Everybody, especially grown-ups and young kids, loves scale models. That’s everything from large radio-controlled model aircraft and ships – through detailed model cars, trucks, tanks, figures, space & sci-fi, scenes & dioramas – to elaborate model railways in all gauges down to tiny z-scale. There are whole worlds in miniature on display at model engineering shows, exhibitions and other events, for the whole family to enjoy. And the entry fees are usually as ‘cheap as chips’!
So, if you happen to be in the neighbourhood when a model show/display is taking place, why not pop along?
These are some of the shows and exhibitions in 2025 that I’m aware of so far.
| Bolton IPMS Show | 19 Jan 25 | TS Community Stadium, De Havilland Way, Bolton BL6 6JW | Club layouts and trade stands |
| Bournemouth Model Railway Exhibition | 8/9 Feb 25 | The Hamworthy Club, Magna Rd, Canford Magna, Bournemouth BH21 3AP | 23+ layouts in n, 009, 009 4mm, H0e, 00 and 0, 16.6mm and 1/24 scale. Plus trade stands. |
| Festival of British Railway Modelling 2025 | 8/9 Feb 25 | Doncaster Racecourse, Bawtry Rd, Doncaster DN2 6BB | Large show with a selection of 30+ layouts, many of which have appeared in BRM (British Railway Modelling) magazine over the years, plus 60+ traders. |
| Morecombe Model Exhibition | 15 Feb 25 | Morecambe Library, Central Drive, Morecambe, Lancashire LA4 5DL | Clubs, groups and individuals displaying a wide range of models and miniatures including: Aircraft, tanks, military vehicles, ships, submarines, Warhammer and more. |
| Weston-super-Mare Model Railway Show | 15/16 Feb 25 | Priory Community School, Queens Way, Weston-super-Mare BS22 6BP | This is a Burnham & District Model Railway Club event. They already have a floor plan, so we know there will be 21 layouts in various scales and 12 traders. |
| Gauge O Guild – Spring Show | 1 Mar 25 | Kettering Leisure Village, Thurston Drive, Kettering NN15 6PB | “7mm” or Gauge O railway modelling show. |
| Romsey & District Rail Modellers Society Annual Exhibition | 01/02 Mar 25 | Crosfield Hall, Romsey SO51 8GL | Their 45th Annual Exhibition featuring 13 layouts in a variety of scales & gauges, plus traders. |
| London Festival of Railway Modelling 2025 | 15/16 Mar 25 | Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way London N22 7AY | 35+ hand-picked layouts by The Model Railway Club, in a range of scales and gauges, from the UK, Europe and the USA, plus 70+ traders. (I usually buy paints & tools here) |
| Gaydon Indoor Model Show | 30 Mar 25 | British Motor Museum, Lighthorne Heath, Warwick CV35 0BJ | The Large Model Association’s event postponed from Oct 24. |
| Macclesfield Model Railway Exhibition | 5/6 Apr 25 | Tytherington School, Macclesfield SK10 2EE | Local railway modeller group annual exhibition |
| Shildon Model Railway Club Spring Exhibition | 05/06 Apr 25 | Locomotion, 1 Dale Rd, Shildon DL4 2RE | Model railway exhibition with 20+ layouts and 20+ trade stands, plus displays and modelling society stands. |
| East Midlands Model Show | 06 Apr 25 | Hinkley Leisure Centre, Argents Mead, Hinkley LE10 1BZ | Wide range of scale plastic models. |
| Sword & Lance Show | 12 Apr 25 | Northern Echo Arena, Darlington DL2 1DL | Figurines, military figures and plastic scale models. It’ll be the Darlington Military Modelling Society’s 50th Anniversary Show. |
| Poole Vikings Show | 12 Apr 25 | Parkstone Grammar School, Poole BH17 7EP | Scale plastic model show |
| National Garden Railway Show | 12 Apr 25 | NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth CV8 2LH | The 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers show featuring multiple layouts in a variety of garden scales, and a large number of trade stands. |
| Norwich Model Boat Club – Military Day | 21 Apr 25 | Model Boat Club, Eaton Park, Norwich NR4 7AU | The NMBC has a busy programme of events between Apr – Oct for RC yachts, warships, tugs, steamships and submarines on its large pond in Eaton park, and also for RC Trucks, 4×4’s and Tanks alongside. This Gala Day opens the season. |
| Model World Live | 26/27 Apr 25 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham B40 1NT | The second edition of this national scale model and model railway engineering show. |
| Scottish National Scale Model Show | 26/27 Apr 25 | Live Active Dewars Centre, Perth TH2 0PH | Plastic scale model exhibition |
