TOY SOLDIER MUSEUMS

Three wonderful collections of toy soldiers are prominently displayed in some very interesting venues in the UK. The British Model Soldier Society (BMSS) has their collection split into the first two locations below:

Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, is the birthplace of one of the greatest statesman of all time, Winston Churchill, whose strategies during World War II helped shape our world today. In addition to getting a glimpse into Winston's family heritage at this most opulent palace, you have an opportunity to view on display part of the BMSS collection. Mr. Churchill was an avid collector and ultimately had amassed nearly 1,500 pieces which are on display.

Hatfield House is a historic residence once occupied by Queen Elizabeth I and is now the home of the Marquess of Salisbury. A very interesting toy soldier museum (also part of the BMSS collection) is housed in one of the many buildings on the property. Here you can view a wide range of soldiers by various manufacturers. Several are assembled for battle and for palace review.

Houghton Hall, home of Britain's first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, is one of the grandest Palladian houses in England. It is also home to the unique Cholmondely Soldier Museum featuring over 20,000 model soldiers, one of the most important collections in the world. It is an interesting and diverse collection with spectacular Napleonic battle scenes and a selection of individual models.