Review: LEGO 10354 The Shire
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LEGO returns to Bag End in 2025, with the long-awaited release of 10354 The Shire, the next LEGO Icons Lord of the Rings set. ‘
After a dark foray into Mordor with 2024’s 10333 Barad-Dur, we are back to a brighter and more jubilant landscape with 10354 The Shire, a 2,017-piece model of Bag End, and Bilbo’s 111st birthday party that will be released on 2 April 2025 for LEGO Insiders, ahead of a 5 April 2025 release date.
Reminder: If you purchase 10354 The Shire from 2-8 April, you will also receive 40761 The Lord of the Rings: Sméagol & Déagol as a free GWP (gift with purchase) while stocks last.
LEGO fans have not gotten a model of Bag End since 2012’s 79003 An Unexpected Gathering, so this has been top of the list of many fans in the LEGO Icons era. But after the official unveiling, the set’s US$269.99 / AU$399.99 / £229.99 quickly became the focal point of the discussion about the set, and whether it is too overpriced for what you’re getting.
In this review, I’ll dive under hill, and take you on a tour of 10354 The Shire, and also talk about the price, and whether it’s a worthy pickup, as well as compare it to 79003 An Unexpected Gathering!
See below for regional pricing and product pages:
- 10354 The Shire [US] – US$269.99
- 10354 The Shire [AUS] – AU$399.99
- 10354 The Shire [UK] – £229.99
- 10354 The Shire [EU] – €269.99
- 10354 The Shire [CA] – CAD$349.99
- 10354 The Shire [SG] – SGD$399.99
Special thanks to LEGO for sending this set over for review. If you’re planning on purchasing this set, please consider using the affiliate links in this post. I may earn a small commission with each purchase that helps support the work I do on the blog!
10354 The Shire Set Details
10354 The Shire
10354
The Shire
9 (Odo Proudfoot and Mrs Proudfoot, Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, Frodo Baggins, Merry, Pippin, Samwise Gamgee, and Rosie Cotton)
2,017
US$269.99 / AU$399.99 / £229.99 / €269.99 / CAD$349.99
2 April 2025 (Insiders Early Access)
Kenyon Brady, Graphics by Ashwin Visser, and Nathan Davis
Here’s a look at the instructions manual for 10354 The Shire, which is fairly standardised in the LEGO Icons era. There are three booklets, which is nice, as you’re able to split the build and build simultaneously with up to 2 other people which is always a fun social experience, and inside, there are bits of trivia about Bag End and The Shire, as well as notes form the LEGO Icons Design Team.
LEGO are currently steering away from identifying and featuring designers in the manuals, which is a bit of a shame as I really liked learning and seeing the people behind the set!
Here’s a look at the sticker sheet, which is are mostly small, benign and easy to apply stickers to bring some of the Easter Eggs and references from The Fellowship of the Ring to life.
Out of the box, are 15 numbered bags, and at just over 2,000-pieces, the build goes by pretty quickly, as you assemble the 3 main parts of Bag End, before ending with Bilbo’s party scene.
The build was quite enjoyable, and approachable, so it’s great for those that aren’t experienced LEGO builders. It was maybe a bit on the easy side – there isn’t the high level of panache that you’d expect from Rivendell or even Barad-Dur, so don’t expect cutting-edge techniques here, but a nicely flowing build that mirrors a Hobbits’ lifestyle.
10354 The Shire Minifigures
Let’s get to the strongest point of the set, the minifigures of 10354 The Shire. You get 9 minifigures in the set, all of whom are new and exclusive to the set, which is a really big deal. From left to right, we have Odo Proudfoot and Mrs Proudfoot, Pippin, Merry, Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, Bilbo, Rosie Cotton and Samwise Gamgee.
The main Hobbit characters are dressed in their absolutely best party clothes, and we also get brand new characters like Rosie Cotton (Sam’s beau), and also the grumpy Hobbits, Odo and Mrs Proudfoot.
For a set named The Shire (it should really be called Bag End), this is a fantastic lineup of Hobbits, and Lord of the Rings fans will be especially pleased with the high level of detail with the minifigures, and how well they fit the scenes here.
