The LEGO Diagon Alley set is so extensive and grand that it requires three separate instruction books, for each shop. The sets come with a variety of Harry Potter characters, including Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George, Ollivander, Lucius Malfoy, Fenrir Greyback, and a couple of Gringotts goblins. There are also a few animals, including a rat, toad, and several owls (one white that is reminiscent of Hedwig, Harry's beloved pet).
If you don't pay attention to all the intricate aspects of the shops, and its surroundings, you find yourself pleasantly surprised with what gets constructed. While you're following instructions in the booklets, you may not necessarily be paying attention to what shop parts are being made, and then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, because you're not paying attention, you've built Draco Malfoy's very infamous vanishing cabinet in Borgin and Burkes, or a vault in Gringotts bank, with little gold galleons to throw in. A few pieces you would think made a fence in fact ended up being a ladder in Ollivanders shop, leading up to the second story full of wands and potions in the famous wandmaker's establishment.
Going by the characters and pieces, it is sort of difficult to pinpoint exactly where in the series it takes place, but it would have to be soon after the end of
Order of the Phoenix, as Ollivander is still around and Fred and George are dressed in their snazzy suits. Plus, we are given the Fenrir Greyback LEGO piece, who was of course introduced in the beginning of
Half-Blood Prince. You can play with the canon of the stories, or just have the trio run amock in Diagon Alley (as I have, currently demolishing Ollivander's shop, much to the dismay of the elderly wandmaker). They are fun sets for all ages, including small children who aren't quite familiar with all the aspects of the Harry Potter books and movies, and just love playing with the creepy skeleton lurking behind the dark windows of Borgin and Burkes, and throwing spare wands in the Vanishing Cabinet. For older fans who know the stories and characters, it's just a great group of sets to create stories from, from Ron and Hermione sneaking away for a private moment to the twins teasing and torturing their little brother as the rest stand by.
Each of the three shops does have designated characters, like Lucius Malfoy and Greyback for Borgin and Burkes, the goblins for Gringotts, and Ollivander for his shop. Our faithful trio and the Weasley twins just wander about to wreck mayhem, or heaven forbid, actually go shopping.
The LEGO Diagon Alley set is a wonderful extensive collection from which the imagination can be let loose, for fans of all ages. It can be purchased
here
.
Review: LEGO Harry Potter Diagon Alley set 
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