Choosing Your First LEGO® Set: A Beginners Guide

What do you mean you've never owned a LEGO® set?! Luckily, we're here to rectify that situation straight away! LEGO sets bring a whole new world of fun and entertainment for all ages and some serious mental and physical dexterity challenges - even for grown-ups.

If you’re diving into the wonderful world of LEGO Play for the first time, this beginner’s guide will take you through the key questions to ask before you buy, whether you’re picking a LEGO set for a child or adult.

Buying LEGO sets for kids

When you’re buying your kid’s first LEGO set, you need to ask yourself a few questions before you start browsing the myriad of sets on offer.

1. Is the set you’re looking at age-appropriate? – When you buy LEGO sets online, you’ll see an age rating that tells you what age group the set is most appropriate for, which will also give you an idea of its difficulty level. So, if your little one is five, look for sets suitable for that age range. You can narrow your search by selecting Age on the drop-down search menu.

2. What do they like? - If your kids are seriously into outer space, a LEGO set featuring the Milky Way Galaxy or Aliens is perfect. We have a host of LEGO sets that focus on specific interests, such as Fantasy or Animals, which will also be appreciated far more than a generic set that doesn't fire their imagination.

3. How much do you want to pay? – If this is your child's first LEGO set, it may be an idea to choose a lower price one until you're sure they enjoy LEGO play. (We'd be amazed if they didn't!) As they become more involved in LEGO building, you can expand their collection through add-ons to existing sets without breaking the bank.

Buying LEGO sets for adults

You’re never too old to play with a LEGO set. More adults are rediscovering the joys of LEGO sets to the extent that worldwide competitions and intensely challenging model-building events are hugely popular. So, if you're buying LEGO sets for adults, here are our top three points to consider.

1. How challenging do you want your LEGO set to be? – If you’ve never created a LEGO model before, our top tip is to start simple. While you may want to dive straight into a LEGO McLaren P1™ supercar, if you’ve never worked with electronics and motors, then it may be a step too far. What you don't want to do is get frustrated and give up halfway through. Pick something that will test your skills but is achievable.

2. What are your interests? – LEGO sets for adults are not just incredibly accurate renditions of famous cars or a detailed model of the Millennium Falcon. Budding artists can create their very own LEGO Mona Lisa, while a LEGO Poinsettia will never need watering and looks gorgeous all through the festive season. Star Wars also offers a collection of iconic buildable helmets, perfect for the newer builder to display.

3. How much do you want to spend? – Warning: One LEGO set is never enough! Once you get the bug, LEGO sets become addictive. They're a fabulous way to relax and unwind at the end of the day and give you the chance to do something together as a family. Set yourself a budget using the drop-down menu that groups LEGO sets into price categories.

But our biggest top tip for first-time LEGO set buyers is to have fun! LEGO building is all about enjoying the creativity and joy of building something out of a few simple components and LEGO bricks. Once you open up that first LEGO set, you'll be a LEGO builder for life.