Real World Buildings We Want to See as LEGO Modular Sets

Most of us start our LEGO-building journeys in the same way: our first creation is a house, a car, maybe a rocket ship or a submarine. Whether you make it from classic LEGO bricks or buy a modern LEGO kit with instructions, many first-time builders go for something they recognise from real life.

Real-world buildings like houses, castles and shops are always popular, and it's not hard to see why. The clue is in the word: build-ing. We already have an understanding of how these structures are built, which makes it feel familiar to construct them ourselves.

Real Life LEGO Landmarks

LEGO has some landmarks covered, e.g. London 21034 which includes Big Ben and Tower Bridge. Fantasy castles are also a firm feature, including Disney Castle 43222 as part of LEGO Disney, and the stunning Hogwarts Castle and Grounds 76419 diorama from LEGO Harry Potter.

But there are plenty of real-world castles we want to see as LEGO sets, such as:

• Windsor Castle, barely 2.5 miles from LEGOLAND Windsor Resort in Berkshire
• Alnwick Castle in Scotland, the real-life filming location for Hogwarts exterior shots
• Harlech Castle in Wales, a perfect centrepiece for a pirate siege display

Of course, these are all specific landmarks. When it comes to real-life buildings as LEGO sets, the kits are usually more general.

Create a Street with LEGO Modular Buildings

One of the best January LEGO releases is the annual addition to the LEGO Modular Buildings line-up, part of LEGO Icons. This year it's LEGO Tudor Corner 10350, a hugely detailed half-timbered Tudor-style inn and haberdashery.

These intricate, multi-storey kits can join together to form a terrace of wall-to-wall buildings and businesses, with unique LEGO Minifigures and accessories to bring your diorama to life. There are several corner-plot kits (like Tudor Corner!) so you're not restricted to a single straight line of structures, too.

Again, you can find some real-world landmarks in the line-up, such as 2024's Natural History Museum 10326, but most LEGO Modular Buildings sets are more general, including all of the previous three years' releases: LEGO Jazz Club 10312, LEGO Boutique Hotel 10297 and LEGO Police Station 10278.

What's Next for LEGO Modular Buildings?

With 20 LEGO Modular Building sets released over the past 15 years, there are already some excellent choices in the range. But as older sets are retired and the most popular items get harder to find, what would be the best new additions for future years?

We looked to LEGO IDEAS for some inspiration, and here's our pick of five fan-made LEGO Modular Buildings that we'd like to see reach the crucial number of 10,000 supporters, and get a well-deserved review by LEGO experts.

La Belle Ruelle by Santheg

This gorgeous LEGO Modular Building concept has over 5,000 supporters and would add a much-needed hairdresser to the street, along with a neighbouring perfumery. With a medieval-style staircase separating the two, the design creates some interesting variety in width - just like Tudor Corner's haberdashery. Multiple businesses in a single build is always good value, so we can see this one reaching the fabled five figures soon enough.

Modular Post Office by Post Scriptum

The only existing LEGO Post Office is Santa's Post Office 10339, and while it's VERY cute, it's not part of the Modular Building LEGO line. Post Scriptum's Modular Post Office aims to fix that, with a mix of traditional and modern. The ornate three-storey exterior comes with fully furnished interiors, as well as a rooftop landing pad for flying delivery drones! This one is about to hit 1,200 votes, so if you'd like to see it become an official product, head over to LEGO IDEAS and give it your support.

The Library by LuckieDukie

We love the attention to detail in The Library, which has a total of five furnished interior rooms to explore and play with. A reception area, computer lab, study room, and two separate reading rooms for adults and children make it a really versatile concept, well deserving of its 2,600 supporters. It also looks a lot like the Hill Valley Courthouse, so with a little customisation, it could be the perfect backdrop to display your Back to the Future Time Machine 10300!

Grand Central Station by Mind the Brick

There's a surprising lack of train stations in the official line-up of LEGO sets. Two creators, Mind the Brick and Patgeo, joined forces to submit this concept in an attempt to "close this gap a bit and make train fans cheer!". Although the name might sound specific, the design is influenced by central stations from across Europe and America, especially from the golden age of rail travel in the early 20th century. It has over 7,000 supporters already, so if you choo-choo-choose this idea, chug on over and add your name to the list!

Medieval Museum by tm.bricks

We've already mentioned the Natural History Museum LEGO Modular Buildings set, but this cute little concept combines the past, the present, and even the paranormal, into one play set with lots of potential. We love the use of the iconic sword in the stone, which the brave-hearted can pull out to win free entry to the museum! Inside there are numerous exhibits, as well as a haunted attic occupied by a medieval spirit. It's good fun from bottom to top and about to hit 4,000 supporters - nearly halfway to earning its official review by a LEGO expert.

Which real-life buildings would you like to see added to the annual LEGO modular building range?