The Model Village

The Model Village is a miniature settlement in Godshill featuring detailed scaled replicas of local buildings such as churches, cottages, and pubs constructed from concrete and similar materials. The site spreads across spacious gardens where these tiny structures are arranged throughout the grounds.

Robin Thwaites founded this site in the late 1960s within the grounds of the former Old Vicarage, creating miniature versions of buildings from Godshill and Shanklin villages. The project grew over the decades to become a notable attraction on the island.

The gardens display Japanese landscaping principles with thousands of carefully shaped trees and shrubs arranged through traditional pruning methods. Visitors can observe how these refined garden details frame the miniature structures throughout the site.

The walkways throughout the grounds are easy to navigate and allow for a comfortable stroll through all areas of the site. An on-site café provides refreshments if you need a break during your visit.

Each miniature structure was built at a precise 1 to 10 scale to match its real counterpart, allowing visitors to later discover the actual buildings in different locations across the island. This interplay between tiny replicas and actual structures creates an engaging exploration experience.