LEGO Friends

LEGO Friends

LEGO Friends is built around characters and places rather than a single large model, so sets are designed to sit alongside each other and grow into a small world. The range here spans the full size ladder. Polybag-scale builds such as the Flower Stand with Roses and the Ice Cream and Balloon Stand are quick, self-contained and suit a first set or a stocking filler. The mid-size sets, the Candy and Cupcake Ferris Wheel and the Spinning Flower and Fairy Teacup Ride, have working moving parts, which is usually what holds a child's attention after the building is finished. The larger builds, the Panda Sanctuary, the Nature Glamping Cabin and Fun Water Park Day, take longer and come with more figures and animals for open-ended play afterwards. Piece count and the printed age guide on the box are the two figures worth comparing before choosing.

Friends sets use mini-doll figures, which are slightly taller than standard minifigures but share the same stud system, so everything connects to the rest of a LEGO collection without difficulty. Other themes, including Classic, City, Technic and the licensed sets, are on the LEGO page. The wider Toys department covers construction toys, games and outdoor play from other brands.