World’s largest miniature attraction set to open in an unexpected area of London
A new immersive experiential attraction is set to replace former retail units on London’s Oxford Street.
The new attraction, which is set to replicate a ‘miniature indoor world’, is set to take up 50 metres of frontage of Oxford Street in a former New Look store site between Bond Street and Marble Arch.
While the arrival of the attraction, which has been proposed by developers Pocket Planet, detracts from the street as a retail-focused hub, it could boost footfall to the remaining retailers in the neighbourhood given its likely appeal.
Pocket Planet CEO, Mark Vlassopulos called the space ‘incredible…occupying a tourism hotspot of the UK.’
The space will feature large-scale models of UK landmarks – or ‘miniverses’ – and will include moving planes, trains, vehicles, and boats. The development will also have a retail space and café opening in Spring 2024 with the full attraction due to open in early 2025.
Mark Brodermann, chief operating officer of Pocket Planet, said: ‘Over the last five years we’ve looked at all the world’s leading miniature attractions, such as Small Worlds in Tokyo and Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg.
‘The team we’ve put together draws on the best of breed in leisure interior design and some of the greatest modellers in the world. Oxford Street is expected to have up to 200 million pedestrians per year walking right past our door. As a high-volume and affordable ticket price attraction, the miniature world concepts works very well.
‘It has a relatively low operating cost, and a very metronomic and steady flow of income from ticket sales.’
News of the new attraction opening has come after Oxford Street was awarded retail funding to help continue with the location’s revitalisation. Up to £100m is expected to be invested in the key shopping street by the end of the year.
In addition, Westminster City Council launched a £10m scheme to rid Oxford Street of its ‘candy stores’ and replace them with fledging businesses paying discounted rents and businesses rates.
Image: Johen Redman