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.
| East Dorset N-Gauge Group Anniversary Show | 14/15 Feb 26 | Kinson community centre, Pelhams Park, Bournemouth BH10 7LH | A celebration event with 11 N-gauge layouts. | 
| 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. | 
| Blackheath Model Railway Show | 01 Nov 25 | St Paul’s Church Hall, Vicarage Rd, Halesowen B62 8HX | It’s not clear who is running this show, although Cradley Heath Model Railway Club will be in attendance. There will be 15 layouts and traders. | 
| Newbury Model Railway Exhibition | 01 Nov 25 | St Bartholomew’s School, Newbury RG14 6JP | Around 16 club layouts, plus demos and 8 traders. | 
| Spalding Model Railway Exhibition | 01/02 Nov 25 | Springfield Events Centre, Spalding PE12 6ET | Spalding MRC’s annual show. Last year they had around 20 layouts on display. | 
| Elgin Model Fair | 01/02 Nov 25 | Moray Sports Centre, Linkwood Road, Elgin IV30 8AR | Elgin Model Railway Club (EMRC)’s annual show is moving home this year (the Town Hall is being refurbished). It features not just railway layouts in various gauges but also other models including Meccano, model aircraft & military vehicles, and wargaming. | 
| LOMEX | 01/02 Nov 25 | East Coast College, Lowestoft NR32 2NB | The Lowestoft Model Engineering and Model Making Exhibition has a mixture of scale models, steam traction engines & locomotives, RC aircraft and boats. | 
| Wightrail 2025 | 1/2 Nov 25 | Medina Leisure Centre, Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 2DX | The Wight Model Railway Group’s exhibition will have an unspecified number of layouts in various gauges from N Gauge to Gauge 1, plus traders and static displays. | 
| WMRA Annual Exhibition | 01/02 Nov 25 | Weymouth College, Cranford Avenue, Weymouth DT4 7LQ | The Weymouth Model Railway Association will be displaying some 30+ layouts and exhibits, plus traders. | 
| Railway Studies and Modellers Show | 08 Nov 25 | Passmore Edwards Centre, Market Street, Newton Abbot TQ12 2RJ | The Friends of the Railway Studies Collection will have 11 layouts in gauges H0, OO, and Electric Garden Gauge on display, plus exhibitors and traders. | 
| IPMS Scale ModelWord | 08/09 Nov 25 | Telford International Centre, St Quentin Gate, Telford TF3 4JH | International Plastic Modellers’ Society (IPMS) 27th annual show with over 190 displays featuring thousands of models, plus 120 traders. | 
| HWDMRS – MRX25 Autumn | 15 Nov 25 | Cressex Community Centre & Social Club, 203 Cressex Road, High Wycombe HP12 4PZ. | The High Wycombe & District Model Railway Society’s autumn show will have 10+ layouts in a variety of scales and gauges including N, TT, H0, 00, 7mm, and 00-9 narrow gauges, plus 5 traders. | 
| Blackpool Model Show | 15/16 Nov 25 | Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool FY2 9AA | Large show focused on RC and static model boats, ships, trucks, and tanks. | 
| Falkirk Model Railway Exhibition | 15/16 Nov 25 | Forth Valley College, Grangemouth Road, Falkirk FK2 9AD | Annual club show with around a dozen layouts | 
| Workington Model Railway Exhibition | 15/16 Nov 25 | ENERGUS, Blackwood Road, Lillyhall, Workington CA14 4JW | Eighteen Layouts, 8 demonstration stands, 8 society stands and 9 trade stands. | 
| Pendle Forest MRS Show | 15/16 Nov 25 | Park High School, Venables ave, Colne BB8 7DP | The Pendle Forest Model Railway Society’s 61st annual show will have 13 layouts, 3D printing demos, and traders. | 
| National Festival of Railway Modelling | 22/23 Nov 25 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham B40 1NT | No details yet, but last year it was billed as the UKs largest railway modelling exhibition with over 60 of the country’s best model railways, and 70+ manufacturers, retailers, specialist suppliers and clubs/societies. | 
| Deganwy Railway Modellers | 23 Nov 24 | Craig Y Don Community Centre, Queens Road, Llandudno LL30 1TE | Sixteen layouts in various gauges, plus traders. Last year was DRM’s (no website) first exhibition, and despite atrocious weather conditions, over 400 people turned up. | 
| 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.

