8 of the best LEGO sets for 8-year-old girls and boys, tried and tested by children

To help you find the best set for your child, we asked a group of 8 year olds to test a whole variety of sets, in a range of prices and themes, and tell us honestly what they thought about them – both as a build and as a set to play with afterwards...

• Find other great toys for 8 year olds

Best LEGO sets for 8 year olds, at a glance:

• Best for school-based role play: LEGO Friends Heartlake International School Set, £89.99
• Best for authentic details: LEGO Friends Olivia's Space Academy, £59.99
• Best for magical role play: LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Courtyard: Sirius's Rescue, £44.99
• Best for gaming-inspired play: LEGO Minecraft The Ice Castle, £44.99
• Best for clever accessories: LEGO Friends Andrea's Theatre School, £89.99
• Best for reconfigurable wizardry: LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Magical Trunk, £54.99
• Best for a pocket-money build: LEGO Sunflowers, £11.99
• Best for feature-packed play: LEGO Friends Friendship Tree House, £69.99

Here's our pick of the best LEGO sets for 8-year-old girls and boys

1. LEGO Friends Heartlake International School Set, £89.99

– Best for school-based role play

Number of pieces: 985 | Age suitability: 8+ | Build time: 4 to 5 hours | Size when built: H21cm x W35cm x D25cm

This is a bright and colourful set with lots going on! The school building – with classrooms, canteen and lockers – is reconfigurable, so you can decide which room goes where, and outside you can set up a basketball net and a play area for pupils to have break-time fun on the skateboard and bike (helmet included, of course).

The set comes with 5 nicely diverse figures (4 children and a teacher), accessories including a laptop, microscope, art supplies, snacks food, a skeleton (for the science lab) and a very cute pet hamster called Bunsen. Our child tester Amelie, 8 (pictured above) was very taken with the little figures: "I really like how they've included someone with a disability," she said.

The build is well-pitched for this age, with plenty to do over a fair few hours but nothing too tricky. "It's not too easy for an 8-year-old to build but not stupidly hard to follow either," said Amelia's mum Siân. "Amelie didn't need (or want) any help, she found the instructions clear and easy to understand and she really enjoyed the construction process."

For an interactive building experience, you can also download the (free) LEGO Builder app and zoom in, rotate and view what you're building in 3D.

We're impressed by the level of detail in this set and the breadth of playability this offers. We particularly love the solar panels on the roof and little canvasses and palettes in the art room.
"I really like how they added a tuck shop," said Amelia, "and made all the classrooms so different. It’s fun to play with after it’s built and I like the characters – although I wish there was more than 1 teacher included for the whole school. I like this so much more than the old school Lego had!"
Available from: LEGO and Very

2. LEGO Friends Olivia's Space Academy, £59.99

– Best for authentic details

Number of pieces: 757 | Age suitability: 8+ | Build time: 6 hours | Size when built: H26cm x W21cm x D10cm (for the academy building); H8cm x L9cm x W15cm (for the shuttle)

This space exploration-themed set really impressed us with its authentic NASA features, including the robotic arm that extends from the shuttle to take your little astronaut on satellite-repair space walk, and its scientifically accurate detailing – even the equations on the classroom whiteboard are proper spaceflight equations.

We also really like the standalone multi-axis trainer (for simulating a spin in micro-gravity – see, we've been learning too!) and the little observatory with its roof telescope.

Our child tester Anya, 8 (pictured above) was wowed by the level of detail, too: "This is amazing," she said. "There are so many pieces and I like how everything works and I like the solar-system model and the way it spins. It's the best LEGO set I've had!"

As a build, it's nicely challenging for an 8-year-old. "Anya found it really fun to build," said her mum Bina. "There were easy follow-along steps and, though it took a while, there was nothing she wasn't able to work out herself.

"We absolutely love how well thought out this set is – it has a lot of playability after it's built."

