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Model attraction sees booming interest since pandemic

Stuart Anderson

Published: 4:42 PM September 9, 2021

Adam Macro, operations manager, Ruth Baker, attraction operator, and Robert Green, company director, at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

You could describe it as a 'model attraction'.

Wroxham Miniature World, based in Station Road West, Hoveton, claims to be the country's largest indoor modelling centre with some of the biggest model railways in the world on permanent display.

And its manager, 31-year-old Robert Green, said interest in model trains and toys of all kind had boomed since the start of pandemic, as many people found more time to spend on hobbies.

Mr Green said: "There has been quite an uptake since the lockdowns started. Hornby [model railways] have said that their sales have gone through the roof and we see a lot of people coming here looking for inspiration."

Mr Green said that when his dad, Sean Green, opened the site in 2012 it was aimed at enthusiasts, but now families made up most of their visitors.

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The displays include Lego dioramas, a vintage penny arcade, a slot cars, dolls, model ships and model train displays which recreate different eras and parts of the world, including Japan, the Alps, Holland and the Midlands in the 1960s.

The Japanese layout at Wroxham Minature Worlds. Picture: Danielle Booden

The Japanese layout at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

The European layout, based on German, Austrian and Swiss Railways, at Wroxham Minature Worlds. Pictu

The European layout, based on German, Austrian and Swiss Railways, at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

The Great British layout at Wroxham Minature Worlds. Picture: Danielle Booden

The Great British layout at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

A man taking photos of The Great British layout at Wroxham Minature Worlds. Picture: Danielle Booden

A man taking photos of The Great British layout at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

A hogwarts express model train on The Great British layout at Wroxham Minature Worlds. Picture: Dani

A Hogwarts Express model train on The Great British layout at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

The Scalextric layout at Wroxham Minature Worlds. Picture: Danielle Booden

The Scalextric layout at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

Wroxham Model Worlds. Picture: Danielle Booden

Wroxham Model Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

A man playing on a train simulator at Wroxham Minature Worlds. Picture: Danielle Booden

A man playing on a train simulator at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

The Mumford family enjoying vintage arcade machines at Wroxham Minature Worlds. Picture: Danielle Bo

The Mumford family enjoying vintage arcade machines at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

Wroxham Minature Worlds. Picture: Danielle Booden

Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

Adam Macro, operations manager at Wroxham Minature Worlds, placing the Hogwarts Express model on the

Adam Macro, operations manager at Wroxham Miniature Worlds, placing the Hogwarts Express model on the track. - Credit: Danielle Booden

Ruth Baker, attraction operator at Wroxham Minature Worlds, on the computer program that controls th

Ruth Baker, attraction operator at Wroxham Miniature Worlds, on the computer program that controls the train tracks. - Credit: Danielle Booden

Adam Macro, operations manager, Ruth Baker, attraction operator, and Robert Green, company director, at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

Robert Green, company director, at Wroxham Minature Worlds. Picture: Danielle Booden

Robert Green, company director, at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden

Robert Green, company director, Ruth Baker, attraction operator, and Adam Macro, operations manager, at Wroxham Miniature Worlds. - Credit: Danielle Booden