talking about weeks later when anyone asked them what they did during the summer.

Legoland Windsor
Legoland Windsor is one of the UK's most popular attractions; with rides, shows and events for everyone from toddlers to daredevils, Legoland provides a fantastic day out for the whole family.


This Week
Groundhog Day
Pancake Day
Valentine's Day
Spring Printables

Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Big Panto Guide - Find a Panto This Christmas
Colouring Pictures at eParenting

Recycle Your
Mobile Phone

Home | Contact Us | Link to Us | About | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Legal and Disclaimer
ŠeParenting 2004 - 2012
www.eparenting.co.uk