Key Points
- Our choice for the #1 Best Overall Lego set is the Lego Art World Map.
- Lego sets are not only a splendid collector’s item but also a cognition-enhancing way to spend time.
- When finding the most impressive Lego sets for your leisure time, you must look at the price, build time and number of pieces, portability, and theme.
- While some Lego sets come right from the company, others are available for purchase on Amazon or eBay.
As soon as you land on the Lego website, you see an “Adults Welcome” sign. That’s your cue to take pride in your own impressive Lego sets. You’re not alone. There are millions of adult Lego fans all over the world. One such fan is Vitalii Solovev. According to the Guinness World Record, Solovev has the largest collection of interlocking plastic bricks in a private vicinity. He has collected 5,416 Lego sets in a span of 10 years.
Did this get your Lego enthusiast’s heart racing? We feel the same. Fortunately, Lego blocks have become quite accessible nowadays. You can either buy Lego sets from the company or purchase someone else’s collection on eBay and similar marketplaces. Looking for your next purchase? We’ve got you covered. After researching all of the options, here is a round-up of the most impressive Lego sets on Earth:
$397.00Buy on Amazon- More than 11,000 pieces
- Custom soundtrack
- Customize the continents
- Built-brick frame and location pins
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
12/03/2023 12:06 am GMT
$1,689.00Buy Now- Set is 4,016 pieces and stands 16 inches by 16 inches when complete
- Includes Princess Leia, Darth Vader, R2-D2, C-3PO, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, 3 Luke Skywalker figures, plus 15 more minifigures
- Build Lord Vader’s TIE Advanced
- Buildable Dianoga trash compactor monster
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
12/02/2023 09:05 pm GMT
$846.80Buy on Amazon- 9,090 pieces
- More than 53 inches long
- Three removable sections
- Interactive elements
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
12/03/2023 06:46 pm GMT
$542.99Buy on Amazon- Included shops: Daily Prophet, Weasley Wizard Wheezes, Flourish & Blotts Florean Fortescues, Quality Quidditch Supplies, Scribbus, and Olivander's wands
- Size: 29*102*13 cm
- Includes 14 minifigures
- Note: not for children under 2
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
12/02/2023 09:21 pm GMT
History Computer’s Top Picks for the Most Impressive Lego Sets
Best Overall: Lego Art World Map
- More than 11,000 pieces
- Custom soundtrack
- Customize the continents
- Built-brick frame and location pins
The Lego Art World Map eliminates the need for a passport. With 11,695 pieces, the map is 21.73 x 15.12 x 5.98 inches. You can use the same blocks to make three different maps. Want to create a travel map? Use Lego push pins to point out the places you want to travel to or have already explored.
The map also allows you to create different creatures or currents in the marine regions using patterns and colors. However, putting together thousands of pieces can be time-consuming. Lego has a fix for that, too — scan the QR code on the Lego box to listen to a custom soundtrack for your Lego-building activity.
Once you’re finished, you can display the map anywhere in your home. Since it comes with a hanging hook, it can make an excellent display piece for your living room. The only downside to this Lego set is that it will take you hours to complete. Since the blocks are pretty small, putting them together to create a map will take some time.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You can make three different maps with the same blocks. | It’s tedious and time-consuming to put together 11,000 pieces. |
| The map has colorful pins you can use to highlight important places. | |
| The QR code plays a custom soundtrack to give your background ambiance. |
Best for Star War Lovers: Star Wars Death Star 75159
- Set is 4,016 pieces and stands 16 inches by 16 inches when complete
- Includes Princess Leia, Darth Vader, R2-D2, C-3PO, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, 3 Luke Skywalker figures, plus 15 more minifigures
- Build Lord Vader’s TIE Advanced
- Buildable Dianoga trash compactor monster
The Star Wars Death Star Lego set is among the most iconic Lego sets. It has 4,016 pieces that come together to form the Death Star in all its glory. When you spin the set around, you can see all the iconic scenes of the Death Star, including Palpatine’s throne room.
Plus, you can ‘’visit’’ Leia’s detention block and even the garbage compactor. The set has a slide that goes from the detection block to the garbage compactor. Even better, you can press a button to make the walls close in.
That’s not even the best part. The set has 25 minifigures total, including Princess Leia, Han Solo, and three Luke Skywalker mini-figures. You can build everything from the TIE Advanced x1 to the battle tower to the Dianoga trash compactor monster.
The set also contains key locations included in the movies Star Wars: Episode VI, Return of the Jedi, and Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope. You also get all your favorite characters as miniatures. The set needs considerable space in your room at 16 inches high and 16 inches wide. Also, the thousands of pieces will take hours to put together. Luckily, you get an instructions manual with the set, which is ring-bound, making it easy to look through.
The downside? You won’t enjoy the set too much unless you’re a big Star Wars fan. Plus, the set isn’t easily movable, so you should build it where you want to place it later.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It has a number of major scenes from the original Star Wars trilogy. | It is heavy and difficult to move to a new location once built. |
| All scenes are very well-represented. | |
| The set comes with miniature figurines of all the main characters. |
Best for Home Decor: Lego Titanic
- 9,090 pieces
- More than 53 inches long
- Three removable sections
- Interactive elements
You might not have a French girl to draw, but you can surely draw everyone’s attention with this fantastic Lego Titanic set. In terms of size, it’s the third largest Lego set in the world with 9,090 pieces. Also, it’s a 1:200 scale model of the original Titanic. That’s something you can tell your guests during parties and other gatherings.
The set is divided into three sections so the viewer can easily see all the intricate details. You can view everything from the smoking lounge and grand staircase to the boiler room. The whole structure is as close to the original as possible, so you can build the swimming pool, bridge, lifeboats, cabins, dining room, and promenade deck, with Celine Dion serenading you in the background if you like.
