Godshill Model Village
Godshill Model Village
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Authentic retro attraction that will take you on a trip down memory lane. Beautifully recreated models of Godshill and Shanklin Old Villages as they were in the 1920's and 30's. Passionate about details, the models are true representations of the houses, cottages and pubs you can still see in the 'real world'. 2022 will be our 7th year as an RHS Partner Garden supporting the work of the Royal Horticultural Society. The gardens are packed with conifers and shrubs in the Japanese style of Niwaki, that will make you want to dash home and start gardening... Our customers tell us we inspire them or that they would like to take one of our gardeners home with them! Last admission 30 minutes before closing time. Book online https://modelvillagegodshill.digitickets.co.uk/tickets
Duration: 1-2 hours
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22 within 3 miles
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108 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- mary wBasingstoke, United Kingdom31 contributionsA very pleasant surprise.Been to the isle of wight so many times, this visit was our first. Didn't know what to expect, very pleasantly surprised. Seemed to go on and on, every twist and turn a different scene. So much hard work had obviously gone in to the upkeep. Spent a pleasant hour, well worth a visit.Thanks for coming along to see us on this visit - great to hear you enjoyed your visit.Written June 17, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 5, 2023
- Carrie HSandy, United Kingdom11 contributionsFirst class in every wayGodshill Model Village is a wonderful place to visit, with lots of brilliant photo opportunities. So well kept and amazing attention to detail. It was also really good value for money and we wouldn't hesitate to visit again on our next trip to the IOW. My 7 year old daughter (and the rest of us!) really enjoyed it. It also has a lovely gift shop and fantastic staff; Stuart went above and beyond to provide the most amazing customer service. Thank you!Thanks for coming to see us and that you all enjoyed it here! Good to hear Stuart was on form too 😊Written June 17, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 6, 2023
- Cate C18 contributionsReally superbI'm a sucker for a model village and this one blew my socks off. Wonderfully extensive and well maintained with scale models of all of Godshill and Shanklin Old Village. Lots to keep children occupied, as well as entertaining and fascinating for adults. Really fabulous and highly recommended.Ahhh thanks so much! As a model village lover you are harder to impress so great to hear your recommendation.Written June 17, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with friendsWritten October 6, 2023
- Alliemayt05Salisbury, United Kingdom104 contributionsNice villageIt's great that we were allowed to take dogs. Paths are narrow, but there are passing places, so if you are behind someone slower, you do need to be patient. Wasn't as much there as we were hoping, but what was there was good. Wouldn't rush back, and personally wouldn't take children. I'd say it is more suited for an older generation.Fair enough - can't please everyone! 👍Written June 17, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 13, 2023
- Jet564308173 contributionsA lovely visitWe enjoyed our visit here very much. The staff were friendly. It doesn't take long to get around but you can go around again and there's no one to rush you out. It was fairly quiet as was the last day of the season (29th October) We bought a guide book but there was no pressure to do so. The model village is well maintained and is a delight to walk around. There's a 1 way system and most people kept to it. The trains were lovely as was the majority of the models. The weather was absolutely dreadful but that did not spoil our visit overall. There wasn't anywhere to get a hot drink etc but that's probably because it was the end of the season. You will probably spend at least an hour here, more on a sunny day perhaps. I would recommend this to all age groups. Prices aren't bad all considered. There is also a lovely gift shop to visit. A must to see whilst visiting the Isle of Wight.Many thanks for taking the time to post such a comprehensive review. Our catering kiosk has all outdoor seating, so we only open it on fine days - apologies we couldn't offer you a hot drink. Thanks for your recommendation!Written June 17, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 8, 2023
- 29Stacey1973Romford, United Kingdom99 contributionsGreat Model VillageReally enjoy visiting Godshill Village and especially the model village when on the Isle of Wight. Great way to spend an hour. Visited over Easter when they had extra events on which made the visit even more enjoyable. Good value for money.Many thanks for your review!Written June 17, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2024Traveled with familyWritten April 7, 2024
- Seb OWaterlooville, United Kingdom448 contributionsAnother visit, hasn’t changed much but in a good way!This is a good old fashioned tourist attraction. One of our favourite model villages and the first time for my two children. We ended up going round once just to look and then a second time to complete the quiz. Always love seeing the model in a model!😂 yep we are exactly that! An old fashioned tourist attraction 👍. Thanks for coming to see us 🥰Written June 17, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2024Traveled with familyWritten April 8, 2024
- Jitty3Barry, United Kingdom79 contributionsWorth a vistA very little model village tucked away in godhill. Not very over priced for entry and free parking just down the road. The model village itself could do with a make over as some of the people looked very old and not like people. I would recommend that you do the quiz that you get, as it makes you look at the models as you go around. Very friendly staff and it is on the flat. Its just you have to walk in the roads to get to the entrance. So be careful if you take little ones.Thanks for recommending a visit.Written June 17, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 23, 2024
- GrahamVerwood, United Kingdom32 contributionsGREAT PLACE WELL WORTH A VISITThis is a great place to visit with a free car park across the road. Staff more than happy to answer questions, children would I am sure to enjoy it also. A real gem of a place, and very well maintained.Many thanks! 👍Written June 17, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 6, 2024
- Julie CSalisbury, United Kingdom214 contributionsA fab place to visit!We loved this charming model village! It is beautifully maintained, and beautifully built! Loads of funny little scenes if you take your time and look at small details, cleverly thought out! It’s such good value too, and the gift shop is brilliantly priced , not greedy like so many tourist gift shops. It’s in a gorgeous location, Godshill is so pretty, and parking was easy (and free) a few metres down the road. We’d recommend this attraction for sure, and will visit again!Thank you for your kind words & review. Much appreciated.Written June 17, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 8, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,298 reviews
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6
tangek
London, UK310 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We booked a visit to the Model Village well in advance of our holiday, as an RHS partner garden.
