WonderWorks by Hornby Hobbies opens in Margate and features Airfix, Corgi and Scalextric brands

A new “immersive” tourist attraction has opened up featuring a model town you can race around and countless miniature objects.

Hornby Hobbies has upgraded its base of 70 years in Margate with WonderWorks.

The new venue is a collection of the Hornby brands, which include Airfix, Corgi, Pocher and Scalextric.

One of the main attractions is a scaled-down Margate, with Arlington House, Dreamland and the beach all featured.

Visitors can even race cars around the little town’s roads.

The doors were opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 29.

Hornby Hobbies CEO Olly Raeburn said: “The WonderWorks is a reimagined experience which aims to immerse visitors into the world of our famous brands.

“Margate has been the home of Hornby Hobbies for over 70 years, and we are extremely proud of our Kent heritage.

“We hope that The WonderWorks will help to further build the thriving and growing cultural scene in Thanet.”

A brand new micro Scalextric Gotham City is available to see as well as existing attractions such as a motorcycle used in the latest James Bond film.

Speaking about the hobby of miniature painting and collecting, Mr Raeburn added: “It's enormously important and I would obviously say it's very sustainable.

“I mean these brands have been building up followers and enthusiasts for years and years – decades in fact.

“It's really nourishing, valuable creative time away from screens.

“So I think it's a really important thing for new generations but also to continue supporting the older generation.”

It comes after Hornby Hobbies launched a search for a ‘Master of Miniature’ for its centre.

The lucky fan chosen was Adam Pumfleet, who said: “It’s sort of therapeutic and really rewarding to do.

“The models have gotten smaller since I was younger which makes them more fiddly and all the more rewarding when you actually get it where you want it to be and it's finally painted.”