The museum is physically situated within four original brick vaults supporting the Brighton station terminus platforms.
The collection features rare examples of early 20th-century German-made tinplate trains by manufacturers like Märklin.
The site hosts a fully operational, large-scale model railway circuit that is maintained by an active group of volunteers.
The museum archive includes original technical manuals and catalogs dating back to the late 1800s.
Much of the collection focuses on the 'golden age' of British toy manufacturing, specifically items produced between 1920 and 1950.
The Brighton Toy and Model Museum is housed within four restored Victorian railway arches located directly beneath the Brighton railway station. It features an extensive collection of over 10,000 vintage toys and scale models, with a heavy emphasis on mid-20th-century British manufacturing. The museum's centerpiece is a massive, complex 0-gauge model railway layout that spans significant portions of the floor space. Displays include antique Meccano sets, rare Dinky Toys, and intricate clockwork train systems. Visitors can observe the mechanical inner workings of preserved vintage machinery. The site is a registered educational charity dedicated to the preservation of industrial toy design history.
The elevated viewing points overlooking the central 0-gauge model railway layout.
Use the interactive buttons on the model train displays to trigger movement in the layouts.
Allow time to examine the glass-enclosed cabinets, as they contain high-density arrangements of small-scale miniatures.
Check the official website for special 'running days' when extra model train circuits are activated.
Do not attempt to touch the delicate historical models, as many are fragile antique pieces without protective covers.
Typically closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
