UK mini friends, this one’s for you. Below is a no-nonsense list of places I (and lots of mini folks) use for houses, furniture, lights, kits, landscaping, and bargain hunting; plus the best fairs to meet makers in person. If you have a favourite shop or seller, please add it at the end (format at the bottom makes it easy).
Big one-stop UK shops (fast shipping, huge choice)
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Minimum World – massive range across 1:12/1:24/1:48, frequent sales and quick dispatch. minimumworld.com
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Dolls House Emporium – houses, furniture, lighting; free UK delivery over a threshold and same-day dispatch cut-offs. dollshouse.com
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Melody Jane Dolls Houses – very broad catalog, regular offers, reward club. melodyjane.com
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Dollshouse Mania – big stockist (claims 12k+ items) and a physical store if you’re nearby. dollshousemania.co.uk
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Hobbies (hobbies.co.uk) – carries multiple brands, houses, tools, plus scenic materials. hobbies.co.uk
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Dolls House Direct – UK manufacturer/retailer for kits and parts, also active on Etsy/eBay. dollshousedirect.co.uk
Specialist UK makers & kits (great for less common scales)
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Petite Properties – brilliant laser-cut kits; especially strong in 1:24 and 1:48 (and smaller). petitepropertiesltd.com
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Jane Harrop – classic, clean kit designs in 1:12 / 1:24 / 1:48. Jane Harrop
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Phoenix Model Developments – white-metal/pewter kits and accessories (historical to everyday). phoenixmodeldevelopments.com
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Shepherd Miniatures – long-running family makers; broad handmade range, free UK shipping over a threshold. shepherdminiatures.com
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Templewood Miniatures – UK-designed laser-cut flower kits and tools. Miniatura - A whole world of miniatures
Second-hand & bargains (great for fixer-uppers)
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eBay UK – vintage/modern minis, parts, and full houses—set alerts for your scale and era.
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Facebook Marketplace – local pick-ups for houses and job lots; search your city.
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Charity shops online (Oxfam Online Shop) – occasional furniture/sets pop up.
Fairs & shows (shop in person + meet makers)
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Kensington Dollshouse Festival (London) – summer & Christmas editions; there’s also an Online Showcase (next one runs Aug 29–Sept 4, 2025). dollshouseshowcase.com
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Miniatura (NAEC Stoneleigh, near Coventry) – big biannual show; next dates Sept 13–14, 2025. Miniatura - A whole world of miniatures
Quick tips before you buy
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Check the scale (1:12 vs 1:24 vs 1:48) on every product page—brands often make the same item in multiple scales.
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Compare prices across a couple of the big shops—some kits and accessories appear under different brand names or bundles.
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Lighting: confirm voltage/connector type (traditional 12V vs LED systems) and whether transformers are included.
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Returns & delivery: many UK shops offer free delivery over a threshold—worth combining orders.
Your turn—add your favourite UK sources!
Please copy/paste this mini-template in a reply:
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Shop name + link:
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What they’re great for: (e.g., 1:48 kits, modern 1:12 furniture, wiring parts…)
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Scales they stock:
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Shipping experience: (how fast? packaging? returns?)
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One thing you bought and loved:
Let’s build a solid UK buyer’s list together. If you’ve had standout service (or a cautionary tale), that helps everyone too!
Happy crafting!
Lizzy
