Neil Scallan's hobby started innocently enough. The Englishman was on a holiday more than a decade ago when he decided to forgo the usual keepsakes such as a tea towel or a fridge magnet and bought a souvenir edition of Monopoly instead.

Eleven years and 1,999 Monopoly sets later, Scallan freely admits his harmless hobby has grown into an obsession.

Neil Scallan holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Monopoly editions.

The 48-year-old service manager with logistics company DHL is on his way to Australia where he will collect his 2000th edition, BridgeClimb Monopoly, on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Thursday.

"It is one of the most iconic structures in the world," Mr Scallan said from his Sussex home. "Where else, after 11 years of collecting, would I want to get my 2000th set?"