In two weeks time, the new Lego Harry Potter sets will hit stores around the world. Some of us have been lucky enough to get our hands on a couple of the sets and they are looking great! Before they are released however we have two weeks to wait, and what better way to spend it than going back to the roots of the theme and reminiscing on some of the greatest themed Lego sets, in my view anyway. Yes, I got this idea from CallMePie's brilliant PoP thread, but I thought it was fitting!

I'm going to be looking at my favourite set from every sub-theme, but if you want a more personal take on the theme, read this, for pictures and thoughts etc.

The Lego Harry Potter theme started in 2001, and with it we got 11 sets, ranging from Hogwarts Castle, to Hagrids Hut. We even got smaller sets like the flying lesson and the sorting hat. I know this might sound controversial, but I loved the Hogwarts Express from the first year. It was my first ever Lego train, and as I was only young at the time I was amazing by it. I even remember setting up the track and having it running around the Christmas tree. I also loved the Hogwarts Castle. So many great figures and the way every set fit together was perfect!

In 2002 the Chamber of Secrets set launched. With it we got a huge Chamber of Secrets set, Dumbledore's office set and the flying car with Harry's Uncles house. I said this on my blog post, but I'll say it again, Dumbldore's office set is completely brilliant. It's so huge and so many great pieces. Still to this day, it's one of my favourite Lego sets of all time.

2004 brought with it a new start for the Lego Harry Potter theme, with the start of fleshy heads! I'm sure I'm not the only person who hated them at the time, but I've grown to love them for the licensed themes. In 2004, we got our first redesign of Hogwarts Castle, and the fantastic Shrieking Shack. Then we got the Knight Bus, and the first mini-Harry Potter set in the form of the mini-knight bus. My favourite set from this theme has to be the Shrieking Shack. We got 4 great figures and the sweet shop was a great little addition to the set. In a close second however was the Hogwarts Castle. The spinning clock and ticking pendulum were both great additions to the set.

Sadly, we only got 4 Harry Potter sets in 2005, in the form of the Durmstrang Ship, Graveyard Duel, the second task, and the first task. I loved all these sets, but because there we so few of them, it put a damper on the sub-theme. I think my favourite had to be the first task or the Graveyard duel. I loved the first task because we got the huge dragon, as well as a Mad-eye Moody figure. I also loved the ship, which I know isn't loved by many people, but it sat on my windowsill for many years after I brought it.

The 3rd Hogwarts Castle was released in 2007, and it was the only set from that year, a first for the Harry Potter theme and a sure sign that the theme was coming to a close. I'm sure I'm not the only one who was disappointed to with this set. Okay, we got some great pieces and great figures, but it just didn't have that Hogwarts feel to it, due to the poor design. THe greenhouse however, was the best part of the set. I don't really have a chose but to say that it was my favourite set of the sub-theme, but it was also the worst!

The release of the Half Blood Prince in 2009 didn't bring any sets with it, but it did bring news of the videogame, and that brought hope that we'd see some new sets in the next year. It wasn't until later 2009, early 2010 that we got news of the 6 new sets however, and I'm sure you can remember awaiting pictures from Toy Fair 2010. I was far from disappointed, the pictures showed all new figures (Luna, Bella!) but also designs of older ones.

And here we are, two weeks to go until the new sets are released! I'm really looking forward to building the new Hogwarts Castle, it's been a long time in the waiting! What comes after that, who can say? Deathly Hallows sets? We live in hope!

Thanks a lot for reading, and for more detail on my Lego Harry Potter journey, check this out! I'm not sure howe to add a poll, if someone could tell me, I'd be most grateful! Leave your thought and on this theme below .

Edited September 17, 201014 yr by SuperChris

Great Tribute!!!

I agree with every word!!!

Awsome Tribute!

I agree also with every word!

I really can't wait!

Thank you to share this with us

Edited September 17, 201014 yr by It All Ends Here

I'm pretty excited too. I missed out on the HP line due to coming out of my dark ages. So, I can't wait for that package to hit my front porch!

Edited September 17, 201014 yr by Legocrazy81

I missed out on a lot of the early sets too because of my dark age.

I love HP sets because of the details in them that you don't see in other themes and because of the neat little pieces most sets are packed with. The figs and color scheme are great too. The parts are great for historic and fantasy MOCs and fit well with other themes like Castle, Pirates and Indiana Jones.

I think if I could collect only one theme, it would be HP.

Thanks for this tribute. I only got a few sets, all from the Chamber of Secrets. Knockturn Alley, Aragog in the Dark Forest, and Dumbledore's Office. (I agree, one of the best, but the loss of Fawkes knocked it down the list) I'm very much going to try to get the entire new series.

Great work! Can't wait to get "The Burrow."

Thanks for the kind words everyone! I'm glad you enjoyed it .

