Our final day on the Isle of Wight was spent in one of its most charming villages. We caught a taxi up to the Old Smithy Car Park in Godshill, where we met Alan, Pauline, and Jane—another Friendship Force member whom Aunt Jane had spent time with during her visit to the Isle of Wight last November. It was wonderful to see everyone again before continuing on to London.
Together we visited the delightful Godshill Model Village, one of the Isle of Wight’s most beloved attractions. Opened in 1952, the model village is a remarkably detailed 1:10 scale replica of Godshill and nearby Shanklin as they appeared in the 1920s and 1930s. Built by local craftsmen, the miniature village has continued to grow over the decades, with new buildings and scenes added as the real villages have changed. Every tiny cottage, church, garden, shop, and winding lane has been recreated with incredible attention to detail.
One of the things I appreciated most was the thoughtful design of the gardens. As you wandered from one section to another, carefully trimmed hedges, miniature trees, and flowering shrubs separated each area so you couldn’t immediately see the next scene. It made every turn feel like discovering something new. Tiny people, horses, vintage automobiles, shops, and homes brought the village to life, and Alan, Pauline, and Jane shared stories about many of the real buildings, local traditions, and games represented throughout the displays. Their stories added so much meaning to what we were seeing.
Alan and Pauline had told us the night before that the artist hired to make the caricatures of the people needed to stop being so accurate with the people and start making them a little less recognizable. No matter, she did an excellent job.
Perhaps the most entertaining surprise was discovering that inside the Model Village is… another Model Village! The designers have recreated the attraction itself in miniature, complete with tiny visitors looking at an even tinier version of the village. It’s a clever bit of humor that perfectly matches the whimsical spirit of the attraction.
After exploring, we enjoyed lunch together before strolling through the village of Godshill itself. The village is known for its picturesque cottages with traditional thatched roofs, many dating back several hundred years. I hadn’t expected to see so many thatched cottages, and they quickly became one of my favorite sights. Their thick straw roofs, colorful gardens, and winding lanes made it feel like stepping into the pages of a storybook.
Later that afternoon, Alan and Pauline drove us back to Cowes. After several busy days of sightseeing, the quiet evening was exactly what we needed. Kiya quickly curled up on the couch and fell asleep, Mom settled in with a good book, and I took one last walk around the waterfront, soaking in the atmosphere of this charming seaside town. As I wandered through the harbor one final time, I reflected on the incredible kindness and hospitality Alan, Pauline, and their friends had shown us during our stay.
That evening we packed our suitcases and prepared for the next chapter of our adventure—London.
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