The world in miniature: top 6

From Instagram accounts like @tinykitchentm and @little_architecture, to ubiquitous mini cacti and the controversial micro-pig trend, there seems to be a real demand these days for a world in miniature.

For a deeply enjoyable miniature day out, here are the six best miniature models to see. Replicating the world’s most famous monuments with painstaking and incredible attention to detail.

Miniatürk, Turkey

Miniatürk is one of the world’s largest miniature parks, covering an area of 160,000 sq ft on the north-eastern shore of the Golden Horn in Istanbul. With models of historic monuments from Istanbul, Anatolia and former Ottoman provinces, it’s a great way to learn about Turkey’s intricate history in just one day. With a huge wooden terrace providing panoramic views of Istanbul’s cityscape, TERRACE SUITES Istanbul you can get also appreciate the city’s many monuments on a larger scale.

Bekonscot Model Village, UK

The passion project of an accountant named Roland Callingham, Bekonscot Model Village began with the help of his gardener, cook, maid and chauffeur in the 1920s. From a back garden with the swimming pool as the ‘sea’, Bekonscot became the model of model villages, with around 200 buildings, complete towns and even a coal mine. It’s the oldest model village in the world and is a miniature window to the past, with much of it dating back to the 20s and 30s. A hefty proportion of its profits are donated to charity, meaning you’ll be supporting deserving causes while you enjoy an afternoon of escapism. The 17th-century Chequers Inn has four-poster beds, fireplaces and an old wood and brick bar, all ten-minutes’ drive from Bekonscot.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center

This interactive exhibition center is a fascinating study on Shanghai’s urban development. But the huge scale model of the city of Shanghai, as they expect it to look in 2020, is the real attraction. Inspect its phenomenal detail up close on the third floor, or check it out from a bird’s-eye perspective from the gallery above. Either treat yourself to a stay at the highly rated, luxurious Kerry Hotel Pudong or check in to the Shanghai Hidden Garden Hostel.

Madurodam, The Netherlands

The miniature city of Madurodam, in the life-sized Dutch city of The Hague, is so realistic it may feel a little trippy. Not only is it incredibly detailed, it also features turning windmills, flowing water, a moving train network and aeroplanes landing at the airport. Real life landmarks have also been replicated astonishingly accurately, albeit on a scale of 1:25, so you needn’t charter a private plane to see Dam Square from above. In an old Dutch townhouse in the centre of The Hague, Berger’s B&B has large rooms that are decorated in period fashion, very much like the houses of Madurodam.

Mini Siam, Thailand

A couple of hours’ drive from Bangkok, Mini Siam is a world populated with tiny replicas of Thailand’s greatest architectural treasures, as well as a section dedicated to wonders around the world. After standing waist-height to the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Eiffel Tower, move on to golden pagodas, stupas and Thai cultural landmarks, including the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Buddha’s Footprint. Of particular interest is the replica of the ancient Thai city of Ayutthaya, a city now in ruin but represented in the park in all its former glory. Mini Siam is even more impressive when viewed lit up at night. If you want to view the park at night, stay at the conveniently-close Hideaway Guest House, or head back to Bangkok and check in to Aster 9 House, an oasis in this hectic city.

Le Petit-Paris, France

A reconstruction of the entire city of Paris in miniature, Le Petit-Paris was the childhood dream of a Frenchman named Gérard Brion. With nearly fifty monuments of Paris laid out precisely as in reality, this self-proclaimed ‘capital in miniature’ is an easy way to get your bearings around this sprawling city. Check out the view from the top of the steps of the mini Sacré-Cœur Basilica, see the can-can show at the tiny Moulin Rouge and follow the Seine from the Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Eiffel Tower in a matter of seconds. Amid beautiful Midi-Pyrenees countryside, and with its own outdoor pool, Chez Terrassier is a highly rated accommodation in the village of Vaissac, where Le Petit-Paris is located.