Brighton Toy Museum

Find out about one of the finest Toy Museums in the World. 


Underneath the arches at Brighton Railway Station there is a veritable treasure trove of Toys and Models. There are over 10,000 toys and models on display with a priceless model train collection and many period antique toys.



Toy and model restoration is undertaken by the Museum's founder, Chris Littledale, one of the world's foremost experts on the subject.

There is a thriving shop which sells both new souvenirs and collectable period toys and books.

One of the principle objectives of the charitable trust is to ensure that the collections remain together and live on in perpetuity for the benefit of future generations.



The Museum is an independent, non-profit making organisation.
It was founded and registered as a charitable trust in 1990. The trust was originally known as the Sussex Toy & Model Museum and was based on several important collections.

Since 1990 these collections have been refined and enhanced to  bring the Museum to a point where it houses one of the finest displays of model trains, tinplate toys and other related exhibits on public view anywhere in the world. For this reason the museum is well patronised by collectors and experts from near and far.

Research students and school parties are frequent visitors, since toys are included in the National Curriculum. The majority of our visitors are the general public who come to see the collections and marvel at their diversity and quality. "I used to have one like that!" is a frequently heard cry.
The Museum is staffed by our Education Officer and a dedicated group of volunteers; without whose enthusiasm and hard work, the Museum could not survive.

The Brighton Toy and Model Museum and the 5BEL Trust are celebrating the eagerly anticipated return of a much loved Brighton icon – the world’s only all electric Pullman train – the elegant Art Deco style Brighton Belle. The
5BEL Trust’s £1 million restoration by professional railway engineers is to ensure the train’s return in 2012 to the mainline on the 80th anniversary of its construction.

The Museum is proud to announce that it has recently been awarded ACCREDITED status by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.