LEGO Harry Potter 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express review

LEGO Harry Potter 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express is one of three book nooks to chug on to shelves this year, but is it just set to collect dust?

Blending practicality and display, the LEGO book nooks translate beloved books into brick-built display pieces. In the case of 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express, the 832-piece set can function as both a book nook, sandwiched between books to offer a glimpse on to Platform 9 3/4, or split up as book ends so the Hogwarts Express chugs along your bookshelf. Does it manage to deliver on both of those functions? Let’s head to King’s Cross to find out…

The enduring thought, both while building 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express and putting it on display, is that a LEGO Harry Potter book nook could have been a lot more magical. What about the Room of Requirement? The Gryffindor common room? A wizarding street? The moving staircases? The list goes on. That’s not to say there’s nothing to love about the build: the Hogwarts Express is a pleasure to put together, with the steam streaming out of the funnel an especially nice touch.

Platform 9 3/4 is certainly an iconic location in the Wizarding World, so you can understand why it was selected. However, the Hogwarts Express has been recreated 13 times over the years – did we really need another version?

If you don’t already own one, this is a neat way to get a display-ready train and station without breaking the bank – although the price tag of £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 can’t be considered good value for the size of the build you get. It does feel more worth it when you consider the versatility of the display options, easily slotting on to any Potter-based shelf.

Harry Potter fans surely own at least one copy of the books and 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express does easily walk straight from the box on to your shelf. It’s easy to incorporate into decor, making it well-suited as a first LEGO set for Potterheads.

While the set can be separated in two as bookends, it works best as a book nook – but not perfectly. From far away, it does act like a magical window into the world of Harry Potter. The tunnel effect created by the two sides is very effective (although you can’t think too hard about why the Hogwarts Express is somehow on both sides of the station).

It could have been improved by actually clicking together into place in the book nook mode. Instead, you’re relying on the pressure from the books on either side to keep the sides flush, which easily leaves room for the two parts to become misaligned.

There are slight but irritating flaws in the bookend position as well, with exposed connectors leaving gaps in between the LEGO set and the books in between on the left-hand side (so, best to remove these in this configuration). The effect of the train chugging down the shelf is effective, although it doesn’t draw the eye quite as well as the book nook does.

While 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express has glimmers of impressive design, it fails to wholly convince as a LEGO set on its own two feet, as a book nook, or as a bookend. It may well go down well as a shelf filler for a Potterhead, but for long-term LEGO fans, there’s little to intrigue outside of the novelty of its status as a booknook.

Our honest opinion: 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express has its charm, but it doesn’t impress enough to win us over in terms of build or display.

This LEGO set was provided by the LEGO Group for review purposes.

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How long does it take to build LEGO Harry Potter 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express?

Leave yourself around two hours to build LEGO Harry Potter 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express, which offers a reasonably straightforward build.

How many pieces are in LEGO Harry Potter 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express?

76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express is made up of 832 pieces – many of which are doubled to build the two mirror-image sides of the book ends.

How big is LEGO Harry Potter 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express?

76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express measures 17cm high, 7cm deep, and 38cm wide when doubled up at its longest length, slotting easily on to most shelves.

How much does LEGO Harry Potter 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express?

You can buy LEGO Harry Potter 76450 Book Nook: Hogwarts Express right now from LEGO.com and select third-party retailers for £89.99 in the UK, $99.99 in the US, and from €99.99 in Europe.