Visit one of the most traditional attractions in the Isle of Wight, a charming and very realistic model village! Godshill Model Village is located on the picturesque Isle of Wight and is not far from our brand new redevelopment Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat! One of the best things about the island is that everything is within around a 20 minute drive away, making Woodside Bay the perfect base for your Isle of Wight adventures!
a family business
Godshill Model Village is family run business, purchased in the late 1960’s by Robin Thwaites it was in desperate need of some TLC and repair. Robin’s vision and keen eye for detail has set the standard and his daughter Penny, along with Stuart are both just as passionate! Surrounding themselves with a fantastic team they aim to give every customer a wonderful nostalgic experience.
models galore
The model village is set in the grounds of the old vicarage and when you walk in you will see a perfect scale replica of Godshill village. The models are a 1/10th scale version of real buildings in Godshill, as well as Shanklin Old Village and Chine, two of the oldest tourist towns on the island, you will find all the houses, cottages, shops and pubs in real life as you wander around the village. You’ll see the model of All Saints Church proudly overlooking the cottages, just like the real one on top of the hill, and if you stand in exactly the right spot you can see the real church and the model church below it. All the models are made with sand and cement so they weather with age, and they are even thatched like the real buildings using authentic materials and methods. With attention to detail at the heart of the model village, it comes as no surprise they have one of the most detailed landscaped gardens, with over 3,000 ornamental shrubs and many of the trees being coarse bonsai trees, treated to maintain their scale (coarse bonsai means they aren’t planted in pots, who knew?). You’ll need to visit to truly see how amazing it all is!
Drop into the shop that has a great range of products, a helpful and friendly team as well as toys, party bag ideas, nautical themed and unusual gifts. And if you find yourself a little peckish grab a bite to eat, and a cup of tea in the café!