That's a very nice tribute you have done. I just have to ask, why didn't you use the Ron head from the 3rd Hogwarts Castle (and underwater set from the fourth film) in your title pic?

I agree with most of your pics, except the Hogwarts Express from the first wave. I thought the station was pretty dreadful, and the train was not so hot either. I know I liked the first Castle at the time since it was a big set with lots of figures, but in retrospect it is pretty lame interior-wise. I think my favorite set from the first wave would have to be The Final Challenge, then, since the exclusive Quirrel fig was just too awesome (and the thick sticker for the revolving door was nice too).

I can't comment on your pic of Dumbledore's Office, since I don't own it, but the Chamber of Secrets set itself was pretty awesome too. Ok, the Ginny and Tom Riddle figures were really poor, but pink-suited Gildroy was great, as well as those printed snake wall tiles, the snake itself, the face of Slytherin, Fawkes, the bathroom… overall that was a really strong set.

Unfortunately I only own the rescuing Sirius set from the third film, but I agree with you that the Shrieking Shack is probably the best of that wave.

You're certainly right about Graveyard Duel too (500+ pieces for $30? Yes!), although Rescue from the Merpeople was also a strong entry just because of the sheer magnitude of figures that only came with that set at the time.

I hope you will update this with your favorite pick from the new wave, once you have the sets.

That's a very nice tribute you have done. I just have to ask, why didn't you use the Ron head from the 3rd Hogwarts Castle (and underwater set from the fourth film) in your title pic?

Ah, I do have a reason! I really don't like that head and prefer the older one. Looking back, I'm not sure why I used the newer Hermione head either, I'm not a fan of that one either!

And I shall update once I get my hands on all the new sets .

I really don't like that head and prefer the older one. Looking back, I'm not sure why I used the newer Hermione head either, I'm not a fan of that one either!

On that I can't agree. I really love those newer heads.

Thanks for the great article!

I remeber being in love with the first wave of harry potter sets way back "in the day" the first hogwarts express blew my mind, even thougth it was lacking in some places I thought it was the best set i had ever been given. especially when the flying car came out too *recounts the days of pretending to be the womping willow* good times.

I think after the POA range it started to go downhill but thankfully managed to be reborn in time for the last chapter.

I cant say i agree with you super chris i think the faces look good, much better than the goofy looking ron from yesteryear.

Harold

On that I can't agree. I really love those newer heads.

That's fair enough, it all comes down to personal preference .

@Harold, I know what you mean about the Hogwarts Express! At the time it did seem like the best thing ever, because I was so young, but looking back at it now, it does seem to be lacking. I never really liked the station, even when I was young.

@Harold, I know what you mean about the Hogwarts Express! At the time it did seem like the best thing ever, because I was so young, but looking back at it now, it does seem to be lacking. I never really liked the station, even when I was young.

I agree, there was something about the station that I cant put my finger on, it just seems .

but I never played with it in all honesty the trainwas the best part for me, but I wished i had picked up that fantastic motorized hogwrts express they released a couple of years ago, I kept putting it off until when i went to get it, gone!

But with this new Hogwarts Express im on the ropes, i love it purely for the fact it takes me back. but it looks strage in a way i cant write down. But i'll wait for a review till I get to a conclusion. I WON'T MISS THIS ONE!!!

I agree, there was something about the station that I cant put my finger on, it just seems .

but I never played with it in all honesty the trainwas the best part for me, but I wished i had picked up that fantastic motorized hogwrts express they released a couple of years ago, I kept putting it off until when i went to get it, gone!

But with this new Hogwarts Express im on the ropes, i love it purely for the fact it takes me back. but it looks strage in a way i cant write down. But i'll wait for a review till I get to a conclusion. I WON'T MISS THIS ONE!!!

Completely agree!

As for the motorised Hogwarts Express, I'm gutted I missed out on that one as well. It's so expensive now, it's just not worth it. If I'd of known how much it would be worth today, back then, I'd of brought it with a click of my fingers!

Great Tribute!! I really hope someone from the LEGO company reads it to see how much the Harry Potter line is loved.

My first set was the Chamber of Secrets and it was so amazing that I started to try and get my hands on every set. I tried my hardest to get the first Hagrids Hut but was unable to. But I got Hogwarts on clearance. And I loved it! I also missed out on the Forbidden Corridor (Fluffy!), Knockturn Alley, Quality Quidditch Supplies, and the first Hogwarts Express.

Then the Prisoner of Azkaban sets were released and I went crazy. I was able to get Hagrids Hut and Hogwarts Express with the flesh figs. I loved the flesh figs but they didn't go with the yellow figs.

I got every set from Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, and Order of the Phoenix.

I felt devastated that GoF only saw 4 sets and OotP saw 1 set and then they can canceled the line :(

Thank you LEGO for bringing the line back with all the amazing new figs and a AMAZING looking Hogwarts!

Please continue on with Deathly Hallows and revisit the previous films like you do with Star Wars.