1. South West
  2. Dorset
  3. Wimborne Minster
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About Wimborne Model Town and Gardens

Wimborne Model Town has something for everyone. Originally built in 1952, take a trip back in town and discover what life was like 70 years ago. Peek inside Woolworths, MacFisheries and many other shops of yester year. See the congregation gathered in the Minster church for the wedding, and hear the Quarterjack strike the quarter hour. Listen for the ringing phone box, and the flushing public toilets.

Set within beautiful grounds, and with the Sensory Garden, a delight of smells, textures and sounds. Wendy Street play area has a slide and playhouses for imaginative play.

See our Model Railway and make the trains move with the sensors.

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Model Town of Wimborne 70 years ago!

This 1/10 scale model town (with 1/100 scale model of the model) has miniature street scenes showing life in 1952, set in beautiful gardens. Take one of our quizzes to guide you around. Look inside the hotel to see the guests watching television. Look inside the shop windows to see what they had to sell seventy years ago. Look inside the Minster church where a wedding is going on. Listen to the phone ringing in the phone box, and the public toilets flushing. See the rivers flowing past Mill House and through the middle of the town.

Did you know that the Wareham Bears live with us?

Our delightful little bears started life in Harrods, where Mary Tildesley saw them, bought them, dressed them in tiny hand-made outfits and gave them dioramas to live in. Some are fishing, others are playing rugby, gardening or looking after the stables. Everyone is very busy! Mary wrote their stories down for you to read.

What did children do in 1952?

Children were busy playing in the 1950's and no home was complete without a model railway! Wimborne Model Town has a large layout with three different circuits, a variety of trains and rolling stock, including Thomas the Tank Engine. Like children today, they also liked to play outside, and Wendy Street has a slide and play houses for you to enjoy.

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Facilities

  • Toilets iconToilets
  • Gift Shop iconGift Shop
  • Accessible Toilets iconAccessible Toilets
  • Baby Changing iconBaby Changing
  • Food Available iconFood Available
  • Pushchair Friendly iconPushchair Friendly
  • Card Payments Accepted iconCard Payments Accepted
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Opening Times

Regular Times
  • Monday, 10:00 - 17:00
  • Tuesday, 10:00 - 17:00
  • Wednesday, 10:00 - 17:00
  • Thursday, 10:00 - 17:00
  • Friday, 10:00 - 17:00
  • Saturday, 10:00 - 17:00
  • Sunday, 10:00 - 17:00

We reopen for the 2026 season on Monday 23rd March until Sunday 1st November, and we look forward to welcoming you all.

The Model Town willbe open daily from 10am until 5pm. Last admissions at 4.30pm*

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Pricing & Tickets

General Admission
  • Babies and Toddlers (0-3) : Free
  • Child (3-17) : £7.00
  • Adult (18+-18+) : £12.00
  • senior (18+-18+) : £10.00
  • student (18+-18+) : £10.00

Family - 2 Adults & 2 Juniors - £34.00

Family - 1 Adult & 3 Juniors - £29.00

All tickets valid for 12 months.

Additional cost - Crazy Golf per Person £2.00 (per game)

Book in advance for cheapest tickets

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Plan Your Visit

Stopwatch IconTypical visit time 2 - 3 hours

Tick IconSuitable for Kids and Adults too

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FAQs

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Contact Details

Dorset
BH21 1DY
England

Tel: 01202881924

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Verification & Last Updated

Verified Status:Verified

This attraction has been claimed and verified. All information has been recently checked.

Last Updated: 10:56 25/02/2026

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