The set and scenes revolve around Frodo, Bilbo and Gandalf. Bag End is of course Bilbo’s home, which he bequeaths to Frodo, before “disappearing” during his birthday speech, and Gandalf then becomes involved in Frodo’s life, watching over him as he mantains his suspicions about Bilbo’s magic ring.
Frodo and Bilbo both look great, whereas Gandalf has the same torso and dress combo that we see him in 10316 Rivendell. Frodo is especially dapper, with his vest with metallic ink, and I also like Bilbo’s coat. I do think his hair-piece is a little odd, but I guess LEGO wanted to differentiate himself from the other Hobbits.
Here’s a look at their back printing and alternate faces.
Frodo’s alternate face is really good, and I love that they’ve captured Elijah Woods’ little gap in his front tooth, which is a cool detail.
Gandalf also has a new face print which came as a pleasant surprise!
Next we have the mischievous Hobbits who are Frodo’s close friends, Peregrin (Pippin) Took and Merry Brandybuck. Their outfits are new here, and they also look great, with highly expressive faces.
As an added treat for fans of the Peter Jackson movies, they each have soot-covered alternate faces – the result of them exploding fireworks in a tent, plus grey hair as well for further dramatic effect!
And lastly, here are the Proudfeet (those grumpy Hobbits that greet Gandalf as he enters the shire), and Samwise Gamgee, and his love-interest Rosie Cotton.
Mrs Proudfoot has a brand new skirt element, and it’s also Rosie Cotton’s debut as a minifigure and they all look really good with their unique clothes, which would be quite useful for peasant/medieval-type outfits.
The 9 minifigures included in 10354 The Shire are sensational, as they’re all unique and exclusive to the set, and hands down the brightest point of the set.
Here’s a look at Bag End, which is a really well-designed model. It has definitely benefited from the LEGO Icons glow-up, and I think is just the right size for it to look suitably impressive, but not comically large.
It has a lumpy organic shape, so it’s quite hard to get typical measurements, but it’s about 50cm wide, and about 26cm deep if you’re planning on just displaying Bag End.
Interestingly, Bag End is a trilogy of parts as you build these three sections and snap them together!
The defining feature of Bag End are the gentle curves, and slopes that mimic the grassy mound that is Bag End, and I think it’s done really nicely here, with the combination of these quarter curve pieces, and a variety of different slopes.
According to set designer Kenyon Brady, they intentionally selected green elements that had a matte finish, to give it a uniform grassy look, instead of the glossy reflective elements used in the 2012 Bag End set.
There’s a clothesline and some washing, as well as a blue bird.
And here’s the tree that sits atop Bag End. Fun fact, on the actual movie set in Hobbiton, New Zealand, the tree is actually fake and made out of styrofoam! The shape is pretty good, and while it does look a little small and awkward, it’s meant to evoke a sense of forced perspective, and I don’t really mind the tree.
According to Kenyon Brady, the original tree was much bigger, but it threw the composition and scale of the build off, which is why they arrived at this particular design as a compromise.
There are plenty of instances of Nice Parts Usage, and I really liked this technique of stacking boomerangs for the fence!
Of course the No Admittance except on party business sign is on the entrance, alongside some sunflowers.
A small horse-drawn cart is included for Gandalf, as he wheels in a whole bunch of fireworks for Bilbo’s birthday. The use of headlight bricks, and a curved slope for Gandalf and Frodo to sit on the cart is nice to see employed again here, but most of all, this really evoked a lot of nostalgia as it reminded me so much of the Gandalf Arrives set from 2012 which I reviewed 13 years ago!
Here’s a look at Bilbo’s bench out the front.
The circular green door is the most iconic element of Bag End’s design, and is tendered quite beautifully here. The printed curved tiles that encircle both the doors and windows add a really nice touch, and I do like that the door is entirely brick-built this time around, with a gold microphone for the doorknob.
Here’s a look at some of the printed elements, including patterned rugs for the inside. These were printed because they come into contact with minifigures, as you place them around Bag End, which apparently is a no-no when it comes to stickers as they could scratch or damage them!
These circular windows are also new to the set, and I love how they look.
Now let’s step into Bag End.
