The LEGO 21006 Architecture White House is our best Lego set and it is based from the White House design by George Washington (James Hoban design). When it comes to the size, the whole Lego set White House stands at a height of 9 inches. This highly detailed Lego set is ideal for ages 12 and above. This set has a total of 560 Lego pieces to connect and enjoy. It is a marvelous total replica of the White House in Lego form with great architectural details.
Our step-up pick is the LEGO 10218 Creator Pet Shop and this Lego set is ideal for those who want a lot of amenities in their Lego set. And moreover, this fully-detailed 3-story pet shop has a total of 2,032 Lego pieces. It also has a cute little kitchenette in which is equipped with a small table, a chair, a coffee maker, a sink, a stove and a stone fireplace. The pet shop has a ton of pet animals including a dog, a parrot, a cat and a goldfish in a fish tank. It comes with four mini-figures such as a girl on bicycle, painter with paint roller, pet shop owner and a woman. The whole thing measures 10 by 10.5 inches and can be combined with other Lego buildings such as Grand Emporium and Fire Brigade. The ground floor also has a couch, a hat rack, a toilet, a telephone and a basement access.
The budget pick is the LEGO 8293 Technic Power Function Accessory and it is super ideal for Lego Technic creations to power them up. The box kit includes everything you need such as a pole switch, a light cable, a battery box and the motor. And moreover, it has a batter box which stands at 2 by 3 inches and it has an M-Motor which measures 1 by 1 inch. The Lego box set is ideal for ages 9 years old and above.
A Little Background
Lego has stood for many years as a major manufacturer for children’s toys – and adult hobbyists. As a child, you will still have gotten in touch with a Lego brick or a Lego set. As a kid from the 90’s, you probably cried so much when you accidentally stepped on a Lego brick, especially if it is a small one with sharper edges and are for older kids. You also probably cried when a younger sibling or someone else ruined your well-crafted creation that you worked many hours for. True enough, nothing beats Lego when it comes to exercising creativity and even as adults today, it is very hard for us to let go of the past that gave us a shot in creativity and expressing what we truly feel about the world by building things in a square or rectangular Lego platform and building a world of our own. Today, Lego continues to do just that and innovating depending on the current trends of today’s market and to encourage children to still go back to the old days of learning and coordination, as playing and building with Lego definitely enhances critical thinking, motor skills, creativity and sometimes, social skills if you play with a group.
Many different TV shows, movies and major franchises have tied up with Lego in promoting their series as merchandise that can be played and enjoyed by kids and fans alike. Let’s take for example, a bunch of Marvel and superhero series. We’ve seen Superman, Batman, Spiderman, X-Men among others in the line-up of crime-fighting superheroes presented by the Lego manufacturers. Many other franchises such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings also have their own fair share of Lego products. In fact, even today’s Minecraft have its own special Lego set. In fact, even famous athletes and basketball superstars have their own Lego mini figure! The list of franchises tying up with the Lego Company goes on and on, and today, the line-up is still growing as more and more series and franchises get added to our social and cultural consciousness. Who knows: your favorite indie game or web series might someday become a Lego mini figure as well! Could you imagine indie breakthroughs such as Undertale or Five Nights at Freddy’s getting their own Lego set? Now that’s something new!
If you have seen The Lego Movie then you will surely be reminiscing your childhood days and be more inspired with creativity. The main character of the story, Emmet, is an “average” construction worker with an “average” life, until it all changes when he was dubbed “the special one” by some other characters, referring to him as part of a prophecy that will change the Lego world forever, and that he is a true master builder, but he himself knows that he knows nothing but to follow instructions by the company that owns the entire Lego universe. The movie revolves around the plot of Emmet being challenged to think outside of the brick and let his own creativity shine by believing in himself and going way beyond the instructions. The Lego Movie perhaps tells us that we should be a slave to anybody when it comes down to creativity – we should love our own creations and in this way, we can become master builders of the future if we strive hard enough and believe in what we do and what we build.
The Lego franchise has influenced many young builders to be aspiring artists and budding creators in the future, and the creativity and learning never stops not even in adulthood. Imagine this: many people around toy conventions are displaying marvelous Lego collections. And these collections were assembled by, ahem, adults themselves! This scenario is nonetheless not new because many people are very inspired by Lego that there are specific Lego sets that are meant for the big kids – the children at heart, and that is us. Today, many people still get ridiculed that playing Lego is “just for kids” while it is not. Think about how a normal child would be able to build a giant replica of the White House, the Eiffel Tower, the London Tower Bridge or some other landmark with high school level or college level difficulty due to amounting to 3,000+ pieces! That is definitely something that “children” cannot do.
