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

LEGO enthusiasts and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga are in for a treat as LEGO unveils its latest addition to the Lord of the Rings series: The Shire. Set to launch on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public, this set marks the third in a trilogy of LOTR-themed releases over the past three years, following 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

3See it at LEGO Store

The new 2,017-piece set, LEGO LOTR: The Shire, captures the essence of Hobbiton with its charmingly detailed design. Every wall is rounded or curved, and the surfaces are adorned with numerous accessories. IGN had the opportunity to test build The Shire, finding it both endearing and fitting for its subject matter. However, the set comes with a price tag that seems disproportionately high for its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

146 Images

Set #10354 brings to life Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole 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 set's design features a home built into a green-bricked hillside, with a cutaway at the back that reveals three rooms: the main foyer accessible through the round door, a study to the left, and a dining and sitting area to the right.

These rooms are built separately and then connected using clamps, creating a seamless exterior hillside and a cohesive interior living space. The set emphasizes the cozy atmosphere of Bilbo's home, featuring patterned rugs, stacks of letters from well-wishers, and food items cleverly placed throughout. Notable elements include a wedge of cheese above the fireplace and a loaf of bread and libations on the windowsill.

The set also includes artifacts from Bilbo's youthful adventures, such as the Mithril Coat in a chest by the door and a well-worn map on the table near the teapot. Additionally, there's a sword and a parasol in the umbrella stand by the door. A unique feature is the use of LEGO Technic to create a mechanical element that allows the display in the fireplace to switch between showing a charred envelope and the One Ring, referencing a key scene from The Fellowship of the Ring.

The rooms are designed to be wider than they are tall, reflecting the canonical architecture of hobbit homes and enhancing the sense of spaciousness. While the interior construction is straightforward, the exterior demands more attention to detail to achieve the natural curves and flow of the hillside. Building The Shire evokes a tactile pleasure reminiscent of running one's hand over a relief map, with multiple curved green pieces creating varied terrain.

This design choice underscores the harmonious relationship between hobbits and their environment, a theme central to the Lord of the Rings narrative. The set is crowned with a tree, its branches sprawling over the hilltop, symbolizing the enduring connection to nature.

The set also includes several freestanding elements that enhance storytelling and scene-setting, such as a birthday cake, a Party Tree with multi-colored lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage, and a group of barrels with interlocking gears that simulate Bilbo's disappearance at his party.

Overall, LEGO Shire is a simpler set compared to Rivendell and Barad-dûr, aligning with the unpretentious lifestyle of hobbits. However, the simplicity of the build contrasts sharply with its price. At $270 for 2,017 pieces, it exceeds the typical pricing metric of 10 cents per brick, making it 34% above what might be considered reasonable, despite feeling like a $200 set.

While LEGO Star Wars sets often come with a higher price due to the "Disney tax," even Jabba's Sail Barge, released in 2024 with 3,943 pieces for $500, is only 27% above the metric. Ironically, The Shire remains the most affordable option for LOTR fans who found Rivendell and Barad-dûr too costly, though those sets offer better value per brick.

The pricing of The Shire raises questions about whether LEGO's goodwill and the enduring popularity of Lord of the Rings can sustain such a pricing model. Despite its cost, the set is undeniably a beautiful homage to the world of Middle-earth.

For those interested, a LEGO mini-movie featuring this set is available for viewing:

More Movie and TV LEGO Sets

For fans looking to expand their LEGO collection, consider these popular sets inspired by movies and TV shows:

### LEGO Wednesday Addams Figure

5See it at Amazon### LEGO Super Mario King Boo's Haunted Mansion

3See it at Amazon### LEGO Wicked Welcome to Emerald City

2See it at Amazon### LEGO Disney Frozen Elsa’s Frozen Princess Castle

2See it at Amazon