The model village was a delight. It helped that we had seen Shanklin Chine and other local sights before coming, so we could appreciate the fine work to relate the model village to local sights. Our 12 year old enjoyed the small details like the red squirrels and the trains. We also enjoyed seeing the model church and real church together in the background on the site behind the village.
We didn’t expect to see such fine topiary and were very impressed by the variety and upkeep of the shapes. It greatly enhanced the village and was admirable in its own right.
The one way system for Covid-19 was helpful. Few customers wore masks since the site is outdoors. It was semi-crowded but everyone respected distances.
We spent about an hour in total.
My only gripe is with the strict policy and lack of service (or even empathy) at the ticket booth. My RHS card was expired (my mistake - we moved house and it must have got lost in the shuffle). However, my membership is current, paid through December 2020. The ticket agent refused to accept the online RHS membership profile on their website which we showed, and said plastic card or nothing. We were forced to buy another ticket. Had they been more flexible and understanding, we would have happily spent double or more of the ticket price in the gift shop to make up for it and contribute to their business. However, no luck, no shopping, and it just tarnished what would have been an otherwise 100% enjoyable visit. And I ordered a new RHS card straight away!! Again, my mistake, but good customer service should try to find a way to be helpful where reasonably possible.
The model village was a delight. It helped that we had seen Shanklin Chine and other local sights before coming, so we could appreciate the fine work to relate the model village to local sights. Our 12 year old enjoyed the small details like the red squirrels and the trains. We also enjoyed seeing the model church and real church together in the background on the site behind the village.
We didn’t expect to see such fine topiary and were very impressed by the variety and upkeep of the shapes. It greatly enhanced the village and was admirable in its own right.
The one way system for Covid-19 was helpful. Few customers wore masks since the site is outdoors. It was semi-crowded but everyone respected distances.
We spent about an hour in total.
My only gripe is with the strict policy and lack of service (or even empathy) at the ticket booth. My RHS card was expired (my mistake - we moved house and it must have got lost in the shuffle). However, my membership is current, paid through December 2020. The ticket agent refused to accept the online RHS membership profile on their website which we showed, and said plastic card or nothing. We were forced to buy another ticket. Had they been more flexible and understanding, we would have happily spent double or more of the ticket price in the gift shop to make up for it and contribute to their business. However, no luck, no shopping, and it just tarnished what would have been an otherwise 100% enjoyable visit. And I ordered a new RHS card straight away!! Again, my mistake, but good customer service should try to find a way to be helpful where reasonably possible.
Written August 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear tanget,
Many thanks for the positive review and feedback, it is appreciated.
I should just clarify that we support the RHS in everything is does and are one of the few Partner Gardens that offer main members free access for our complete season. All we politely request is that they show their membership card on arrival. This is clearly mentioned in the RHS handbook each year and also on our online booking page. My team work hard to provide a high level of customer service and occasionally do have to deal with an awkward situation where a customer is in the wrong. As you have admitted you were mistaken and should have shown your membership card to gain free admission, I do not think that this is too much to ask.
Our crew will always find ways to be helpful, however if a valid RHS card is not shown on arrival then free admission is not granted.
