The 10 Best Lego City Sets

Editor's Notes

December 14, 2020:

Today the Passenger Airplane 60262 joins the selection, as a 669-piece set that comes with eight minifigures and a baby, so you’re sure to have enough crew members and passengers for your imaginary flights. Also included are plenty of accessories like luggage, a mug, a baby bottle, and beacons. The car and suitcases can be transported by the included truck with a trailer. The plane itself features a highly detailed interior and a top that’s easy to remove to reveal what’s inside. Everyone can board via the portable stairway on wheels that glides right up to the door. The terminal building features a luggage conveyor belt and a control tower with a radar dish and a vending machine. Also coming on board is the Fire Chief Response Truck 60231, which replaces the now-retired Fire Station 60004. The newly added set brings you Freya McCloud and a firefighter, who can put out the flames atop the electrical box with the cannon that shoots pretend water. Freya can stay in touch with colleagues via her walkie talkie, and the safety cones help keep the area clear of traffic and pedestrians. As for the vehicle itself, it’s got sturdy wheels, a removable ladder, and spots for the two characters to sit. It’s good for kids aged five and older. In this update, we also say goodbye to the Spaceport 60080, which also has been retired.

We’re still partial to the Town Square 60097, which brings you all sorts of storefronts, minifigures, and a tram, which are fun for independent play or can be integrated into other City sets or any other classic Lego set. Another set that remains highly popular is the 894-piece Police Station 60141, which comes with a three-story building complete with a watchtower, jail cells, a garage and a landing pad for the included helicopter. There’s also a cruiser and a motorbike that the four cops can use to chase the trio of robbers as they try to escape in their truck with an extendable cherry picker. No matter which set you choose for your child, as stated in our last update, be sure to supervise small children closely with their toys and abide by the manufacturer’s stated age guidelines.

November 05, 2019:

The highly popular Lego City line was introduced back in 1977 and is still going strong. Each kit depicts a different aspect of a community, including police and fire stations, an airport, a harbor, construction sites, and more. You can assemble multiple sets over time to create an entire municipality. Our selection here features some of the standout sets equipped with fun themes and collectible minifigures and accessories.

Joining the selection today is the Garage Center 60232, which is a great way to introduce new builders (as young as four) to the world of Lego. It’s equipped with an easy-to-assemble garage repair shop, a gas station pump, and car wash stands. The operation is run by resident mechanic Harl Hubbs (whom you may be familiar with from the animated Lego City Adventures TV series), as well as three other minifigures to attend to the car wash and gas pumps. This set provides a multitude of fun role-play opportunities for kids.

Departing from our list to make room for this new set is the Airport Passenger Terminal, which overall receives rave reviews but does have one minor inconvenience: Once you’ve built the plane, the pilot and passenger minifigures are trapped inside unless you take it back apart.

If you want to add even more blocks, minifigures, and accessories to your City collection, check out our list of best Lego Classic sets, some of which also come with baseplates, which make for a great starting point for your building.

As with any toy, before giving any of these sets to a child, make sure you’re following the manufacturer’s stated age guidelines – and always supervise kids for a safe playtime.