The perfect scale for our little island.
A miniature railway and model village, coming to Jersey
A Miniature World Set in Landscaped Gardens
Jersey Model Village will be an outdoor attraction set within planted gardens in St John - a miniature world of streets, a harbours, farms and open countryside, all at 1:22.5 scale. Paths will wind between shrubs, ponds and colour planting, giving you a different angle on things every time you turn a corner.
There's something special about standing over a miniature world - watching the trains pass below, spotting details you nearly missed, finding things that weren't there on your last visit. The gardens are designed to fill out over time, and so is the village. New buildings, new scenes, new details added as we go. A visit in year three will feel different from a visit at opening.
Jersey's countryside is part of what makes the island worth visiting. We want the site to feel like an extension of that.
The Railway at the Heart of It
Running through it all will be a 1:22.5 scale garden railway - over 500 metres of track at opening, with multiple trains running at once. The locomotives will have sounds, smoke effects and lights, built to run outdoors in all weathers.
Most of the running will be automated, but several circuits will have buttons and levers for guests of all ages to control themselves. Miniature trains have the ability to strike wonder into most people - even more so when you get to have a go yourself
Space to Explore, Things to Do
A model village is not a museum. There'll be no hushing, no single prescribed route. The site will have open lawns and wide paths - room for younger visitors to run ahead while the rest of the group takes their time with the detail.
Alongside the grounds there will be hands-on activities - RC diggers, gold panning, boat racing on the stream - and a programme of seasonal events through the year, including evening sessions and special running days. The site will be fully accessible for prams and pushchairs.
A Ride-On Miniature Railway
As well as watching the trains from the path, visitors will be able to ride one. We're planning a ride-on railway running through the grounds - a separate circuit that gives you a completely different perspective on the miniature world below.
You’ve already seen the miniature railway popping up at various events in Jersey in the past couple of years. It's a feature of the best-loved model village attractions in the UK, and one we're looking forward to giving it a permanent home for you to enjoy
Bringing the magic to St John, Jersey
On the north of the island on the border of St. John and St. Mary, easy to reach from the main road (La Route de Saint-Jean), with parking on site.
This is the vision for what we're building. We're working through planning and development now and will share updates as things progress. Sign up below and we'll let you know when tickets go on sale.