Kind regards,
Stuart
Written August 19, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
John
London, UK61 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
What a fantastic place. Far far exceeded my expectations. Kids of 2 &7 loved it as did I. Wonderful detail on the models. My daughter particularly liked the model village inside the model village, inside the model village :) gift shop had some great and v reasonably priced quirky trinkets. Lack of pavements in Godshill itself can make the walk along the road a bit hairy in places.
Written June 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks John, lovely to hear you all enjoyed your visit here. We do appreciate your comments. Agreed that the road can be a bit dicey...if you do come again you can walk across the footpath from the Old Smithy car park to miss the worst narrow bits of the road.
Best wishes
Penny.
Written June 9, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hedgehog
Milton Keynes, UK16 contributions
Jul 2020
Have been going to the Model Village for years, but this year we took out grandchildren who had not seen one before. They had a wonderful time looking at the old fashioned planes and cars, and the little houses were fascinating to them. I don't know which age group (we ranged from 2 to 81!) most enjoyed hunting for tiny red squirrels but we certainly made a lot of excited noise when one was located. I did have a bit of a problem with tocket ordering online, but I genuinely think that is because I am not very good with technology. One call to the Model Village by phone put me in touch with the owner, Stuart, who helped me sort the process out. Thank you Stuart, we wouldn't have missed the trip for anything! A flashback to a more traditional way of life before technology took over, it was a wonderful experience and we would recommend a visit here to anyone of any age group.
Written July 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Happyhedge,
So happy to help you get sorted and so very pleased the trip was a total success.
Will look forward to welcoming you again soon we hope,
Best wishes,
Stuart
Written August 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Miles
Maidstone, UK83 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
I last came here many many years ago when I was a child and it is a memory that has lasted with me to date. Having come back to visit the Isle Of Wight it was high up on the list of places to re-visit and it was even better than I remembered.
It is laid out in the perfect way and there is excellent attention to detail to all the different scenes. It’s also a lot bigger than I remembered and you can quite easily spend a lot of time there admiring everything.
Staff were really friendly and happy to have a laugh with you which is rare to find these days.
Overall well worth a visit and at a very fair price for what it has to offer. Would thoroughly recommend!
It is laid out in the perfect way and there is excellent attention to detail to all the different scenes. It’s also a lot bigger than I remembered and you can quite easily spend a lot of time there admiring everything.
Staff were really friendly and happy to have a laugh with you which is rare to find these days.
Overall well worth a visit and at a very fair price for what it has to offer. Would thoroughly recommend!
Written October 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great to hear that your return visit was better than you'd thought it would be! Thanks for posting a review - it is much appreciated.
Best wishes
Penny
Written October 24, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jason C
Southampton, UK47 contributions
Oct 2021
I have hadn't been to the model village for some years and decided to pay it a visit.
The whole village is very well maintained and is a credit to the staff who look after it. It shows the island from the 20's/30's and is from a time when life was lived at a slower pace.
I particularly liked the railway and would recommend a visit , although it may not be to the liking of easily bored children/teenagers.
The whole village is very well maintained and is a credit to the staff who look after it. It shows the island from the 20's/30's and is from a time when life was lived at a slower pace.
I particularly liked the railway and would recommend a visit , although it may not be to the liking of easily bored children/teenagers.
Written October 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review Jason. Glad you enjoyed your visit here.
Best wishes
Penny.
Written October 24, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KIANOTKYA
Godalming, UK308 contributions
Sep 2020 • Family
A beautiful model village, clearly well maintained. We booked ahead as recommended on the website, tickets were more than reasonable at £5 per adult, and under 3s free.
Our daughter loved stomping around, smelling the beautiful plants and flowers and taking in the scenes, particularly the train and the churches.
Our daughter loved stomping around, smelling the beautiful plants and flowers and taking in the scenes, particularly the train and the churches.
Written September 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review!
Best wishes,
Penny.
Written September 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
James C
Southampton, UK17 contributions
Sep 2021
My wife and went to visit on 26 September 2021 but didn’t go in. My wife has a disability and I am her career, despite showing evidence of my wife’s disability, the person at the entrance would not recognise it. We were directed to information on the rules regarding free entry, hidden behind a door. We showed sufficient proof but still would not accept it. We did advice this person that they were rude, the reply was you are wasting your time. Would not go again and would not recommend it as a good place to visit. We were a part of a group of 14 that we had taken to the village, what a mistake.
Written September 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear James,
I have spoken to the member of our team on duty to establish the facts.
We offer free admission for a Carer accompanying a disabled customer visiting the Model Village. So all you were asked for was ID to show that you are her registered Carer, in order for us to offer Free admission for you. This was not provided.
