Model Shops in Central London

[Portpatrick]

Sadly I am not aware of any these days.  Long gone are Beatties of Holborn, Hamblings in Cecil Court ,  and W&H in I think it was 14 Cavendish Street.  All of which were full prices suppliers.

[Portpatrick]

And I also recall a shop up the road alongside Kings Cross station, and another in Pentonville RD.  All long gone I fear.

[Adam1701D]

And I also recall a shop up the road alongside Kings Cross station, and another in Pentonville RD.  All long gone I fear.

Ah yes, Kings Cross Models and Victors, who specialised in Continental and US outlinle.

Don't forget Hadley Hobbies at Liverpool Street - great shop that did Sommerfelt catenary.

[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).

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

Nope, 4D and Addlestone MS are both inside the M25. The other two I did say were further out.

[njee20]

Ah ok, Addledtone is within a mile of the M25, point still stands, I doubt they'd consider themselves Central London. I agree that 4D is Central, and great for styrene, trees etc, but just managing expectations that it isn't a model railway shop per se.

[msr]

Beatties of Southgate were well established before they opened in Holborn (and didn't they take over the Bassett-Lowke shop that was there before, at 112 High Holborn), and I think Bold & Burrows Ltd. had a shop in Mill Hill as well as in St Albans in the 60's.

[Flange Squeal]

There's Invicta in Sidcup. It's not central London but it's only about 30 mins from Charing Cross and within travel fare zone 5. It's a nice little shop and well worth a visit if you can get out of town for a couple of hours. Just be sure to check opening times before you make the journey.
https://www.invictamodelrail.com/

[Ossian]

Many thanks - I remember Beatties from my youth, when I lived in London.

By the sound of it, I need a time machine more than an Oyster Card!

[Gordon]

The last shop selling model railways in any sensible way in genuine central London was Ian Allan in Waterloo, but sadly that also closed last year

[Gordon]

  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.

Also went 18 months - 2 years ago

[Gordon]

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!

This is definitely a 'British problem' I was in France recently and most French towns still have quite a few 'niche' type high street shops that must have a low footfall due to the demography of France, but they are still open and functioning.

[Portpatrick]

Gordon reminds us of the Ian Allan shop.  I used to look in there during my 6 years working at the General Offices on Waterloo Station. Very rarely found its limited model range much help.  Books and magazines a treasure trove.  Adam Warr had mentioned Hadley Hobbies.  I had found that when I worked for 2 years at the BR Property Board HQ at 274 Bishopsgate.

[sparky]

To OP

I feel your pain....hate shopping with my girls but......

Just enjoy the day with your daughter and missus !

You can go model shopping any day of the week !

Medal to be awarded later ........

[Gordon]

Gordon reminds us of the Ian Allan shop.  I used to look in there during my 6 years working at the General Offices on Waterloo Station. Very rarely found its limited model range much help.  Books and magazines a treasure trove.  Adam Warr had mentioned Hadley Hobbies.  I had found that when I worked for 2 years at the BR Property Board HQ at 274 Bishopsgate.

I agree the range of rolling stock items was limited but at least they sold paint, glue, PECO N gauge track, scenic items, lighting, kits  etc

The best I can now do working near Euston is to occasionally get paints and brushes from the Wargaming shop in Tottenham Court Road.

[Gordon]

Whilst on this subject, it is worth warning that the so called 'updated' information on UK Model shops about the 'model railway department' of Hamleys is, essentially, a little bit, let's politely say... 'rose tinted'