The WonderWorks by Hornby Hobbies

The WonderWorks by Hornby Hobbies is an indoor hobby attraction on the Westwood Industrial Estate in Margate, Kent, housed in the factory that has been home to Hornby Hobbies since 1954. It opened in late October 2023 as a reimagining of the former Hornby Visitor Centre, which had operated on the same site from July 2010. Hornby Hobbies traces its roots to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby patented the Meccano construction toy in Liverpool; the company produced its first clockwork train in 1920 and launched its first OO-gauge Hornby Dublo range in 1938.

The attraction brings together the five model-making brands now owned by Hornby Hobbies: Hornby model railways, Scalextric slot racing, Airfix plastic kits, Corgi die-cast models and Pocher large-scale kits. The centrepiece Hornby World is a multi-track OO-gauge layout that runs from rural steam-era scenes through to modern high-speed trains, sitting alongside a dedicated layout for Hornby's compact TT:120 scale, which was introduced in October 2022.

The building stands beside the One:One Collection, a display of full-size heritage locomotives and rolling stock that opened at Hornby's former Margate factory in 2019 after being assembled by railway financier Jeremy Hosking; the WonderWorks runs separate One:One Collection tours. The Margate site and its brands have featured in the Yesterday channel television series Hornby: A Model World, first broadcast in 2021.

The centrepiece Hornby World OO-gauge layout and the TT:120 layout are the standout subjects, with scenery ranging from steam-era countryside to modern high-speed rail. The Scalextric Grand Prix Du Margate and Gotham City circuits, the gold Aston Martin DB5 and Batmobile in the Corgi display, the life-size Airfix sprue photo spot, and the 1:8-scale Pocher kits are all popular. Photography is for personal use; check with staff about any restrictions during the One:One Collection tour. Lighting is indoor and controlled, so a steady hand or a phone with good low-light performance helps when shooting the layouts.

For railway modellers, the main draw is the working layouts and the chance to operate them. Visitors can drive OO-gauge trains using Hornby's HM7000 control system, watch the TT:120 layout in action, and trace how the hobby has evolved from Frank Hornby's 1920 clockwork O-gauge trains to today's digitally controlled models. Hornby has been the leading brand of OO-gauge model railways in Britain since introducing the scale in 1938.

Beyond the trains, the exhibits reach across Hornby's other heritage brands. The Scalextric area follows the slot-racing brand from its 1957 tinplate origins and lets guests race on layouts including the Grand Prix Du Margate circuit and a Batman Gotham City track. The Corgi display gathers landmark die-cast models such as the gold 261 Aston Martin DB5 and the 267 Batmobile; the DB5 from Goldfinger, first issued in October 1965, went on to sell more than 3.9 million copies.

Airfix, the oldest UK plastic-kit manufacturer and producing kits for the mass market since 1952, is represented with model kits through the decades, World War Two dioramas and a hands-on Quickbuild station, while Pocher shows off 1:8-scale luxury kits made up of several hundred parts. The adjacent full-size One:One Collection also sets the site apart from most model-focused attractions.

The WonderWorks is a compact, indoor attraction rather than a full day out. Reviewers typically spend anywhere from about 30 to 60 minutes up to 2 to 3 hours, depending on how much they play on the interactive layouts. Paid admission covers the Experience exhibition area; the shop and café are free to enter.

Entry and exit are through the WonderWorks store, billed as Britain's largest one-stop shop for the Hornby Hobbies brands, so expect to pass model railway locomotives, Scalextric sets and Airfix kits on the way in and out. The on-site café serves hot and cold food freshly prepared to order, with last entry to the Experience and café at 3:30pm.

The attraction is aimed at hobby enthusiasts and families with an interest in models and nostalgia rather than thrill-seekers; several reviewers note it is best enjoyed by those who already have an affection for the brands. Daily workshops and regular events such as games nights and seasonal activities are scheduled, so checking the What's On page before visiting is worthwhile.