We do not ask for any ID from customers with a disability.
Our Carer Policy is on our kiosk window (not behind a door), available online for e-bookings and on our website.
I am confident that my team member did not say "you are wasting your time". She said "you haven't given me time to explain" as you chose to walk away before she was able to.
I am sorry that you felt unable to visit, whilst the rest of your group happily did.
Regards,
Stuart.
Written September 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BFC_IOW
Isle of Wight, UK56 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
Whether you live on the Island or are here on a visit, please don't miss out on coming here as it is a real gem of a place. I live over here & I came with my friend & her daughter who was 12 & we all had a great time. I have been quite a few times over the years but they hadn't done. There's plenty of free parking spaces just up the road from here in the Old Smithy car park which shuts its gates at 5pm/5.30pm depending on what time of year you come. There's a very reasonable entry fee of £7 for adults, £6.50 for seniors & £6 for children. If you want to do it properly leave 1 to 2 hours to really look at everything fully. We were there for nearly 2 full hours. I've noticed that a few people have said that they shot round in a very short period of time, which you can do if you race around not really looking at everything, but there's SO much to see that I find it hard to believe that people aren't strolling round slowly taking everything in. Every time you go you see new things! You get a free quiz to do on entry (you'll need a pen!) that you do as you go round which REALLY makes you search for everything, learn some facts & you also see things which you may not ever notice otherwise. It's supposed to be geared towards children but I recommend it for the adults too as it really makes the visit as full as you can get it. The squirrels are SO hard to find! We only found one & I think there's supposed to be 31 haha! The models are absolutely beautifully made, the buildings so detailed & lovingly built. And if you live here or know the areas you go around, it's so lovely to spot all the familiar places. The model village of the model village is such a cute touch too. And I have to say, the trees, the water features & all the landscaping, flora & fauna is just beautiful! The gardener/s are beyond talented & have created the most amazing place which is truly stunning to go around. It all looks so fresh & new. You can tell that so much work has gone into every display & figurine that's here. There's a little place where you can get ice creams etc at the end, toilets & a lovely gift shop which sells all sorts of things, not just the usual touristy stuff you get everywhere over here. All in all it's what you make it. I recommend visiting here for sure & to take a camera too. A definite 'must-see' for the Island & one of the only places over here that still remains from many decades back. I think right now it's definitely the best it has ever been. The model village gets given a large thumbs up from us three who went that day!
Written August 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there BFC_IOW, thank you for your fabulous review! We really appreciate you taking the time to write about your visit here. We'll have to hide some more squirrels over the Winter 🐿️ ready for your next visit!
Best wishes
Penny
Written September 1, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Glenn B
34 contributions
Aug 2020
I have been visiting the model village for the last 40 years and it is still magical! The attention to detail in the original models, the little humorous features, the amazing gardens and the annual tweaks to keep it fresh are excellent. A walk around the village (including a visit to the church) is crucial before you go in - so that you can spot all of the details. A trip to Shanklin Chine prior to visiting also adds to the experience. Will be visiting again soon...
Written August 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ahhhh thanks so much - sorry for the delay in responding to your review. Lovely to hear from a return visitor!
Best wishes
Penny
Written September 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Barry D
16 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
The place to visit whilst you are still on this earth. It is brilliantly set out and you could go round again and again and still see something different. The trees in minature are superb,even minature apple trees with apples on. The village of Godshill is very pretty and there is free parking at the Old Smithy where you can get a reasonably priced coffee and lunch. Near to Godshill is a donkey sanctuary which is definitely worth a visit.
Written July 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your kind words Barry 😊
Best wishes
Penny
Written August 7, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Where is nearest car park please?
Written August 18, 2021
There is a Griffin Inn nearby & opposite to that is Car Park. Just check Google map, it will show the Car Park.
Written August 21, 2021
How long has this model village been there please ( when was it built?)
Written August 4, 2018
There is a website. Tripadvisor doesn't like links, so we can't put it down directly, but the website is modelvillagegodshill followed by the usual for a UK company. There is a page for information on groups, and it says to email them. The email address is info at the website address.
It is generally best for queries like this to look for the attraction website. Tripadvisor is best for giving advice from a consumer's point of view. The attraction website is best for business enquiries.
Written May 10, 2018
How far is it from shanklin?
Written September 21, 2017
Are there any handrails on the steep areas of the model village
Written June 18, 2017
they have a few steep areas but can be avoided by a different route
Written June 23, 2018
Is this suitable for wheelchair uses?
Written May 27, 2016
Yes -might be a little tricky in places but worth the effort
Written May 28, 2016
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