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

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

Author : Grace May 02,2025

LEGO enthusiasts and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga will be thrilled to know that LEGO will release The Lord of the Rings: The Shire on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and on April 5 for the general public. This latest addition marks the third LEGO Lord of the Rings set released in the last three years, following the 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 Store

The new 2,017-piece set, The Shire, captures the essence of the beloved hobbit-hole with remarkable detail. Every wall is meticulously crafted with rounded or curved designs, and 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, which confirmed its charm and fitting representation of the subject matter. However, it's worth noting that the set is also disproportionately expensive for its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

146 Images

Set #10354 beautifully recreates Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole as seen on his “eleventy-first” birthday. The set comes with nine minifigures, including Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey. The home, nestled into a green-bricked hillside, features a cutaway at the back, allowing a glimpse into 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 with clamps, ensuring a seamless exterior hillside while maintaining a continuous interior living space. The designers have emphasized the home's cozy feel with varied patterned rugs, letters from well-wishers scattered around, and food tucked into every nook and cranny. Notable details include a wedge of cheese above the fireplace and a loaf of bread with libations on the windowsill.

The set is also rich with artifacts from Bilbo's youthful adventures. A large chest by the door holds the Mithril Coat, which Bilbo later gifts to Frodo before his perilous journey to Mordor. A well-worn map, pivotal to Thorin and Company's quest to the Lonely Mountain, rests near a teapot on a table. An umbrella stand by the door contains a sword and a parasol.

The house features a single mechanical element that uses LEGO Technic to allow users to switch the fireplace display between a charred envelope and the One Ring, referencing the iconic scene from The Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf reveals the Ring's true nature to Frodo.

The rooms' design, wider than they are tall, reflects the canonical hobbit-hole architecture and creates a sense of expansive, open space. The interior construction is straightforward, but the exterior requires meticulous attention to achieve the natural curves and accurate placement of pieces.

Building The Shire evokes a tactile pleasure similar to running one's hand over an Earth globe, feeling the terrain's relief. Multiple curved green pieces are used to craft a natural, flowing hillside that varies in steepness and erosion, echoing the hobbits' deep connection to their environment. Bag End is topped with a tree, its gnarled branches sprawling over the hilltop.

Several standalone exterior elements enhance the set's playability and scene-setting potential. These include a birthday cake, a Party Tree adorned with multi-colored lanterns, a patterned tent (infamous for being blown up by Merry and Pippin in the film), a red dragon firework that appears to fly when attached to a clear piece, and Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage. The set allows for switching Frodo and Gandalf's legs between standing and sitting positions to accommodate riding in the carriage.

A clever feature is the group of barrels rigged to interlocking gears, allowing Bilbo to "disappear" at the turn of a dial, mimicking his dramatic exit at his birthday party.

Overall, LEGO Shire is a simpler set compared to the grandeur of LEGO Rivendell and LEGO Barad-dûr. The simplicity aligns well with the unassuming nature of hobbit life, and it's refreshing to see LEGO offering sets that don't require an extensive piece count or complex building techniques. However, the set's price of $270 for 2,017 pieces is significantly above the standard metric of 10 cents per brick. This makes it feel more like a $200 set, despite its charm and detail.

Even compared to LEGO Star Wars sets, which are known for their higher prices due to the "Disney tax," The Shire's pricing seems disproportionate. For instance, Jabba's Sail Barge, released in 2024, has 3,943 pieces and costs $500, which is 27% above the standard metric but still offers better value per piece than The Shire.

Ironically, this set 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 per-brick value. While piece count alone might not fully justify pricing, it's clear that LEGO's goodwill and the beloved nature of the Lord of the Rings franchise will determine if this pricing strategy is sustainable. Despite the price, the set's aesthetic appeal remains undeniable.

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

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