LEGO enthusiasts and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga will be thrilled to know that the new LEGO Lord of the Rings set, The Shire, is set to launch on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public. This release marks the third Lord of the Rings set in as many years, following the highly detailed 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the imposing 5,471-piece Barad-dûr in 2024. Priced at $269.99 for 2,017 pieces, The Shire offers a charming yet disproportionately expensive addition to the LEGO LOTR collection.

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3See it at LEGO StoreThe new 2,017-piece set brings the cozy world of the Shire to life with meticulous attention to detail. Every wall in the set is curved, and the surfaces are adorned with numerous accessories, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. LEGO provided IGN with a copy of The Shire for a test build, and while it captures the essence of Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole beautifully, its price point raises eyebrows given the piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

146 ImagesSet #10354 recreates Bilbo Baggins' home, showcasing it on his "eleventy-first" birthday. This set includes nine minifigures, including Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey. The hobbit-hole is built into a green-bricked hillside and features three distinct rooms: the main foyer accessible through the iconic round door, a study to the left, and a dining and sitting area to the right.

The construction process involves building these rooms separately and then connecting them with clamps, ensuring a seamless hillside exterior and a cohesive interior living space. The set captures the coziness of Bilbo's home with various patterned rugs, letters from well-wishers, and food items scattered throughout. Notable details include a wedge of cheese above the fireplace, a loaf of bread, and libations on the windowsill.

Artifacts from Bilbo's adventures, such as the Mithril Coat in a chest by the door and a well-worn map on a table, add depth to the set. A sword and a parasol are also displayed in the umbrella stand near the entrance.

The set features a single mechanical element using LEGO Technic that allows you to switch the fireplace display between a charred envelope and the One Ring, referencing a key scene from The Fellowship of the Ring.

While the interiors are straightforward to build, the exterior requires more attention to detail, particularly in creating the flowing curves of the hillside using multiple curved green pieces. This tactile experience evokes the natural terrain of the Shire, with varying slopes and contours.

Additional exterior elements enhance the set's storytelling potential, including a birthday cake, a Party Tree with lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage, and a group of barrels rigged to interlocking gears for Bilbo's disappearing act.

Despite its charm, The Shire is a relatively simple build compared to Rivendell and Barad-dûr, reflecting the unpretentious nature of hobbit life. However, its pricing at $270 is 34% above the traditional 10 cents per brick metric, making it feel like a $200 set. This price disparity is notable, especially when compared to other licensed sets like the LEGO Star Wars sets, which often carry a "Disney tax."

Despite the high cost, The Shire remains the most affordable option for Lord of the Rings fans who found Rivendell and Barad-dûr out of their budget. Whether the pricing reflects sustainable demand remains to be seen, but the set's aesthetic appeal is undeniable.

In case you missed it, also take a look at the LEGO mini-movie of this set:

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