LEGO is set to launch The Lord of the Rings: The Shire on April 2 for LEGO Insiders, with general availability starting April 5. This marks the third LOTR-themed set in three years, following the 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the 5,471-piece Barad-dûr in 2024.
Available April 5
LEGO LOTR: The Shire – Where Adventures Begin
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This 2,017-piece Shire set features exquisite detailing, with rounded walls and surfaces adorned with accessories. After building a review copy provided by LEGO, we found it charming yet surprisingly expensive relative to its piece count.
Building the LEGO LOTR Shire
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Set #10354 recreates Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole during his eleventy-first birthday celebration. The collection includes nine minifigures: Bilbo, Frodo, the Proudfoots, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf. The hillside dwelling features an open-back design revealing three rooms: a main foyer entered through the iconic round door, a left study, and a right dining area.
Assembled separately then connected via clamps, these sections form cohesive hillside architecture with internally continuous living spaces. Designers prioritized coziness through patterned rugs, scattered letters, and food props – from cheese above the fireplace to bread on windowsills.
The set brims with references to Bilbo's adventures. The Mithril Coat awaits in a chest near the door, while Thorin's well-worn map rests beside a teapot. A sword shares the umbrella stand with a hobbit's parasol.
A clever LEGO Technic mechanism animates the fireplace – rotating a knob alternates between displaying a charred envelope and the One Ring, recreating Fellowship's pivotal moment when Gandalf reveals the Ring's inscription.
The broad, low-ceilinged interiors match hobbit proportions, using straightforward construction techniques. Exteriors demand more precision with their organic curves and slopes.
Building the undulating hillside proved unexpectedly tactile – layered curved green pieces create terrain variations that echo Middle-earth's immersive geography. The crowning touch is Bag End's gnarled tree spreading across the hilltop.
Freestanding elements enhance play value: a Party Tree with lanterns, a fireworks-launching dragon, Gandalf's carriage, and gear-operated barrels that make Bilbo "disappear" as in the film.
Compared to previous LOTR sets, The Shire offers simpler construction fitting hobbit aesthetics. However, its $270 price tag for 2,017 pieces (34% above the standard $0.10-per-brick metric) feels steep despite its charm.
While still the most affordable LOTR collector's set, The Shire's value-per-brick compares unfavorably to Rivendell (19% below standard pricing) and Barad-dûr (16% below). Even LEGO Star Wars' "Disney tax" doesn't explain this premium – Jabba's Sail Barge charged only 27% above the metric for nearly double the pieces.
Ironically, this remains the most accessible LOTR set for fans who found Rivendell or Barad-dûr unaffordable. Ultimately, pricing reflects market demand rather than production costs. Whether LEGO's craftsmanship and Middle-earth's enduring appeal justify the premium remains to be seen.
Don't miss LEGO's accompanying mini-movie for this set:
LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Shire (Set #10354) includes 2,017 pieces for $269.99. LEGO Insiders gain early access starting April 2, with general sales beginning April 5.
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