Model Shops in Central London

Started by Ossian, July 05, 2022, 08:35:48 PM

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Ossian

(Mods, please move if this is not the appropriate forum)

I'm visiting central London next week (mainly as bag carrier and card-holder for my wife and daughter, who scranned the trip for her 18th) but I will get a bit of time to myself, so would like to see if there are any model shops worth visiting.

In the past, it has been Hannants, in Colindale, but I know they have nothing train-like (certainly not in N) so I'm hoping for some suggestions that don't involve massive tube journeys.   All such gratefully received! :beers:

jamespetts

I do not think that there are any left in central London any more.
Peertube > Youtube

crewearpley40

I am agreeing can only think Jane's tooting.   

Coyote

The LT museum in Covent Garden had a few models on my last visit, can't remember if there was any N gauge but it was all Underground related.
Visit Mossdale's YouTube channel for a view of a 1920's LMS railway in North Yorkshire or Mossdale Road for some shunting

https://youtube.com/@MossdaleNGaugeRailway

Paul J

I was in the LT museum shop a couple of weeks ago, and there was very little there.

Jane's Trains in Tooting is the best option. They have a good selection of new and second-hand N.

Gordon

#5
Quote from: Ossian on July 05, 2022, 08:35:48 PM
I'm visiting central London next week  so would like to see if there are any model shops worth visiting.

A big fat zero I'm afraid.

I'm afraid its a reflection of British retailing as a whole (long pre-pandemic by the way - simply priced out of town). I can think of no major railway modelling country where there is no model railway shop in the capital city...
Sometime Publicity Officer, N Gauge Society

Swiss Railways Consultant
French Railways Consultant
European railway expert

First British N loco (in 1972): Farish GER Holden tank!
Modelling French N gauge since 1975
Modelling Swiss and German N gauge since 1971

crewearpley40

#6
There's harburn hobbies Edinburgh, lendons Cardiff but back to the point maybe worth calling or emailing first see if they are open http://www.northfieldsmodelshop.co.uk/

Ossian

Thanks, folks.   Northfields looks interesting, as does the one in Tooting, although both are more than a slight trek!

Foonting

Quote from: Gordon on July 05, 2022, 10:54:39 PM
Quote from: Ossian on July 05, 2022, 08:35:48 PM
I'm visiting central London next week  so would like to see if there are any model shops worth visiting.

A big fat zero I'm afraid.

I'm afraid its a reflection of British retailing as a whole (long pre-pandemic by the way - simply priced out of town). I can think of no major railway modelling country where there is no model railway shop in the capital city...

I'm in the music business - and with the pretty much complete demise of Denmark Street our capital is fast becoming bereft of music shops too. In fact anything that isn't a restaurant, fast food outlet or a bar.
I'm afraid our addiction to buying online and the huge prices of keeping 'bricks and mortar' shops open (I have  High Street premises in East London and they are bad enough) are condemning our city centres to be for corporate retail giants and late night revellers only.

I can't see any way of reversing this trend now - at least without major reform to business rates, perhaps in part funded by fair taxation of internet retail giants like Amazon!

Gordon

Quote from: Ossian on July 06, 2022, 08:02:36 AM
Thanks, folks.   Northfields looks interesting, as does the one in Tooting, although both are more than a slight trek!

Jane's Trains is local to me so I'm lucky in a way, but it doesn't cover my specialist area very much so I only go there occasionally. Most of the basics are stocked and I usually come away with something
Sometime Publicity Officer, N Gauge Society

Swiss Railways Consultant
French Railways Consultant
European railway expert

First British N loco (in 1972): Farish GER Holden tank!
Modelling French N gauge since 1975
Modelling Swiss and German N gauge since 1971

ntpntpntp

Memories of trekking Oxford Street area in the 80s and early 90s for W&H, Beatties in Holborn etc. I used to be able to do those in my lunchtime when I worked in London.  All gone. What was the place somewhere around Angel Islington? I went there too though IIRC that was American models mostly.   I use to pop in to Wheels of Steel behind Grays Antiques, picked up a few fair priced second hand bits and pieces from there.

Doesn't help with the OP's current quest though.
Nick.   2021 celebrating the 25th anniversary of "Königshafen" exhibition layout!
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=50050.0

Bigmac

Quote from: ntpntpntp on July 06, 2022, 11:39:49 AM
Memories of trekking Oxford Street area in the 80s and early 90s for W&H, Beatties in Holborn etc. I used to be able to do those in my lunchtime when I worked in London.  All gone. What was the place somewhere around Angel Islington? I went there too though IIRC that was American models mostly.   I use to pop in to Wheels of Steel behind Grays Antiques, picked up a few fair priced second hand bits and pieces from there.

Doesn't help with the OP's current quest though.

victors ?
i used to be indecisive...but now i'm not so sure.

Bazza

4D Model Shop, E1 (for modelling supplies, materials, consumables, etc,); Addlestone Model Shop (kits, RC, trains, etc,); and a bit further out; Roxley Models at Gt Bookham and Alton Model Centre, Alton (both for model railways).

devonjames

Quote from: ntpntpntp on July 06, 2022, 11:39:49 AM
Memories of trekking Oxford Street area in the 80s and early 90s for W&H, Beatties in Holborn etc. I used to be able to do those in my lunchtime when I worked in London.  All gone. What was the place somewhere around Angel Islington? I went there too though IIRC that was American models mostly.   I use to pop in to Wheels of Steel behind Grays Antiques, picked up a few fair priced second hand bits and pieces from there.

Doesn't help with the OP's current quest though.


Yes, I remember getting the 29 bus to Beatties in High Holborn, although in those days I lived nearer to their other shop in Southgate which was always better for second hand items.   When did the Holborn shop finally close?



njee20

Quote from: Bazza on July 06, 2022, 12:19:00 PM
4D Model Shop, E1 (for modelling supplies, materials, consumables, etc,); Addlestone Model Shop (kits, RC, trains, etc,); and a bit further out; Roxley Models at Gt Bookham and Alton Model Centre, Alton (both for model railways).

With respect, 3 of those (the actual railway shops) are all outside the M25, which is probably stretching the definition of "Central London". Alton is over an hour by train, which means you could include large swathes of the Midlands as closer ;)

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