Here’s a look at the back of Bag End which is totally exposed to give you a better look at the interiors, and for ease of access. The interiors are a bit squishy, and there are some notable missing spaces like the kitchen or bedroom, but it’s obvious that there wouldn’t be enough space for it.
Bilbo’s study is quite small, but there’s a desk for him to write his book. The red book is of course the Red Book of Westmarch, which has his initials BB on the front. Next to it, is the Deed Of Contract, a lovely nod to The Hobbit, where Thorin Oakenshield presents Bilbo with his contract that specifies his share of the spoils from The Lonely Mountain.
Inside the book, is the famous line, There and back again.
The white pen is recoloured, to represent candles that are melting, and here’s a look at a tree portrait that hands above the fireplace.
The entrance hallway is much larger, and access is even easier by removing the roof.
There are some cool builds, such as this coat rack (in case a dozen dwarves choose to visit), and there;s a barrel with an umbrella and a sword in it, which is quintessential Bilbo.
There’s also a chest with the same stickered Mithril shirt that you may remember from Rivendell!
Next we have the sitting room, where there’s a table, and fireplace, where there’s a fun little play feature. But before we get into the play feature, the Easter Eggs and references here are the most delightful.
The rug design is delightful, and I also love this map of The Lonely Mountain from Bilbo’s adventures in The Hobbit.
Above the mantelpiece are these 2 portraits of Bilbo’s parents, Belladonna Took and Bungo Baggins? Fans of The Lord of the Rings will also know that in the movie, the portraits used on set were based on Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson’s likeness? So this is the closest we’ll ever get to Peter Jackson in LEGO form!
Editor’s note: Turns out I completely forgot that Peter Jackson did kinda appear as a minifigure as the Pirate of Umbar in 79008 Pirate Ship Ambush!
I also love the slice of cheese there. It’s a Hobbit hole, so of course there’s food and snacks everywhere.
My favourite random movie reference is this plain unprinted porcupine on the windowsill! I got to spend some time with the model designer in Billund last September for RLFM Days 2024, and I noticed it then, and asked the designer who chuckled when I brought it up.
Because Hobbits are small, the production and set designers left these Pine Cones all over Bag End to establish a sense of scale, which is something that Kenyon Brady picked up on, so he successfully managed to get LEGO to produce a blank hedgehog, which represents these pine cones from Bag End!
And finally, here’s a look at the fireplace, which has a burnt envelope inside.
By twisting the knob, the letter flips disappears to reveal the One Ring!
I’m very satisfied with Bag End, which is a charming blend of verdant green exteriors, and also accurate and usable spaces on the inside. With lots of fun references for LOTR fans to discover, and plenty of space that it doesn’t feel cramp, I can’t imagine how you’d improve the interiors without sacrificing the aesthetics.
And now to the bad bit of the set, Bilbo’s birthday. On paper, the concept makes a lot of sense, include some side builds of Bilbo’s birthday party to drive up the piece count, and add a bit of extra oomph to the set.
The execution however, leaves much to be desired.
In the movies, the Party Tree is this huge and majestic looking tree in the middle of a field, that’s strewn with lights in celebration of Bilbo’s birthday. For book readers, the party tree has even more significance, as it’s cut down during the Scouring of the Shire, bringing Sam to tears.
The LEGO version is straight up ugly, and I’m just not a fan of how prickly and skeletal it looks. The trunk is too straight, almost like a brown steel beam, and ugh, it just doesn’t look great on its dinky little platform.
At least the Firework Dragon looks great.
There’s also the tent, which utilises this really nice and accurate textile piece, but it’s just that. A tent. Textile elements are usually pretty expensive, so outside of this being a cool reference to Bilbo’s party, I really could’ve done without it.
There’s also Bilbo’s Birthday cake on a table, but with no benches for the party guests, so it looks a little odd on its own.
The only nice build here is the stage where Bilbo gives his birthday speech, roasting his guests, and promptly disappears when he slips on the One Ring. The textile banner is really nice, and a great use of the fabric material.
And thanks to some splat gears, you too can make Bilbo disappear which is quite fun and works pretty well!
I really could’ve just done with the stage because everything else here feels superfluous and with the set being quite overpriced (more of this in my final thoughts section), this felt like such an unnecessary luxury.
