LEGO Lord of the Rings: Shire Marks Epic Quest Start

LEGO enthusiasts and Lord of the Rings fans alike are in for a treat with the upcoming release of LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Shire, set to hit the shelves on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public. This new set marks the third entry in the LEGO Lord of the Rings series within the last three years, following the impressive 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 StoreThe 2,017-piece Shire set is a detailed model of Bilbo Baggins' iconic hobbit-hole, designed to capture the charm and warmth of the beloved setting from J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece. IGN had the opportunity to test-build the set, and while it perfectly encapsulates the cozy and rustic feel of The Shire, its price point raises eyebrows given its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

146 ImagesSet #10354 showcases 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 model features a cutaway design that reveals three distinct rooms: the main foyer with its iconic round door, a study, and a combined dining and sitting area. These rooms are constructed separately and then connected via clamps, creating a seamless hillside exterior and a cohesive interior space filled with cozy details such as patterned rugs, letters, and various food items.

Bilbo's home is not just a place of comfort but also a repository of his past adventures. The set includes the Mithril Coat and a well-worn map from his travels, alongside other artifacts like a sword and a parasol. A notable feature is the use of LEGO Technic for a mechanical element that allows you to switch the fireplace display between a charred envelope and the One Ring, echoing a key scene from The Fellowship of the Ring.

Building the interior is straightforward, focusing on the wide, open spaces typical of hobbit architecture. However, the exterior demands more attention to detail, particularly in achieving the natural curves of the hillside using multiple curved green pieces. This tactile experience evokes the sense of hobbits being part of their environment, a theme central to Tolkien's work.

Additional elements enhance the set's storytelling potential, including a birthday cake, a Party Tree with lanterns, a tent, a red dragon firework, Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage, and a barrel mechanism that can make Bilbo "disappear" just as he did at his party.

Despite its simplicity compared to Rivendell and Barad-dûr, the LEGO Shire set carries a high price tag. Priced 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. While LEGO Star Wars sets often carry a "Disney tax," this pricing for The Shire seems disproportionate, even when compared to other licensed sets like Jabba's Sail Barge.

Interestingly, despite its cost, The Shire remains the most affordable option for Lord of the Rings fans compared to the larger Rivendell and Barad-dûr sets. Whether this pricing strategy will hold up may depend on the goodwill LEGO has built and the enduring popularity of the Lord of the Rings franchise.

For a visual treat, don't miss the LEGO mini-movie of this set:

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