LEGO Lord of the Rings: Building The Shire, Epic Quest Begins

LEGO enthusiasts and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga have something exciting to look forward to with the upcoming release of The Lord of the Rings: The Shire set. Scheduled for release on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public, this set marks the third installment in the LEGO Lord of the Rings series within the last three years. It follows the impressive launches of the 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the 5,471-piece Barad-dûr in 2024.

Out April 5### LEGO LOTR: The Shire, the Beginning of an Epic Quest

Comprising 2,017 pieces, The Shire set intricately recreates Bilbo Baggins' beloved hobbit-hole, capturing the charm and coziness of his home with rounded walls, curved surfaces, and an abundance of accessories. IGN had the opportunity to test-build the set and found it delightfully charming, though noted that it comes with a disproportionately high price for its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

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Designated as Set #10354, this set portrays Bilbo's home on his "eleventy-first" birthday, complete with nine minifigures: Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey. The hobbit-hole, nestled into a green-bricked hillside, offers a cutaway view into three distinct rooms: the main foyer, a study, and a dining and sitting area, all connected seamlessly through the use of clamps. The interior design emphasizes the home's warmth with patterned rugs, letters from well-wishers, and food scattered throughout, including a wedge of cheese above the fireplace and a loaf of bread on the windowsill.

The set also includes artifacts from Bilbo's adventures, such as the Mithril Coat in a chest by the door, a map on the table, and a sword in the umbrella stand. A unique LEGO Technic feature allows users to turn a knob and switch the fireplace display between a charred envelope and the One Ring, referencing a key scene from The Fellowship of the Ring.

The rooms' design, wider than tall, reflects the hobbits' living spaces and creates a sense of openness. While the interior construction is straightforward, the exterior requires more attention to detail to achieve the natural flow of the hillside with its varied curves and slopes, offering a tactile experience reminiscent of running hands over a relief map.

The set also includes several standalone elements that enhance its connection to the films, such as a birthday cake, a Party Tree with lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage, and a mechanism to make Bilbo "disappear" using interlocking gears.

Despite its charm, the LEGO Shire set's simplicity contrasts with its price. At $270 for 2,017 pieces, it exceeds the traditional 10 cents per brick metric by 34%, making it feel more like a $200 set. This pricing is notably higher than other licensed sets like the LEGO Star Wars Jabba's Sail Barge, which, despite being larger and more complex, is only 27% above the standard metric.

While the LEGO Shire remains the most affordable option among the recent Lord of the Rings sets, its per-brick cost is higher than that of Rivendell and Barad-dûr. The question remains whether LEGO's reputation and the enduring appeal of Lord of the Rings can sustain this pricing. Regardless, the set's visual appeal is undeniable.

For those interested, a LEGO mini-movie featuring this set is also available to watch:

LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Shire, Set #10354, retails for $269.99 and is composed of 2,017 pieces. It will be available at the LEGO Store starting on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and on April 5 for the general public.