| Bristol Model Railway Exhibition | 2-4 May 26 | Thornbury Leisure Centre, Alveston Hill, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 3JB | No details yet but last year’s show featured 17 Association of Model Railway Clubs Wales & West of England layouts, plus 16 guest layouts, plus traders etc. |
| Calne Model Railway Show | 10/11 May 25 | Calne Leisure Centre, Calne SN11 0SP | Annual show with multiple layouts |
| expoEM Spring Show | 10/11 May 25 | Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bracknell RG12 9SE | EM Gauge (4mm/ft) spring show |
| Ely & District Model Railway Club exhibition | 17 May 25 | Ely College, Downham Rd, Ely CB6 3DY | Well-attended annual show. Last year had 15 layouts and a thousand visitors. |
| Railex 2025 | 24/25 May 25 | Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury HP21 9PP | Risborough and District Model Railway Club show with 17+ layouts |
| Gauge O Guild – Summer Show | 31 May 25 | Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5AQ | “7mm” or Gauge O railway modelling show. |
| IPMS Salisbury Scale Model Show | 31 May 25 | Wyvern St Edmund’s Sports Hall, Laverstock, Salisbury SP1 1RE | Annual plastic model show with displays from other clubs and trader stands. Being Salisbury it looks like there’s a preponderance of tanks! 😉 |
| Milton Keynes Model Railway Society Annual Show | 07 Jun 25 | The Ridgeway Centre, Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes MK12 5TH | A variety of operating layouts ranging from within the club and from visiting clubs and individuals. Last year they had around 22 layouts. Plus trade stands. |
| Weston Park International Model Airshow | 13-15 Jun 25 | Weston Park, Telford TF11 8LE | Three day model RC aircraft, helicopters and hovercraft show, now in its 29th year. |
| East Anglia Model Show | 14 Jun 25 | Inspire Dome, Lindbergh Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 9QX | Ipswich Branch of the International Plastic Modellers Society celebrating 20 years of modelling. |
| Exe Model Railway Exhibition | 21 Jun 25 | Matford Centre, Matford Park Rd, Exeter EX2 8FD | Exe Model Railway Society’s annual exhibition. Last year (their jubilee year) they had 30+ layouts and 15 traders. |
| Teesside Model Flying Club Airshow | 22/23 Jun 25 | TMFC, Stockton-on-Tees TS21 1EW | Large RC models on static display and flying |
| Sleap Large Model Airshow | 5/6 Jul 25 | Shropshire Aero Club, Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury SY4 3HE | Large RC model aircraft show |
| Elvington Large Model Airshow | 9/10 Aug 25 | Elvington Airfield, Elvington, York YO41 4AU | Large RC model air show. (Next to the Yorkshire Air Museum – drop in!) |
| Mid Suffolk Light Railway Model Mania & Hornby Collectors Show | 25/26 Aug 25 | Brockford Station, Wetheringsett, Stowmarket IP14 5PW | Modellers event day at the “Middy” heritage railway. |
| Gauge O Guild – Guildex | 6/7 Sep 25 | Bingley Hall, Stafford Showground, Stafford ST18 0BD | “7mm” or Gauge O railway modelling show. |
| Much Markle Large Model Airshow | 6/7 Sep 25 | Much Markle Steam Show Site, Ledbury HR8 2LX | Large model air show |
| expoEM Autumn Show | 13/14 Sep 25 | Baildon Recreation Centre, Green Lane, Baildon, Shipley BD17 5JH | Fine scale EM Gauge (4mm/ft) railway layouts. |
| Oxrail 2024 | 14 Sep 25 | Edward Feild School, Bicester Rd, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 2LG | Oxford & District Model Railway Club’s annual show. Last year they had around 9+ layouts, plus traders and local organisations. |
| Ayr Model Rail Show | 20/21 Sep 25 | Walker Hall, South Beach, Troon KA10 6EF | Annual show. Last year they had 12 layouts, plus trade stands. |
| Stafford Model Railway show | 27/28 Sep 25 | Bingley Hall, Stafford County Showground, Stafford ST18 0BD | Running for almost 60 years, the Stafford show claims to be the ‘largest established independent model railway show in the country’. With over 50 layouts last year it is certainly one of the biggest. |
| West Wiltshire Gauge O Group Show | 01 Nov 25 | The Paragon Hall, High Street, Westbury BA13 3HA | This will be the group’s 25th annual show. Last year’s show had 4 x O gauge, 2 x OO and 1 x HO gauge layouts on display, and attracted over 200 visitors. |
| Gauge O Guild – Winter Show | 06 Dec 25 | Robin Park Leisure Centre, Newtown, Wigan WN5 0UL | “7mm” or Gauge O railway modelling show. |
NB. This page is being continually updated, but things change: events get postponed, cancelled or there’s a change of venue. Always double-check on the organiser’s website before visiting.