What makes the process even more interesting is that the set has active propellers. You can turn them on to make the piston engines turn. Similarly, the mast tension lines also adjust themselves with the press of a button.
We selected this set as the best set for home decor because it comes with a nameplate and a stand. So you don’t have to worry about hanging the ship on the wall. Just place it on your coffee table, and it will be a great conversation starter. Do note that the model is 53 inches long so you must have enough space wherever you want to display it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It allows you to view the whole interior, thanks to sectioning. | It takes up a lot of space. |
| The ship has active components, such as the mast tension line and engine propellers. | |
| The stand and name plate makes it perfect for displaying anywhere in the house. |
Best for Harry Potter Fans: Lego Harry Potter Diagon Alley 75978
- Included shops: Daily Prophet, Weasley Wizard Wheezes, Flourish & Blotts Florean Fortescues, Quality Quidditch Supplies, Scribbus, and Olivander's wands
- Size: 29*102*13 cm
- Includes 14 minifigures
- Note: not for children under 2
The Diagon Alley set is one of the most impressive Lego sets for the Harry Potter fan. It takes you through the magical world of Harry Potter, closely following the book.
The set includes all major Diagon Alley stores, including Scribbulus Writing Implements, Quality Quidditch Supplies, Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor, the Daily Prophet entrance, Ollivander’s Wand Shop, Flourish & Blotts bookseller, and Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.
It measures 11 inches tall, 40 inches wide, and 5 inches deep. As for the bricks and other structures, they are true to detail and will make you feel as if they were procured right out of the movie.
Just like in the movie, you can tap the Leaky Cauldron pub’s brick wall to enter Diagon Alley. Aside from the structural details, the set has 14 mini figurines, including Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Hagrid, and more. We must warn you that putting together this set may be a headache if you’re unfamiliar with Harry Potter books and movies.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The set contains all the major shops and stores from the original movie. | It won’t be interesting or easy to build for people who are not into Harry Potter. |
| It has 14 figurines of the main characters. | |
| The structural details are similar to the movie and book descriptions. |
Best for Soccer Fans: Lego Real Madrid – Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
- 5,876 piece set
- Released for the teams' 120th anniversary
- LEGO Icons collection
- Removable roof
The Lego Real Madrid stadium set is the way to score a win with your brilliant collection. It includes 5,876 pieces you can put together to form one of the most iconic stadiums in the world.
The set captures authentic details of the stadium, allowing fans to reminisce about the memories and moments from their favorite games. It includes everything from the tunnel and dugout to the ticket office and the team bus. You can also build the stairways and scoreboards to make the set as realistic as possible.
The model can also be split in half so that you can see the inside. Since the set was released to commemorate the stadium’s 75th and the team’s 120th anniversary, it makes an excellent gift for Real Madrid fans. The set has a ton of small pieces so be careful not to lose any when putting it together. Also, there are no player figurines.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The set includes all intricate details, such as the team’s bus and posters on the stadium walls. | The set does not have players’ figurines. |
| It makes a good gift for football or Real Madrid fans. |
How to Pick the Most Impressive Lego Sets: Step by Step
When looking for the best Lego sets, here are some things to consider:
- Price
- Build Time and Pieces
- Portability
- Theme
Price
Lego sets can be quite expensive, with the Lego Star Wars Death Star priced at $1,499.99 and the Titanic set priced at around $850. The more extensive and intricate the set, the more expensive it is. You can offset some costs by buying pre-loved sets. However, they may be missing some pieces or they may have broken components.
Build Time and Number of Pieces
The largest Lego sets have thousands of pieces and take hours to build. According to some reviews we read on Amazon, people took 11 hours or more to put together the Lego Star Wars and Diagon Alley sets. Sets with more pieces will take longer to complete, but they’re also more fun.
Portability
Most Lego sets are not very portable. So, you should build them where you plan to keep them long term. Some sets, like the Real Madrid Stadium and the Titanic, are more portable because they have stable bases. Sets with multiple sections, like the Diagon Alley, are also easier to move around.
Theme
Most people choose Lego sets based on the theme. For instance, if you’re into Star Wars, the Lego Death Star should be your pick. If you want a display piece, the Titanic should be on your must-buy list. Similarly, sports fans will love the Real Madrid Stadium set, while those who love to travel would appreciate the World Map.
What to Know Before Buying the Most Impressive Lego Sets
Many people think Legos are for kids, but that’s only true for larger-sized blocks. The Lego sets in our guide are for adults since the small pieces can be choking hazards for kids.
Second, follow the instructions if you don’t want to pull your hair out while putting together thousands of pieces. Most sets come with detailed instruction guides. You can also find tutorials on YouTube.
Using the Most Impressive Lego Sets: What It’s Like
There’s a lot you can do with your Lego sets. You can have fun building them with friends and family. Once the Lego set is built, you can display it in your home. So, Lego sets can serve multiple purposes, from providing a fun leisure activity to amping up your home decor, or even serving as the perfect gift.
Summary Table
| Set | Highlights | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Lego Art World Map | Three different maps, colorful pins, custom soundtrack | Tedious and time-consuming |
| Star Wars Death Star 75159 | Iconic scenes, 25 minifigures, detailed instructions | Heavy, difficult to move, best for Star Wars fans |
| Lego Titanic | Interior view, active components, stand and nameplate | Takes up a lot of space |
| Lego Harry Potter Diagon Alley 75978 | All major shops, 14 figurines, true to movie details | Not interesting for non-Harry Potter fans |
| Lego Real Madrid â Santiago Bernabéu Stadium | Intricate details, good gift for soccer fans | No player figurines |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Fernando Dias Fotografia/Shutterstock.com.
