Steve Lucas Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Hi-- I am visiting London and maybe part of the UK from Canada in early February for a few days. Can someone recommend serious model railway shops in the City? Ideally a short walk from the Tube. I'm looking for any catering to P4/S4/EM modellers, as well as regular model rail shops. With thanks in advance, Steve Lucas Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyman7 Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 I'm afraid that unless you have access to a time machine, you will be out of luck - there is not a single proper model shop left in central London (and precious few in the outer reaches). The London Transport Museum shop in Covent Garden has a reasonable range of models, buses and trains, and some accessories; and the Ian Allan Bookshop in Lower Marsh next to Waterloo station has a small model railway range with quite a good selection of Peco and other accessories. Hamleys and Harrods are Hornby concessions - no other makes but sometimes some good deals on in-stock items. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftbovine Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 There is also Wheels of Steel in Gray's Antique Market near Bond Street. It is a small shop with mainly second hand 00. It pays to call ahead to check on their opening hours which can be a bit erratic. I was there in October last year, I didn't buy anything as I model mainly in N but I always visit the shop if I'm in London just on the off chance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitpick Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 There's Invicta Models a very short walk from Sidcup BR station. OK it's not an Underground or Tube station BUT it's only a few stops out from Charing Cross, or Cannon Street if you're in The City. Not sure what travel zone it's in either. The Underground and Tube go much further out of London than the distance to Sidcup. But not much Underground nor Tube south of the river and nothing to the South East of London so in distance terms you're a lot nearer The City at Sidcup than say Ealing Broadway (both Tube and Underground). I have only used Invicta at shows, I haven't visited their shop. Usual disclaimer, but in my experience they have knowledgeable staff; they were formed by staff from The Signal Box, Rochester after the parent, Modelzone, went bust. You can check their web site www.invictamodelrail.com for more info on how to get there and what they sell. Oh and they are mentioned on RMWeb under Commissions. However, I doubt that they do much if any EM/P4/S4 though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 There has been a couple of similar discussions on this topic here before. Then as now, it was a pretty bleak prospect. When we come home, we always went to the Wheels of Steel because it was convenient but it was a bit of a hit and miss prospect. Your best bet is to check the telephone directory where you are and see if there are any hobby shops around. I always come prepared with a shopping list in the hope of finding somewhere convenient, but our stay is not confined to the London area. Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Early February - 6&7th Feb the Alton show is on, simple daytrip from London Waterloo to Alton on SWT then steam train ride on the Watercress Line http://www.watercressline.co.uk/ and a visit to both Alton Model Centre http://www.altonmodelcentre.co.uk/ Otherwise Stafford is the same weekend - more of a trek but a 'serious' trade, or Doncaster show the week after, less finescale trade but bigger show. Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigherb Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I would say Kent Garden Railways (don't let the name put you off) at St Marys Cray and only a short walk from the BR station is the last serious model rail shop left in Greater London. Stocks loco kits, parts, wheels etc as well as RTR in all scales. Invicta models (mainly RTR) at Sidcup is a short bus ride from there and also close the the BR station. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Basically, anywhere in Central London, forget it. It's mostly chain stores, restaurants and coffee shops now, just like any other metropolis. Very high commercial rents have strangled anything small. The last London finescale shop (or rather one that would cater to finescale modellers if asked) died when The Engine Shed in Leytonstone went to the wall. Having said that, Bill Bedford lives above the former premises but I don't know how he'd react to an overseas finescale modeller suddenly turning up on his doorstep! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbedford Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Bill Bedford lives above the former premises but I don't know how he'd react to an overseas finescale modeller suddenly turning up on his doorstep! The answer to that is 'not very well at all'. I'm a manufacturer and there just isn't room in the flat to display any products. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbedford Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I model shops I know of in Greater London are Jane's Trains and Roneo Models, but I've not visited either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub39h Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I'd recommend Jane's Trains - 10 minute walk from Tooting Broadway on the Northern line or Northfields Model Shop - 5 minute walk from Northfields on the Piccadilly line. Both are in Zone 3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I'd recommend Jane's Trains - 10 minute walk from Tooting Broadway on the Northern line or Northfields Model Shop - 5 minute walk from Northfields on the Piccadilly line. Both are in Zone 3. The OP wanted something with finescale bits, EM / P4, rather than a general model shop that concentrates on OO. In that respect, I think he's still going to be disappointed. Northfields is just down the road from my office, and Witek definitely has nothing finescale in there!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewC Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) As mentioned, finescale no chance inside the M25 apart from exhibitions. RTR, you have some Hornby at Hobbycraft, Harrods, Argos, Toys R Us, Hamley's, etc. Scenic and architectural modelling supplies there is 4D Models. Model railway shops as mentioned: Invicta, Kent Garden, Janes, Roneo. oops, always forget the Ian Allen bookshop on Lower Marsh next to Waterloo. Some RTR and a few kits. Edited January 22, 2016 by AndrewC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub39h Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Northfields is just down the road from my office, and Witek definitely has nothing finescale in there!! Lol I reckon he does, but I reckon it won't be readily accessible in there! I think he could lay his store out so much better and massively increase his sales. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) As mentioned, finescale no chance inside the M25 apart from exhibitions. If the net has widened to the M25 then there is the model shop at Addlestone - just a short walk from the station. Plus Masters of Epson near Tattenham Corner station. Both inside the M25. G. Edited January 22, 2016 by grahame Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Downer Posted January 22, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 22, 2016 I would second the idea of visiting Alton, which is about 45 minutes from Waterloo. The model shop is excellent - probably the best in the south-east. I have nightmares about it closing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Crepello Posted January 22, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 22, 2016 Ian Allan's at Waterloo has an extensive range of model paints and Expo tools too. The best in London in my view. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Lol I reckon he does, but I reckon it won't be readily accessible in there! I think he could lay his store out so much better and massively increase his sales. There really is no room in there. He does have some Metcalfe card building kits hanging on a back shelf, plus some PECO dotted around. All OO or N, really. Some HO which has been sitting around, including a Trix or Brawa Prussian State "P4" in the display tower. Whilst he does have the odd old Wills or NuCast kit sitting around, these could hardly be deemed finescale. He certainly has nothing specific for EM or P4.....which is why he took on a somewhat double-glazed expression when I explained on my first visit what I was looking for. Northfields is more of a sideline for Witek. His other job is as a lecturer in adult education, if I recall correctly. My nearest shop that sells finescale bits and detailing parts is K.S. Models in Stevenage, but Keith Seaman is semi-retired, and thus only opens Thursday to Saturday. Much of the finescale stuff carries a noticeably stiff price tag. There really is nobody else up here. Twenty, thirty years ago, you were spoilt for choice by comparison. Hell, even Potters Bar and Welwyn Garden City still had interesting model railway shops, and you could also go and visit Walsworth Models' workshop in Hitchin or Pete Marshall's Tracks/ Train Trading Post in Sawbridgeworth. I covered a lot of miles going between them! All gone now. Nothing lasts forever (except maybe Keith Richards). ....The best in London in my view. Having said that, it's not as if it has much competition left these days. Some of its stock seems to stay on the shelves for yonks until they have a clearance sale, which is how I ended up with some Bachmann Scenecraft Great Central structures - purely because they were going cheap. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon H Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 You would probably be better off trying to coincide with an exhibition during your visit. Unfortunately, there don't seem to be any in the London area in February. Perversely, about the best model shop I know of in London now is Broughdale - but that is London, Ontario, just up the road from Ingersoll, but I expect you know of that already. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Lucas Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Some excellent and very useful responses here! Thanks to everyone for their help. My wife and daughter have a few places that THEY want to visit in The City, so that'll be a time for a train ride to a shop or two near London. Thanks again, Steve Lucas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bike2steam Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/county/Greater%20London Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 There is also Wheels of Steel in Gray's Antique Market near Bond Street. It is a small shop with mainly second hand 00. It pays to call ahead to check on their opening hours which can be a bit erratic. I was there in October last year, I didn't buy anything as I model mainly in N but I always visit the shop if I'm in London just on the off chance. Sad to report Wheels of Steel closed the Greys Inn shop in January, called in today for one of my infrequent visits and found the shutters down and the unit empty. Speaking to one of the other traders, he told me it had closed just after Christmas but does still have a web presence at www.wheels-of-steel.org. Although it was purely secondhand sold there, and a pretty varied mix at that, it was the last model shop in Central London, only the LT museum and Ian Allan remain. I picked up numerous bargains there over the years and I'll miss the suspense of never knowing what you would find there! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviesparx Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 I'm afraid that unless you have access to a time machine, you will be out of luck - there is not a single proper model shop left in central London (and precious few in the outer reaches).... Jane's Trains in Tooting SW17....http://www.janestrains.co.uk/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
602Squadron Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 There is also Wheels of Steel in Gray's Antique Market near Bond Street. It is a small shop with mainly second hand 00. It pays to call ahead to check on their opening hours which can be a bit erratic. I was there in October last year, I didn't buy anything as I model mainly in N but I always visit the shop if I'm in London just on the off chance., Sadly, Wheels of Steel closed last year, a great shame in my opinion. However, Jeff Williams is still trading online at wheels-of-steel. org. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart2day Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Sadly, Wheels of Steel closed last year, a great shame in my opinion. However, Jeff Williams is still trading online at wheels-of-steel. org. Oh no. I was going to go there in a couple of weeks. Oh well. Ian Allen it is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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