Chester Model Centre

Chester Model Centre Named a Top 5 Finalist in the Hornby Hobbies Model Shop of the Year 2025 Awards!

We made it to the finals! Thanks to the amazing support from our community, Chester Model Centre was honoured as a Top 5 Finalist in the Hornby Hobbies Model Shop of the Year 2025 Awards.

While we didn’t take home the top prize, we’re incredibly proud to have made it this far and appreciate every vote, kind message, and word of encouragement along the way.

Your support means the world to us, and we’re excited to keep bringing you the very best in model railways, diecasts, wargaming, and hobby supplies.

Find Out More

News

Exciting News! Chester Model Centre is a Top 5 ...

January 6, 2025
We did it! Thanks to the incredible support of our community Chester Model Centre has made it to the finals of the Hornby Hobbies Model Shop of the Year 2025...

Exciting News! Chester Model Centre is a Top 5 ...

January 6, 2025
We did it! Thanks to the incredible support of our community Chester Model Centre has made it to the finals of the Hornby Hobbies Model Shop of the Year 2025...
Hornby Hobbies' Model Shop of the Year Nominee

November 25, 2024
We need your help! Vote Chester Model Centre to win Hornby Hobbies Model Shop of the Year Award. This new award programme celebrates independent shops like ours. We've won a...

Hornby Hobbies' Model Shop of the Year Nominee

November 25, 2024
We need your help! Vote Chester Model Centre to win Hornby Hobbies Model Shop of the Year Award. This new award programme celebrates independent shops like ours. We've won a...
Final Reductions! Hornby Limited Edition Gold P...

July 2, 2024
Final Reductions on Hornby Limited Edition Gold Plated Flying Scotsman trains. Save more than 25% on these iconic locos while supporting your favourite independent hobby shop.
1 comment

Final Reductions! Hornby Limited Edition Gold P...

July 2, 2024
Final Reductions on Hornby Limited Edition Gold Plated Flying Scotsman trains. Save more than 25% on these iconic locos while supporting your favourite independent hobby shop.
1 comment
Hornby mid-year product announcement

June 20, 2024
Hornby revealed their mid-year 2024 product announcements including a selection of new locomotive and OO gauge rolling stock. Pre-order now, no depositt required. Email shop@chestermodelcentre.com or message us on Facebook, Instagram...

Hornby mid-year product announcement

June 20, 2024
Hornby revealed their mid-year 2024 product announcements including a selection of new locomotive and OO gauge rolling stock. Pre-order now, no depositt required. Email shop@chestermodelcentre.com or message us on Facebook, Instagram...

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Latest Release - Hornby TT:120

Noch TT45279 Scale: 1:120, TT Railway Shunters (6) Figure Set

Noch TT45279 Scale: 1:120, TT Railway Shunters (6) Figure Set

Regular price £17.25 GBP

Regular price Sale price £17.25 GBP
Unit price per
Hornby R7338 Maglight Lighting Unit for 4/6 Wheel Coaches

Sale

Hornby R7338 Maglight Lighting Unit for 4/6 Wheel Coaches

Regular price £14.84 GBP

Regular price ~~£16.49 GBP~~ Sale price £14.84 GBP
Unit price per

Sale
Hornby TT3019TXSM Colas Rail, Class 66, Co-Co, 66850, 'David Maidment OBE' - Era 11 - DCC SOUND

Sale

Hornby TT3019TXSM Colas Rail, Class 66, Co-Co, 66850, 'David Maidment OBE' - Era 11 - DCC SOUND

Regular price £193.49 GBP

Regular price ~~£214.99 GBP~~ Sale price £193.49 GBP
Unit price per

Sale
Hornby TT3017TXSM DB Schenker, Class 66, Co-Co, 66097 - Era 11 (Sound Fitted)

Sale

Hornby TT3017TXSM DB Schenker, Class 66, Co-Co, 66097 - Era 11 (Sound Fitted)

Regular price £195.99 GBP

Regular price ~~£214.99 GBP~~ Sale price £195.99 GBP
Unit price per

Sale

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Events

Making Tracks returns to Blakemere this Christmas

November 25, 2024
Making Tracks returns to Blakemere Village this Christmas and we'll be there each day with our mini-shop full of temptations. With interactive controls, festive details and never-seen-before elements, this layout of Watford Junction includes 736 metres of...

Making Tracks returns to Blakemere this Christmas

November 25, 2024
Making Tracks returns to Blakemere Village this Christmas and we'll be there each day with our mini-shop full of temptations. With interactive controls, festive details and never-seen-before elements, this layout of Watford Junction includes 736 metres of...
Making Tracks IV - Up to the Junction

July 28, 2024
No trip to Making Tracks would be complete without a visit to Chester Model Centre. But don't take our word for it, hear was Pete Waterman OBE has to say.
1 comment

Making Tracks IV - Up to the Junction

July 28, 2024
No trip to Making Tracks would be complete without a visit to Chester Model Centre. But don't take our word for it, hear was Pete Waterman OBE has to say.
1 comment
Making Tracks returns to Chester Cathedral Summ...

March 26, 2024
Making Tracks returns to Chester Cathedral this summer from 1-31 August 2024 (excluding Sundays and Friday 16 August). Pete Waterman OBE, The Railnuts and a host of volunteers will be...
2 comments

Making Tracks returns to Chester Cathedral Summ...

