We visited Merrival Model Village in Great Yarmouth last summer, late in the afternoon when we had spent much of the day on the beach, paddling in the water and building sandcastles. Our Little Museum Visitors were getting ready for a change of activity and we fancied a stroll along the beach, so we set off towards Wellington Pier which is situated close by.
We spent about an hour and a half wandering through the model village at a slow pace, looking at each of the exhibits. Without the children we would not have spent half that time there, but we are glad we did, because the longer you look, the more you see. Garden Girl and Garden Boy loved wandering around the village spotting things their own size. They were drawn to the children playing on the playground, the bride and groom outside the church and delighted in watching the fun fair rides and activating the buttons to make them move. Garden Boy was thrilled to watch the trains appear and disappear all around the village and we spent a lot of time watching the busy engines come and go.
All the models are beautifully made with a lot of attention to detail and humour and the gardens in which they are situated are beautiful, making it a relaxing place to enjoy a gentle stroll. There is a lot for adults and children to discover and our Little Museum Visitors were eager to point things out they had spotted and seek out more and of course it is all at their eye level so there was no need to keep lifting them up to show them things.
Then, as it was time for dinner after we had completed our visit, we tried out the restaurant facilities. The food tasted great, the service was friendly and the prices were reasonable. It was a lovely end to a day at the beach and both our Little Museum Visitors loved the village and are eager to return this summer.
Practicalities
- The village lanes are narrow. We did push our buggy around and wheelchairs up to 26.5" wide can access the whole village, however we often felt we were in the way of other visitors when we were lingering to look at something, blocking the path with our pushchair. Double buggies would not be able to fit.
- There are toilets onsite, including a disabled toilet and baby changing facilities but although they were useable they were not the cleanest toilets.
- The onsite restaurant is well priced, with good food and is definitely worth a visit. There is indoor or outdoor seating.
- Dogs can be taken inside the village as long as they are kept on a lead.
- There is a pay and display car park opposite the model village, as well as numerous other car parks around Great Yarmouth.
- If you are arriving by train there are regular buses from the train station to the sea front.
- The admission fee is quite expensive but look out for vouchers in leaflets at the tourist information centre or other places of interest, as we managed to gain entry with a 2 for 1 offer.
- There is a shop onsite.
- The model village is free for the under three's, otherwise a child admission is £4.50
- Adult admission is £6.00 (Senior Citizens £5.50)
- A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children can be purchased for £18.50
- Look out for entry fee offers in leaflets about Great Yarmouth at the tourist information centre or other places of interest.
- The village opens at 10am every day, 27th March - 31st October
- Closing times vary and last admission is one hour before closing so if you plan to visit later in the day it is worth phoning ahead
- From 25 July to 2nd September the village stays open after dusk and the model street lights and windows are lit up
To find out more or to check for updated information prior to your visit, have a look at the Merrivale Model Village website.
Little Museum Visitors Rating
****
