Bakewell model railway exhibition promises 15 layouts and 9 traders

Bakewell’s Peak model railway exhibition packed 15 layouts and 9 traders into the Agricultural Business Centre, giving visitors a compact one-stop hit of layout ideas, second-hand stock and new releases. The show ran on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, with admission at £5 for adults and £12 for families.

That mix is what makes the Bakewell date worth noting. Chesterfield Railway Modellers, which organises the exhibition, has long treated Peak as the highlight of its year, and the club’s membership across N, OO, HO, HOe, O and O-16.5 scales usually shows up in the breadth of the room. Railway Models UK said the exhibition was built around a broad spread of layouts rather than a single specialty, and the trader line-up meant visitors could move from watching trains to buying parts, stock and bargains without leaving the hall.

The venue itself is a big part of the appeal. The Agricultural Business Centre at Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1AH sits within easy reach of Bakewell town centre, with parking on site and public transport links from surrounding towns and villages. RMweb also noted step-free access and a flat floor, which matters when you are hauling a bag of boxes, a camera and a wish list through a full-day show. The car park information is practical too: 420 spaces, including 10 disabled spaces and 20 coach spaces.

For layout hunters, the club’s own exhibition notes gave a sense of the variety on offer. The 2025 Bakewell show featured Longchester Gasworks, a new modular layout built on 4-foot by 2-foot boards, along with Phil Delnon’s Hornby Dublo 3-Rail layout, Dave Hall’s Northern Junction, Jacob Allsop’s Allsop and Sons (Slate) Ltd, Hornby Dublo 2-Rail from the Hornby Railways Collectors Association, Hogwarts Castle and cardboard O-gauge models that the club said actually ran. That range, from vintage Dublo to portable modular work, is exactly the sort of thing that sends a visitor home with ideas as well as purchases.

The commercial side was strong enough to move trade plans outside the hall as well. Sherwood Models Online said it closed for the exhibition and asked customers to place orders for collection by midday on the Friday before the event, a small detail that says plenty about how much weight Bakewell still carries on the calendar. For modellers who want a show that is easy to get to, easy to park at and full of practical takeaways, Peak delivered the sort of weekend local exhibitions are supposed to offer.