The set comes with 4 figures and an interactive guide that, as with the Heartlake International School Set, above, lets you rotate and zoom in on your model in 3-D..

Available from: LEGO and Argos

3. LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Courtyard: Sirius's Rescue, £44.99

– Best for magical role play

Number of pieces: 345 | Age suitability: 8+| Build time: 4 hours | Size when built: H31cm x W22cm x D10cm

This set builds into a the classic scene from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban where Harry and Hermione ride the hippogriff Buckbeak to free Sirius Black from where he's been held prisoner at the top of a Hogwarts tower.

It comes with Harry, Hermione and Sirius figures, an excellent Buckbeak figure with movable wings and space for a mini rider on top, and 2 collectible wizard tiles.

Compared to other sets for this age, there aren't masses of pieces but there are some fiddly bits in the build – especially when you're making the roof and the (wonderful) little spiral staircase. Our child tester Amelia, 8 (pictured above) said, "It was quite hard but fun and interesting to build. It looks like the real movie!"

Anna, Amelia's mum, picked out the set's detailing for particular praise. "I really liked how true to the films and books it seems – and the little details like the HP logo on the coins and magic wands. It looks really nice and almost too good to role play with. I also really liked the extras like the secret wizard cards – a nice addition."

Like the other sets above, this set's (free) building instructions app lets you view, rotate and zoom in on your model in 3-D. It also connects with other sets in the LEGO Hogwarts series to create an entire Hogwarts castle.

Available from: LEGO and John Lewis

4. LEGO Minecraft The Ice Castle, £44.99

– Best for gaming-inspired play

Number of pieces: 499 | Age suitability: 8+ | Build time: 2.5 hours | Size when built: H16cm x W23cm x D19cm

Now here's a playset that comes with real bragging rights. Or as our child tester Evelyn, 8 (pictured above, building the set with her brother) put it, "It's really cool. My friends would love it – but it's mine!"

The Minecraft-inspired set builds into just the sort of lovably clunky structures kids build online in the game. It can be configured in different ways, and really does transfer well from the digital world to the LEGO one: there's a cauldron to create potions, a stonecutter, an anvil, diamond sword and banner shield, crossbow, axe, a treasure chest with precious objects and – of course – a crafting table.

It also has a flick-fire arrow launcher and comes with a royal warrior figure, 2 skeletons, 2 zombies and a yeti.

It's not the longest build but there are 1 or 2 tricky bits and our child tester Evelyn did need some help from her dad. Her mum Lindsey said, "We liked how the instructions were available on the app, which meant if we lost the paper instructions, we wouldn't be stuck. It's a bit delicate in places when built but we love how current it is with children's interests – it gave her something to talk about at school, and it was great for her to play with after the build, and share with her siblings."

Available from: LEGO and B&M

5. LEGO Friends Andrea's Theatre School, £89.99

– Best for clever accessories

Number of pieces: 1154 | Age suitability: 8+ | Build time: 5 hours | Size when built: H24cm x W39cm x D13cm

This impressive Victorian theatre set has an outside ticket office, show hoardings and street furniture, and then opens up to reveal balcony seating, an orchestra pit and a stage with curtains and 2 different backdrops (cityscape and medieval castle).

There's also a standalone dressing room, props room, lights rigging, 4 mini figures to act out the plays on the big stage and loads of great accessories, including wigs, hats, make up, a director's megaphone and even a tree costume. The level of detail is really, really astonishing. Our child tester Jacob, 8 (pictured above in mid-build), said. "This is really good because it's got lots of things to do. I especially like the ticket for pretending to pay entry."

Jacob's mum Caroline was knocked out by the details, too. "It's so incredibly detailed and beautifully thought through," she said. "I loved that the curtains worked on a mechanism and the fact it even had a toilet! And the way it all folds neatly away is really lovely. We were very impressed."

Jacob did find the build hard – he needed help from his older sister – so we'd say this is probably not a set your child could build entirely independently unless they're a veteran of a fair few 1000+ piece LEGO builds.

