1-g small scale model tests on batter pile groups embedded in soft clay were carried out in a specially designed large test-chamber. The static and cyclic lateral responses were investigated for 1 × 2 batter pile groups with different configurations: Batter-Vertical (BV), Vertical-Batter (VB) and Both- Batter (BB). The effect of center to center pile spacing, number of cycles of loading on the load-deflection and bending moment behaviour of the pile groups were studied. It was observed that under static loading VB configuration has higher lateral capacity at smaller pile spacing, whereas BV configuration has higher capacity at larger spacing. Under cyclic loading, VB configuration showed smaller percentage reduction in the ultimate capacity in comparison to other configurations. 3D Finite Element analysis was carried out using ANSYS and the estimated static ultimate resistance is found to match well with the experimental findings for BV and VB pile. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, London.