Lego is not limited to connecting pieces that have holes in them. They can also include some small and realistic pieces that can be built like a regular playhouse or architectural miniature. For instance, you can add specially shaped pieces because the top part can be a smooth or shaped surface and the bottom part can be the ones with holes in them to connect onto the platform or some other base. Today, more and more Lego sets are just like that and this is why Lego sets have become more popular due to the limitless and boundless knowledge and creativity when it comes to producing the best Lego sets.
Lego knows no gender and age gap, because they have products for all demographics and all walks of life. For instance, there are Lego sets that are meant for toddlers or younger ages due to the fact that the sizes of the bricks are large and colorful and are pleasing and suitable for younger audiences and demographics. Lego sets that are for kids 5 to 15 are the ones that have a mediocre level of setting up and those with around 100 to 600 pieces of Lego bricks and these are the ones that are commonly associated with a franchise such as Marvel superheroes and the like. Meanwhile, the ones with a thousand pieces and highly complicated parts such as those that are replicas of famous buildings are the ones with an age rating of 16 and above because they are mainly for adult hobbyists who want to play Lego and take it to a higher architectural scale.
How We Picked
When it comes to the best Lego sets, we picked the ones based from the following:
Demographic – is the Lego set for boys, for girls or for all genders? There are three major demographics for Lego sets: for toddlers, for kids and for teens and adults. The ones for toddlers are the ones with bright colors and large pieces and the ones that are the easiest to assemble. These ones are usually the Duplo boxes and kits. And on the other hand, the ones for kids are the ones with mediocre level of skill required such as those with smaller parts but are easy to assemble and mostly the ones with mini figures on them and a few extras. The bigger ones are for the bigger kids, a.k.a. the adults who love Lego, and are usually large scale and for exhibit purposes.
Number of pieces – this dictates how challenging the Lego set can be and how detailed it is. Typically, adult and teenager hobbyist kits contain thousands of pieces that are small and too complicated for kids let alone toddlers. Meanwhile, sets for kids are about just a hundred or so depending on the details of the Lego set. The toddler’s kit of Lego blocks are of course very small in amount and this is why they are easier to maintain because of their size and number of pieces altogether. Toddler kits do not usually have instructions and people can build anything, but that is the same thing true for all Lego sets – you can also modify the preset of the Lego set to your liking, allowing for customization and creativity.
Target age bracket – this refers to the recommended age at which the Lego set must be played. This is important as some Lego sets with small parts can be choking hazards for toddlers and younger kids if they do not know how to play and assemble them. Bigger kids and adults are most likely to have the ones that have smaller yet more parts to assemble, such as those replicas of the London Tower Bridge.
Realism – a Lego set that is quite realistic will also be an open door for children to learn and deal with three-dimensional objects that mimic those of the real world. A good example of this would be Lego sets that are replicas of a real monument or architectural structure.
Our Pick
LEGO 21006 Architecture White House
Ideal for ages 12 and above, our best Lego set is the LEGO 21006 Architecture White House and it is a very awesome Lego set which has a total of 560 Lego pieces to assemble and enjoy. As for the overall structure when assembled, it forms a total replica of the White House in Lego form with great architectural details. When you assemble the Lego set White House, it also has a wide base with a printed name label.
As for the background inspiration of the LEGO Architecture White House, it was based from the White House design by George Washington (James Hoban design). And moreover, kids and parents alike will enjoy learning more about the Lego set and the White House model because the kit comes with detailed history and design tidbits on the included booklet. All in all, the whole Lego set White House stands at a height of 9 inches so you can display it anywhere at home or at a convention. To cut the story short, this Lego White House model is a great way for children to learn about American culture and history while having fun building with Lego blocks.
Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
All items have their own disadvantages but not as much as so to break the deal. In this case, the LEGO 21006 Architecture White House has a few flaws, such as the fact that of course, it has small pieces so it is not recommended for younger children.
Step-up Pick
LEGO 10218 Creator Pet Shop
For our step-up pick for the best Lego set, we chose the LEGO 10218 Creator Pet Shop as this fully-detailed 3-story pet shop has a total of 2,032 Lego pieces. When it comes to the characters and animals in this Lego set, the pet shop has a ton of pet animals including a dog, a parrot, a cat and a goldfish in a fish tank. As for the cool things in this Lego set, it also contains other accessories such as 3 dog bones, a frog toy, a ball, a bucket and brush and a bird house.
As for the architecture, the town house design is very detailed and also has a mailbox and mail on the ground floor. When it comes down to the amenities, the ground floor also has a couch, a hat rack, a toilet, a telephone and a basement access. And in addition to that, the town house also has a cute little kitchenette in which is equipped with a small table, a chair, a coffee maker, a sink, a stove and a stone fireplace. Moreover, the pet shop town house also has an upper loft which has the bed and a lamp as well as a skylight.
