Buzz
While most advancements in technology aim to shrink things down, LEGO, the iconic company hailing from Denmark, has defied the trend by making everything on a grander scale. Their official kits contain thousands of pieces, enabling builders to create intricate, towering, and massive structures. If you're ready for a challenge and have plenty of time to spare, check out the five largest LEGO sets ever created.
1. TAJ MAHAL
Jose Sa, Flickr // CC BY 2.0First launched in 2008, LEGO’s Taj Mahal set amazed both collectors and casual fans with its incredible attention to detail. Comprising 5922 pieces, it still holds the record as the largest LEGO set by piece count ever produced. When fully assembled, it stands at an impressive 16 inches tall. In 2010, soccer legend David Beckham shared that he spent a lot of his downtime in Italy between games building this set.
2. ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S MILLENNIUM FALCON
Ronny Nussbaum, Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0It would take nearly a decade before a new Star Wars movie hit the big screen, but in 2007, LEGO launched its most intricate Star Wars-themed set yet: the 5197-piece Millennium Falcon. To help fans grasp the scale of this massive build—measuring three feet by two feet when finished—Gizmodo’s unboxing video revealed that the instruction manual alone weighs four pounds. This set is now considered the most valuable LEGO set ever released, with resales regularly reaching nearly $4000.
3. GHOSTBUSTERS FIREHOUSE HEADQUARTERS
Vincent Teeuwen, Flickr // CC BY 2.0The 2016 Ghostbusters reboot brought a wave of new merchandise, but one standout piece combined both the new and original films. LEGO’s version of the iconic firehouse office features characters from both the reboot and the 1984 classic, totaling 4634 pieces. The building itself is impressive, but it’s the intricate interior details that truly boost the piece count. Opening the firehouse reveals a variety of small touches from the films, such as a dancing toaster and the zombie cab driver.
4. TOWER BRIDGE
Norbert Schnitzler, Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0A flawless brick-for-brick reproduction of London’s famous Tower Bridge, this set was released in 2010 and contains 4287 pieces. It features a fully functional drawbridge and includes over 80 tiny windows.
5. BIG BEN
Matt Brown, Flickr // CC BY 2.0The latest addition to the largest LEGO sets ever created, 2016’s Big Ben boasts an impressive 4163 pieces. Once fully assembled, it stands nearly two feet tall. The designers also took a clever approach, noting that Big Ben’s scale is comparable to that of London Bridge, making them perfect to display together—and a true testament to your patience for such towering builds.