Comparing 10354 The Shire vs 79003 An Unexpected Gathering
It goes without saying, 10354 The Shire is a massive upgrade over its predecessor, 79003 An Unexpected Gathering in every shape and form. The LEGO Icons glowup is extremely evident here, and it looks so much bigger, detailed and like a proper display model, over 2012’s playset, which granted, is 13 years old and only retailed for US$69.99.
Placing both sets side by side, you can see just how far LEGO design has come, and how lucky we are that LEGO Lord of the Rings has been rebirthed as a theme for adults.
For fans who missed out on 79003 An Unexpected Gathering, unless you’re a big fan of Thorin’s company and Dwarves, 10354 The Shire is the definitive LEGO Bag End model to get as it supersedes the older one in every single criteria.
What I liked:
- Superb minifigure lineup with fantastic designs across the board
- Bag End design is immaculate and looks awesome on display
- Littered with fun Easter Eggs and references
What I didn’t like:
- The price
- Bilbo’s Birthday side builds
Final Thoughts:
While I am incredibly happy that LEGO have finally given us an updated and highly detailed Bag End set, 10354 The Shire is not without some totally unavoidable flaws.
As the 3rd Lord of the Rings set in the LEGO Icons era, it has to contend with huge expectations from fans, as it follows on from 2 outstanding models with 2023’s Rivendell, a bona fide LEGO work of art, and 2024’s Barad-Dur, an imposing tower of terror.
10354 The Shire sets aside visual spectacle for a more idyllic and subdued take on Lord of the Rings, with Bag End adopting the gentler curves of Hobbiton and The Shire, and actually complements the other two sets really well. The verdant green shades balances out the autumnal colours of Rivendell against Barad-Dur’s black monolith, and I think all 3 sets look so good when displayed together.
The minifigures are sensational, and I really like that the LEGO Graphics team went above and beyond with the party outfits for all of the Hobbits, and also added a lot of value with the fun alternate faces.
But where the set ultimately falls is the price-point. US$269.99 / AU$399.99 for this 2,017-piece set just doesn’t cut it from me, and I fail to see US$270 worth of value in the set.
Bag End does look great as a display model, and the interiors are robust, and well-designed, but it feels more like a US$200 set to me. Add the fact that the side builds for Bilbo Party look so lacklustre and incomplete, with pricey elements like a big fabric element for the tent, it just feels like LEGO could’ve done away with those, and just kept the model to Bag End, and it wouldn’t compromise the entire set at all.
I’d argue it would enhance the experience of the set, as Bag End on its own, is a huge step up from the 2012 The Hobbit version, and even though it lacks the display presence of Rivendell and Barad-Dur, would be a slam dunk for LEGO as a mid-range LEGO Lord of the Rings set.
I’m really disappointed in 10354 The Shire, mostly because I had such high expectations for a LEGO Icons Bag End. But can you blame me? I’m a big Lord of the Rings fan, and Rivendell and Barad-Dur set the bar so high in terms of what you expect from modern LEGO Lord of the Rings, that anything other than exceptional would feel like disappointment.
The only way I can see US$270 / AU$400 being a worthy price, is if you purchase at launch to also score the 40761 The Lord of the Rings: Sméagol & Déagol, which will be included free as a gift with purchase when you buy 10354 The Shire from 2-8 April while stocks last.. The GWP looks really cool, and its inclusion does offset the set’s high price, so it takes the sting out of it slightly.
If not, just wait for an inevitable sale, as I think this is quite a hard sell to regular LEGO fans, unless you’re a deeply passionate LEGO Lord of the Rings fan, or you can easily justify a pricey purchase like this. With Rivendell and Barad-Dur flying off the shelves, I think LEGO have done the calculus here, and they’ve concluded that LEGO Lord of the Rings will stump up the change for sets like these, even if the value equation doesn’t quite add up.
LEGO could’ve gone 3 for 3 with 10354 The Shire, but the pricing and value proposition ultimate fell a little short (yes, that’s a Hobbit joke) for me here.
Final Score
Audience rating
10354 The Shire will be released on 2 April 2025 via LEGO Insiders Early Access (free to sign up) exclusively from LEGO.com or your local LEGO Store.
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