Being a parent can be very rewarding, but at the same time, it can be very hard work. As a parent, you want to protect and wrap them in bubble wrap, and at the same time, you want them to be brave and more adventurous in the unknown world. Parenting is always full of dilemmas.
In our household, we always look for ways to get our children to step outside their comfort zones and be more adventurous to foster their love of travel. Travelling helps to broaden the mind and build human connections by learning about their culture, food, music and the way people live their day-to-day lives in different parts of the world.
This is why I have included some of the best LEGO toys you can give as a Christmas or birthday gift to inspire them for their next adventure. Or something you could use as you all sit down together as a family to inspire and plan your next family trip together.
To build the excitement, you will find a selection of the LEGO Architecture playsets listed below you need to get your hands on. They offer the perfect way to keep the children or teenagers entertained and away from screens in the lead-up to Christmas. They also make a great model to have on display.
LEGO Architecture playsets were first launched in 2008 and since then, there are more than 40 sets divided between the series – Architecture, Landmark and Skyline collections. From show-stopping landmarks like the Great Pyramid of Giza to spectacular Paris cityscapes from the Skyline Collection, there is a LEGO playset for all ages. All these LEGO playsets have a booklet included with details on the architecture and the history of the real building.
Singapore Building Set 21057
This is my favourite set as I am so proud to be a Singaporean. This detailed brick-built version of landmarks represents many styles and influences set against a backdrop of lush greenery and a vibrant riverfront of my homeland. They are the Marina Bay Sands, OCBC Centre, One Raffles Place, Boat Quay, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, Lau Pa Sat (also known as Telok Ayer Market), Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore River.
This 21057 set comes with 827 pieces, and once built, it measures over 16.8 cm high, 28.8 cm wide and 9.4 cm deep. It is suggested for those aged 18 years and over, as there are many small individual components and it is not very accessible. But it is a great challenging set and my son truly enjoyed building it, especially as we just went to Singapore in August.
Great Pyramid of Giza Set 21058
Come and experience one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World with this detailed LEGO Architecture Great Pyramid of Giza set that will take you back to the 26th century BC. This beautifully detailed cross-section model of the Great Pyramid will reveal its main tunnels, the King and Queen’s chambers and stone-moving system, by simply lifting off the outer casing. They also included a section of the Nile river with two feluccas (ancient boats), two small pyramids, the Valley temple, three Sphinx statues, a workers’ village and an obelisk. This impressive set took Mr K almost 6 hours to build it.
This 21058 set comes with 1476 pieces, and once built, it measures over 20.2 cm high, 35 cm wide and 32 cm deep. It’s a much bigger set than all the other Architecture sets we have built so you will need a bigger area for display. It comes with two nameplates for display: one is in Egyptian hieroglyphs showing the Great Pyramid’s ancient name, ‘Khufu’s Horizon’, and the other one is in English wordings.
In December 2003, I went to Egypt with a group of nursing friends to visit this great pyramid and the Nile river. It was an awesomely stunning place. This outstanding display brings back all the great memories of my travel and I hope this set can inspire others to visit this place soon.
Paris France 21044
This Paris skyline set features the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, Tour Montparnasse, Grand Palais, Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and is finished with a flag, grass, tree and a nameplate. These skyline models are scaled to give an accurate representation of the comparative size of the featured structures, with realistic colour depiction.
This 21044 set comes with 694 pieces, and once built, it measures over 23 cm high, 28.9 cm wide and 11 cm deep. It is suitable for ages 12 and above. We have briefly been to Paris Disneyland with the children in 2017 and this will be a great display model for the reminder.
New York City 21028
This New York City skyline set features the Flatiron Building, Chrysler Building™, Empire State Building, One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty, and is finished with a nameplate. Each model is scaled to give an accurate representation of the comparative size of each structure, with true-to-life colour depiction.
I do find it disappointing that the Statue of Liberty is just a mini LEGO green man that is fixed. They could have made a replica of the Statue of Liberty herself instead. Also, the Chrysler Building™ is not quite like the real building itself.
This 21028 set comes with 598 pieces, and once built, it measures over 27 cm high, 25.5 cm wide and 4.7 cm deep. It is suitable for ages 12 and above. This is quite a small set and didn’t take Mr K too long to build.
We went to the Big Apple in 2006 to celebrate Mr C’s 30th birthday. and hopefully, we will be able to bring our children to visit these stunning landmarks at some point in the near future.
The White House Washington D.C. USA 21054
The White House set can be displayed as a whole unit or divided into three sections. They are the Executive Residence, West Wing, East Wing and connecting colonnades of The White House, plus the Rose Garden and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden.
The White House is an enduring symbol of the United States. Their first president, George Washington, selected the site in 1791 and since then, there have been countless renovations and additions. Every president since John Adams has occupied the White House and countless leaders and dignitaries have been entertained within its walls. It is a place where many momentous decisions have been taken and where history continues to unfold.
This 21054 set comes with 1483 pieces, and once built, it measures over 11 cm high, 48 cm wide and 20 cm deep. This stunning building kept Mr K occupied for a few hours away from the screen.
If you have been to or have dreamt of visiting The White House, this is a great model for you to display proudly on a desk, fireplace or window sill. Hopefully, we will make a visit in the near future too!
We hope these LEGO playsets can help give you some ideas for a Christmas or birthday gift to inspire your children for their next adventure. Which playset is your favourite and why? Let us know in the comments below!
Disclosure: We received the samples for the purposes of writing this review, however, all thoughts and opinions remain our own. This is a featured post.