It comes with a free interactive digital guide, as well as paper instructions, so you can zoom in and see your theatre in 3-D if that floats your drama boat.

Available from: LEGO and Amazon

6. LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Magical Trunk, £54.99

– Best for reconfigurable wizardry

Number of pieces: 603 | Age suitability: 8+| Build time: 3.5 hours | Size when built: H6cm x W17cm x D7cm

This Harry Potter-inspired playset looks like a Hogwarts pupil's trunk but opens up to reveal a room set that can be configured and reconfigured – with a multitude of mini props (some of which reconfigure too) – into the scene for the Sorting Ceremony, a feast in the Great Hall or an evening in the Gryffindor common room/Harry's bedroom.

As well as accessories including the Marauder's Map, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, a copy of The Quibbler, goblets, cookies, a chessboard and an owl, there is a large selection of minifigure parts that you can put together to create your favourite Harry Potter characters or even create new ones of your own.

The trunk itself can be colour-customised to represent your child's favourite Hogwarts house, and then personalised with stickers.

Our child tester and proud Gryffindor Aariv, 8 (pictured above) found the build fun and said, "I loved how realistic the items inside the trunk are. Putting on the stickers was loads of fun, too. As a huge Harry Potter and LEGO fan, this is a dream come true!"

Samantha, Aariv's mum added, "We loved the detailing, the bright and vibrant colours really brought the trunk to life once assembled. The trunk is robust and doesn't come apart easily once assembled and we thought it was really good that you can rebuild the set into different models. My son has lots of fun playing with it."

Available from: LEGO and Very

7. LEGO Sunflowers, £11.99

– Best for a pocket-money build

Number of pieces: 191 | Age suitability: 8+| Build time: 3o minutes | Size when built: H25cm

The bright yellow flowers with adjustable green stems and leaves are quick to build, and make a great display for a bedroom shelf. We think they'd make a great pocket-money purchase or a sweet and quirky birthday party gift.

Our child tester Ayana, 8 (pictured above) was enchanted and said, "This was easy and fun. I would want to make more of them. The flowers look really pretty and I like holding them."

You can also get other LEGO flower sets, such as Tulips or Roses, at a similar price point, to display alongside or combined with your sunflowers in a little bouquet.

Available from: LEGO and Amazon

8. LEGO Friends Friendship Tree House, £69.99

– Best for feature-packed play

Number of pieces: 1114 | Age suitability: 8+| Build time: 5 hours | Size when built: H30cm x W30cm x D13cm

This LEGO Friends set stands out for its post-build playability and its lovely, inclusive, eco-friendly theme. The treehouse-with-slide playset you construct features a birdbox, a beehive and honey-making station, a wind turbine, a telescope, a rabbit hutch and a wheelchair-friendly swing and lift. All of these, along with accessories including a cargo bike, a carpentry bench, guitar, tool, play food and 4 mini figures, make a brilliant jumping off point for acting out loads of stories about friends working together to build a nature-loving community.

"It's amazing and I just love it!" said our child tester Shaznay, 8 (pictured above). " I love the slide, I love the figures, It's all very special. I love how big it is, too."

We were particularly taken by the extra heads that come with the mini figures – so you can have them changing expression. And the LEGO Friends superfans amongst our child testers were thrilled to discover you can use a QR code to discover some retro Heartlake City hidden treasures. You can also use the LEGO building instructions app to see and zoom in on your treehouse in 3-D.

Shaznay's mum Farwah said she found the build long ("she spent hours on it!") but not at all complicated. "And once it was complete," she said, "Shaznay absolutely loved playing it. It was her first activity as soon as she came back home from school. It's colourful and great quality and a very educational and has really boosted her confidence and imaginative play."

Available from: LEGO and John Lewis

Pics: Product websites/MadeForMums testers

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• Best toys for 8 year olds
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