To put it all up, the whole thing measures 10 by 10.5 inches and can be combined with other Lego buildings such as Grand Emporium and Fire Brigade. The LEGO Creator Pet Shop also comes with four mini-figures such as a girl on bicycle, painter with paint roller, pet shop owner and a woman. Adding to its intrinsic design the balcony also has a rooftop garden with fully detailed vegetables. And moreover, there is also an attic space with French doors and storage boxes. Furthermore, the hinged staircase adds detail and realism to the pet shop building. And for those who might get lost in building, the Lego Pet Shop comes with a fully detailed instructional book.
Budget Pick
LEGO 8293 Technic Power Function Accessory
Ideal for Lego Technic creations, our budget pick for the best Lego set is the LEGO 8293 Technic Power Function Accessory. This utility Lego set has a light cable which measures 15 inches in length which is fully functional. It also has an M-Motor which measures 1 by 1 inch and has a batter box which stands at 2 by 3 inches.
Perfect for the older kids who want to power up their Lego Technic models, this set comes with an M-Motor cable spanning at 15 inches in length. It definitely includes everything you need such as a pole switch, a light cable, a battery box and the motor. In fact, both the cable and the switch span at 9 inches in length. The kit is ideal for ages 9 years old and above and it has a total of 10 pieces in the set. Moreover, it is designed to bring out the young electrical engineer in your child.
Ideal Lego Set for Toddlers
LEGO Duplo Basic Bricks 80 Pcs
If you have toddlers, you should definitely buy them the LEGO Duplo Basic Bricks 80 Pcs which is ideal for kids 1 to 5 years old as a toddler Lego set kit. This awesome toddler Lego set has a total of 80 colorful pieces for toddlers. And moreover, when it comes to its colorful details, it enhances your child’s creativity and thinking skills. This Lego set is a must-have for pre-school activities and this Lego set is also non-toxic so it is safe for children. When it comes down to the composition of the Lego set, the LEGO Duplo Basic Bricks has a total of 14 red blocks, 13 yellow, 13 green, 12 blue, 8 green, 8 orange, 5 black, 5 white, 2 transparent blue plus peg pieces (2×2).
Ideal Lego Set for Detailed Architecture
LEGO Tower Bridge 10214
If you want a totally detailed replica of the London Tower Bridge then look no further than the LEGO Tower Bridge 10214 which has a total of 4,295 pieces to assemble carefully. It is ideal for teens and older kids who love building detailed architecture with Lego. When it comes to its contents, the Lego set comes with four miniature vehicles such as a green car, a yellow track, a black London taxi and a red double-decker bus so it is very detailed and realistic.
Get ready to put on your thinking caps and exercise your building skills because the LEGO Tower Bridge is very easy to build and take down due to the sectioned break down so you can take with you anywhere easily. And as a unique feature that is not present in most Lego sets similar to this, the drawbridge of the iconic paired tower actually opens and closes and is very functional. All in all, the finished model stands 17 by 40 by 10 inches. Overall, the Tower Bridge model by Lego is a very authentic and realistic replica of the London tower bridge. It can be displayed at your local convention or school fair.
Best Construction Lego Set
LEGO City 4201 Loader and Tipper
A perfect city construction motif Lego set, the LEGO City 4201 Loader and Tipper is ideal for kids who love to play with construction site and mining scenarios but in the joy of Lego building blocks. Fully detailed and realistic, the Lego set comes detailed with a rock with two gold crystals. What’s more, the tipper has a dumping and lifting bucket function so it is very realistic and it can scoop up just about anything – even soil from your mom’s garden! (Just make sure you wash your hands afterwards)
And as an additional feature, the Lego set also has dynamite set with a timer. All in all, the Lego set is ideal for ages 5 years old and above. And furthermore, a warning sign is also included in this set so you get a realistic loader and tipper set. You can easily load up gold and other minerals using the tipper or just about any other materials and then the loader helps you scoop up rocks and minerals.
The LEGO City Loader and Tipper set comes with two mini figure miners. And furthermore, each piece snaps well and perfectly.
Ideal Lego Set for Girls
LEGO Friends Olivia’s House 3315
Totally ideal for girls aged 6 and above, the LEGO Friends Olivia’s House 3315 is going to be a great birthday present for your daughter or niece. This awesome playhouse is fully detailed play house with various amenities. The Lego set has three mini figures: Olivia, Peter (dad) and Anna (mom) as well as a Kitty cat. And the fact that the house has been built to sections makes it easy to re-arrange and also to take down and transport so you can take it to your friend’s house across the block.
There is no need to worry about recounting because it has been stated that the Lego set has a total of 695 pieces and it is not too much for an average Lego builder of the said age bracket. For functionality, the rooms in the house include a rooftop patio, a barbecue section, a living room, a bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen, and also an outdoor table.