March 26, 2024
Making Tracks returns to Chester Cathedral this summer from 1-31 August 2024 (excluding Sundays and Friday 16 August). Pete Waterman OBE, The Railnuts and a host of volunteers will be...
2 comments

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Who we are

We are an award-winning family run retailer established in 2004 by Paul Boyland. After 8 years in Warrington, we relocated to Chester and are now located at 71-73 Bridge Street Row.

We stock the latest locomotives, diecast vehicles, wargaming, plastic kits & more to meet all of your modelling needs!

Chester Model Centre

4.5

291 reviews

Peter Nash

a week ago

Verified

Fantastic shop, two floors jam packed with a very wide selection of models. A jewel of a shop for anybody interested in the hobby of model making. On top of this, is the amazing friendly staff, who go out of their way to help and assist with lots of good advice. One is left completely alone to browse at their leisure, without unwanted pestering. Much of their stock is reduced, and is rely good value. A truly great independent model shop and a hige asset to the city of Chester, and is highly recommended by me. Peter Nash.

daniel stone

2 months ago

Verified

What a lovely shop with great selection and fantastic staff! I came in to collect my new n gauge class 66 i had click and collected. I was greeted by a lovely woman downstairs who was really friendly and then headed upstairs to collect my train! Having a look around i saw a ton of lovely n gauge stuff i wish i could buy it all. I bought a couple of bits and bobs and then the really helpful guy on the desk tested my new class 66 train for me! He was really helpful with advise as i’m new to the hobby. The other guy was also really helpful and showed me the stock of preloved n gauge and i also bought a couple more wagons. Everything was reasonably priced and i came away with a big smile on my face, will be shopping here again !!! Full 5 star review!

Miller Watson

3 months ago

Verified

Fantastic shop over two levels. Everything you could want from kits of tanks, cars, ships and aircraft (civil and military), to diecast vehicles of multiple scales and model railways (an extensive selection thereof) is here. The staff are wonderful, knowledgeable, friendly and happy to have a chat with you about the hobby in general. Been twice on this visit, I'll certainly be back. The prices are fantastic too. So ensure you add this to your visit of Chester.

Megan Pounds

3 months ago

Verified

A lovely member of staff helped me pick a WW1 aircraft as a present for my partner. He was so so very kind and explained everything to me and even helped pick out the paints. Great shop and can’t wait to visit again!

Steve McNally

4 months ago

Verified

Great model shop. Plenty of kits available, loads of paints, tools and accessories, staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Upstairs is mainly model railways and diecast. Prices are excellent, actually cheaper than eBay, so give them a try first, they deserve our support, they're trying very hard.

James Lee-Horton

6 months ago

Verified

Fantastic model shop, with superb displays and great value models , found a DCC sound loco cheaper than most of the big boys as they say it pays to shop around, also used their mail order service which arrived very quickly and very well packed. Great service all round from Paul and the family and well worth a visit if you are in the area. Nice One.

David

3 months ago

Verified

First time visiting today as looking for a local supplier for a large N Gauge project I'm starting. Had everything I could pretty much need and did me an amazing offer on peco track, far better than any online store I could find. Will certainly be back.

Waylander101

3 years ago

Verified

After ordering the new Hornby GBRf 'Pride of GB Railfreight' loco several months ago for zero deposit I was pleasantly surprised when I was contacted on release day The price and service offered by Chester Model Centre means they're about to get themselves a new regular customer, top marks

Jordan Raymond

a year ago

Verified

It's great with 2 floors airfix & airfix mostly ground floor & Hornby & other scale model raiwlay brand upstairs visited October 2023

jeremy wynne

a year ago

Verified

An amazing shop, and brilliant customer service. Paul and his team managed to obtain some limited edition items for me, very quickly and without any fuss. I can’t recommend them highly enough - thank you for excellent service, communication and for letting dogs into your wonderful store!

Tim Hulse

3 months ago

Verified

This is a traditional model shop with a great range of Scalextric and diecast model cars. It’s worth a visit.

Bob Gaunt

6 months ago

Verified

visited the shop for the first time the other day lovley to be able to walk around with out being followed or asked what looking for Paul was realy friendly to both me and the wife asking if she would like a seat will definatly back in the mean time will be internet orders due to living in wolverhampton

Keir Jones

a month ago

Verified

Called in on Sunday and the staff were excellent and so were the prices.

Geraint Williams

8 months ago

Verified

Went in for something to.clean my sons track, a gentleman (think he was the owner) said he didn't have any track rubbers in stock so gave me one he'd been using for free. Can't get much better customer service than that. I'll always look here first now if my son is after anything model/toy related!

Nigel Eastham

11 months ago

Verified

An excellent model shop on 2 levels. Massive amount or airfix and assorted plastic and metal model kits on 1 st level and then upstairs to the railway models all scales catered for. Came back today 2/4/2024, but hadn’t checked closing times 17:00 note to self get there earlier next time.:)

Leah Atkinson

a year ago

Verified

Fantastic model shop with a huge range. Paul and staff were really helpful and kind. Even though they were very busy with the upcoming Making Tracks 3 event, they still had time to chat and were patient with my son, who needs extra time to process, when he was struggling to make a decision about a model train. He was really impressed with the shop and says it was the best part of our week long holiday in Chester.

Stephen Hollingsworth

11 months ago

Verified

Been visiting this place for years - mostly for model railway stuff, but I've recently got into Tamiya model cars - I was pleasantly surprised that they stock the entire range of Tamiya paints with few colours being unavailable (unlike a local big box 'hobby' store), and not only that, they were the best priced out of anywhere - even better than eBay prices! Support these shops!

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