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LEGO Lord of the Rings: Shire Marks Start of Epic Quest

Author : Benjamin

Apr 02,2025

LEGO enthusiasts and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga have a new treasure to look forward to: The Lord of the Rings: The Shire set, launching on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public. This marks the third Lord of the Rings set released by LEGO in the past three years, following the impressive 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the towering 5,471-piece Barad-dûr in 2024.

LEGO LOTR: The Shire, the Beginning of an Epic Quest

The new 2,017-piece rendition of The Shire is a delightful homage to the cozy and charming world of the hobbits. Every aspect of this set, from the rounded and curved walls to the meticulously detailed surfaces brimming with accessories, captures the essence of Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole. LEGO provided IGN with a copy of The Shire for a hands-on test build, which confirmed its charm but also highlighted its disproportionately high price compared to its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

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Set #10354 vividly brings to life Bilbo Baggins' home as seen during his “eleventy-first” birthday celebration. 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, nestled into a green-bricked hillside, features a cutaway back that reveals three distinct rooms: the main foyer accessible through the iconic round door, a cozy study to the left, and a combined dining and sitting area to the right.

These rooms are constructed separately and then connected using clamps, creating a seamless exterior hillside and an inviting interior living space. The set emphasizes the warmth and homeliness of Bilbo's residence, complete with various patterned rugs, letters from well-wishers, and an abundance of food, including a wedge of cheese above the fireplace and a loaf of bread on the windowsill.

The Shire set is also rich with artifacts from Bilbo's youthful adventures. Inside the large chest by the door, you'll find the Mithril Coat, a gift to Frodo before his journey to Mordor. A well-worn map, pivotal to Thorin and Company's quest to the Lonely Mountain, adorns a table near the teapot. An umbrella stand by the door holds a sword and a parasol.

The set includes a single mechanical feature, utilizing LEGO Technic, which allows you to switch the fireplace display between a charred envelope and the One Ring, a nod to the iconic scene from The Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf reveals the Ring's markings to Frodo.

The rooms' design, wider than they are tall, mirrors the canonical hobbit architecture and creates an impression of spaciousness. Building the interiors is straightforward, requiring no advanced techniques, whereas the exterior demands more attention to achieve the flowing, natural curves of the hillside. The tactile experience of assembling the set evokes the feeling of running a hand over a relief map, with its varied terrain of shallow and steep slopes.

This set effectively conveys the harmony between hobbits and their environment, a theme central to Tolkien's work. Bag End is adorned with a tree whose gnarled branches drape over the hilltop, enhancing the set's natural aesthetic.

Several standalone exterior elements tie into the films' events and are perfect for scene staging. These include a birthday cake, a Party Tree with colorful lanterns, a patterned tent (famously blown sky-high by Merry and Pippin in the movie), a red dragon firework, and Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage. The set also features adjustable leg pieces for Frodo and Gandalf to switch between standing and sitting positions, allowing them to ride in the carriage.

Lastly, a group of barrels with interlocking gears allows for a fun "disappearing" Bilbo effect, reminiscent of his dramatic exit at the end of his birthday party.

Overall, the LEGO Shire set is simpler than its predecessors, Rivendell and Barad-dûr, reflecting the humble and straightforward nature of hobbit life. While the set's construction is not overly complex, its price tag suggests a grander build. Traditionally, a reasonable price is estimated at 10 cents per brick. Barad-dûr, at 5,147 pieces, costs $460, which is 16% below this metric, while Rivendell, with 6,167 pieces, costs $500, 19% below. In contrast, The Shire, with 2,017 pieces, costs $270, which is 34% above the standard metric, feeling more like a $200 set.

Even LEGO Star Wars sets, often subject to the "Disney tax," don't deviate this far from the pricing norm. For instance, Jabba's Sail Barge, released in 2024 with 3,943 pieces, costs $500, which is only 27% above the metric.

Ironically, The Shire remains the most affordable option for Lord of the Rings fans unable to justify the cost of Rivendell or Barad-dûr. However, those sets offer better value per brick compared to The Shire.

One might argue that evaluating price solely based on piece count is oversimplified, as pricing can reflect customer demand and willingness to pay. Whether LEGO's goodwill and the enduring love for Lord of the Rings can sustain this pricing remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the set is undeniably beautiful.

Don't miss the LEGO mini-movie showcasing this set:

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