When it comes to functionality and recreational parts of the house, there are many various furniture and amenities in the house including a bed, a toilet, a coffee table, a sink, a sofa chair, a couch, a vanity mirror, a TV, a fridge that opens and closes, a kitchen table, an oven, a kitchen sink, some cabinets and chairs for the kitchen table. Adding to that, the dining room has tons of functions and items such as a mixer, a blender some utensils, a spatula, a frying pan, some muffin tins, a bowl, a baking tray and some salt and pepper shakers. Because it is a totally realistic Lego set, it also includes miniature foods such as carrots, cherries, an apple, a chicken drumstick, a sausage, a milk carton and many more. And moreover, the bedroom has a diary and a hairbrush.
To add beauty to the Lego set, the LEGO Friends Olivia’s House also has a flower accessory pack for the garden. All parts are highly compatible with all other Lego sets. It is a part of the Lego Friends series which also comes with handy instructions.
Best Superhero Lego Set
LEGO Super Heroes Spider-Cycle Chase 76004
The LEGO Super Heroes Spider-Cycle Chase 76004 is an amazing superhero Lego set. You can enjoy adventures with Spider-Man, Venom and Nick Fury as mini figures included in this set. It comes with a Spider Cycle and a S.H.I.E.L.D. flying car, which are fully detailed. A hidden flick missile can also be found on the flying car. The spider cycle has dimensions of 3 by 1 by 1 inch and also has foldable wheels. Targeting the age bracket of 6 years and above, this Lego set has 237 pieces all in all.
Best Vehicle Lego Set
LEGO City Police High-Speed Chase Set
Ideal for kids 5 years old and above, the LEGO City Police High-Speed Chase Set is a great city police chase set up with Lego blocks. It includes a police motorcycle, a police vehicle and a sports car. Three mini figures are included: Chase McCain, a motorcycle officer and a burglar. The motorcycle officer also has handcuffs to arrest the burglar while the Elite Police vehicle stands at 5 by 2 inches.
The set comes with a traffic cone and a police barrier and includes money bills, a gold bar and a spike strip as well. Everything in this Lego set simulates a real city traffic situation. The set has a total of 283 pieces and each set piece is built for durability and enjoyment.
Best Star Wars Lego Set
LEGO 10188 Star Wars Death Star
A must-have for any Star Wars fan, the LEGO 10188 Star Wars Death Star simulates the Death Star from the movie series and is ideal for kids 14 years old and above. It has a total of 3,803 pieces and it mimics the items and accessories found on Episode IV and Episode VI.
For the amenities, it has a control room, multiple decks, turbo laser turrets that rotate, tractor beam controls, detention block, Imperial conference chamber, hangar bay that comes with TIE Advanced star fighter and the Emperor’s throne room. It also has a droid maintenance facility and of course, the Death Star super laser.
Among the mini figures included are Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker as Jedi Knight, R2-Q5, Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Grand Moff Tarkin, C-3PO, R2-D2, Emperor’s Royal Guards and Stormtroopers, having a total of 24 mini figures and droids. The whole Death Star measures 16 by 16.5 inches and it also includes the Dianoga trash compactor monster.
The Competition
When it comes to Lego sets, it was easy to choose from the best because it was clear as to which one stands among the best and which Lego set was the best to choose from its category and targeted demographic. Some Lego sets are for toddlers and some are for older kids.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the many benefits of Lego blocks?
A: Building with Lego blocks helps enhance a person’s creativity, especially during a young age. Lego sets that are of a certain franchise such as Star Wars will also capture the interest of a person or a young child if they are a fan of the series. A person’s motor skills will also be improved, especially at a young age and especially if they are aiming to be engineers one day.
Playing with Lego also brings out the true talent of your child at a young age depending on the Lego set that he or she plays with. Building with Lego also enhances the self-confidence of a person. Having built something with Lego not only gives you a reward for creativity but also gives you a sense of completion that you have built something on your own in your own way. Building with Lego bricks do not have standards and any person can do whatever they want in their own expressive way.
In one way, Lego also becomes an art form medium for exercising creativity. Problem solving skills will also be enhanced with building Lego blocks. For instance, limited amounts of brick shapes can prompt a child to build something else that is similar.
Q: What skills will be developed with building Lego blocks?
A: According to Educator’s Technology , it helps to improve the child’s motor development. Problem solving skills are also improved. It also helps children think in 3-dimensional scales and it also helps with a child’s literacy when consulting instructions. Creativity is enhanced with Lego blocks.
Wrapping It Up
To summarize, the LEGO 21006 Architecture White House is our best Lego set that both the kids and the kids at heart will enjoy building together.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.