Hands-On with LEGO’s The Lord of the Rings: The Shire Set

We sent the new LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire set to our in-house LEGO expert and let them dive into the 2,017-piece build. Their verdict? “It’s awesome!” And honestly, we agree.

A Cozy Build Packed with Detail

From the moment you open the box, this set feels special. It brings Hobbiton to life like never before in LEGO form—starting with the round green door of Bag End and stretching across a beautifully crafted hill, Bilbo’s book nook, and even the iconic Party Tree.

If you watched these LOTR movies during the early 2000s, this set will bring back some memories. The Fellowship of the Ring from 2001 is where we first saw the Shire in detail. The movie opens with Bilbo Baggins’ birthday party and life in Hobbiton. It sets the peaceful tone of the hobbits’ world before Frodo begins his journey.

“I loved building the inside of Bilbo’s house,” our young reviewer said. “There are books, a pantry, a fireplace, and even a writing desk!” The attention to detail is impressive—even for an adult collector. Everything feels warm and familiar, much like the Shire itself.

Cool Hidden Features

This isn’t just a static display piece. There are interactive elements sprinkled throughout the build that add an extra layer of fun.

For example:

• A secret compartment reveals the One Ring tucked inside a transforming letter.
• Bilbo can disappear using a clever flip mechanism that mimics his vanishing act from the film.
• Merry and Pippin’s heads can be swapped to act out the famous dragon firework gag.

Our junior reviewer spent a good chunk of time playing with these features and re-creating scenes. “The firework dragon is my favourite!” they said.

A Celebration in Brick Form

This set also includes a full buildable Party Tree and birthday pavilion with hanging lanterns and festive banners—perfect for acting out Bilbo’s 111th birthday party. The addition of nine minifigures (including Gandalf, Frodo, Sam, Rosie, and the Proudfoots) and Gandalf’s horse and cart gives kids and collectors alike plenty of characters to build stories around.

Final Thoughts

At $349.99 CAD, the set is definitely an expensive set, but for fans of The Lord of the Rings, it’s worth every coin. Whether you’re building as a family or setting it up as a display piece, it offers a blend of fun, storytelling, and craftsmanship.

“It was like building a movie,” our elementary-school builder said with a grin.

Want to complete your collection? LEGO has two other huge sets, the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set and the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr set.

The LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire launched in Canada at the beginning of April and is exclusively on Lego.ca and LEGO stores.