‘You must go to Bekonscot Model Village!’: we’d heard this countless times since moving to Watford. The model village, built in the 1920s, is on the edge of Beconsfield and reachable via the M40 in about half an hour from Watford on a good day.
The weather was bright enough when we visited for some great pics (see below), but the scale and charm of Bekonscot has to really be seen to be appreciated. It’s a fascinating trip back in time as well as a huge feat of craftsmanship and endeavour, and a real treat for model train enthusiasts.
We parked for free at the church across the road (they appear to have an agreement to do this), though there’s also pay-and-display nearby. Baby changing and a newish playground are by the café area. The site is large so we recommend breaking the day up around lunch if you’ve small kids. Our only gripe was the cost: we had a 2-for-1 adult voucher, but if we hadn’t entry would have been £26, which seems pretty steep for a family of 3. They do, however, offer a range of season tickets if you plan to visit more than once.
Bekonscot opens for the 2017 season on 11 February.