In this article, our friend “The Wooden Duck” will review the LEGO 76437 – Harry Potter The Burrow.
In this review, he pointed out some imperfections in the physical build of the Harry Potter The Burrow set and offered his thoughts on why LEGO might have designed it that way. He also shared his opinions on the choice of this particular set as the review topic, praising it as the best, most detailed, and most realistic version of The Burrow set LEGO has ever released.
Of course, he took plenty of photos and GIFs to showcase just how impressive the details of this set are!
Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
PS: If you want to learn more about this product and read other reviews by other friends, you can check out the “Review Roundup – LEGO 76437 – Harry Potter The Burrow” written by Gilbert.
You can also check this article to learn more about Harry Potter The Burrow.
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LEGO The Burrow – Collectors' EditionEstimated reading time: 23 minutes
LEGO 42172 Review
The Wooden Duck
Table of contents
Incomplete Physical Pathways
When I got the Burrow set, I was really curious. This is a D2C set with a fully built structure, so why is there no sign of any interior pathways in the official images? I checked the parts list in the instruction manual and noticed that the set does include stairs—six of them, to be exact.
But as I tried to find where these stairs were supposed to go, I realized they’re actually used for constructing the Burrow’s sloped roof. The rooms inside the building, however, don’t have complete physical pathways connecting them.
The instruction manual for the LEGO 76437 The Burrow – Collector’s Edition shows that the set includes six 4277751 staircase pieces.
All of the staircase pieces in the set are used for building the roof rather than as actual stairway passages.
The fact that the LEGO set doesn’t feature a complete passageway isn’t something unique to this Burrow set; similar designs have appeared in previous LEGO ICONS sets, such as the Lion Knights’ Castle and the Medieval Town. I understand that this is a compromise made by the designers to divide the space, but as someone who has been building modular sets for many years, I believe a complete passageway is a fundamental requirement for an excellent architectural-themed set.
The recent Harry Potter collector Edition sets from LEGO have also lacked complete building designs, so the need for a full passageway wasn’t as important. One reason I’m particularly focused on the staircase in this set is because, in the movies, there are quite a few close-up shots of Burrow’s stairs, making them a significant part of the house.
Additionally, the price of this set is relatively low compared to other collector sets, so there’s no real need to cut costs here. At this point, it would have been better to make it a bit larger and get everything right in one go.
The staircase of the Burrow is depicted in the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Additionally, I’ve noticed that LEGO designers seem to have a habit of leaving certain sets with some imperfections, only to release a new version later to fix them. However, with a set like the Burrow, and considering that the Harry Potter TV series is on the horizon, how many more opportunities will there be for it in the future?
Topic
Speaking of the subject matter, the Burrow in the Harry Potter film series is certainly not as iconic or recognizable as Hogwarts, the Hogwarts Express, or Diagon Alley, but it’s still a notable setting in the movies (after all, it appears for a significant amount of time in two of the films).
In the history of LEGO’s Harry Potter series, the first Burrow set didn’t appear until 2010, and counting this latest set, there have only been four in total, both large and small. However, upon closer comparison, you’ll notice that the previous Burrow playsets all included the scene of the Death Eaters attacking the house from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. This time around, though, the collector’s edition focuses more on the interior of the house, which I find a bit disappointing.
If they had included a few Death Eaters, the set would have truly captured all the key scenes of the Burrow, making it a much more complete collector’s edition.
The Details
When we take a closer look at this set, I must point out that it’s the best Burrow set the LEGO Group has released so far, and also the most detailed architectural set. As a collector’s edition, the model’s colors are much closer to the palette seen in the series, offering a more realistic look, unlike the previous playsets where the colors were deliberately lightened.
In terms of architectural details, you can see that the designer used a mix of smooth pieces and raised studs to recreate the varied textures of The Burrow’s exterior, especially capturing the “weathered” look of the wooden structures.
For the first time, the iconic slanted structure of the Burrow’s top-floor room has been faithfully recreated, and it’s one of the most cleverly designed features of this set. The designer used a difference in the thickness of a single plate to create the slanted angle, which is achieved through a long beam from the Technic series and a hidden slot behind the bathroom’s toothbrush holder. This mechanism not only creates the slant but also ensures the stability of the model.
LEGO 76437 The Burrow – Collector’s Edition Top Room Slanted Design (the pink dashed line in the image indicates the slanted angle)
LEGO 76437 The Burrow – Collector’s Edition Top Room Slanted Design (the pink dashed line in the image indicates the slanted angle
LEGO 76437 The Burrow – Collector’s Edition Top Room Slanted Design, where the bathroom’s toothbrush holder is used to secure the angled position.
Of course, The Burrow’s architecture isn’t limited to just this one slanted feature. On the sides and back of the building, there are several windows set at 45-degree angles, along with the fully slanted window from the Weasley twins’ room.
These details help enhance the texture of the exterior. However, there are two wedge bricks on the back of the building that were awkwardly placed to cover gaps created by the angled window installation, which feels a bit out of place.
In the two films, the layout of the Burrow’s exterior is different. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the pigsty is located at the front of the Burrow, but in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, it has moved to the side. To recreate these architectural differences, the designer used a detachable, modular structure, allowing players to adjust the layout of the Burrow as they see fit.
LEGO 76437 The Burrow – Collector’s Edition allows players to modify the layout of the Burrow’s structure
LEGO 76437 The Burrow – Collector’s Edition Two Layouts (Left: from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Right: from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
Furthermore, when we take a closer look at the pigsty, we can see that the trough actually has slop in it. Even though it’s a sticker, I think this detail is fantastic.
The Burrow can be unfolded through hinges on the side of the building. Two-thirds of the set is dedicated to constructing the front half of the Burrow, while the remaining one-third focuses on the back half. The hinges are also detachable, allowing the front and back sections to be displayed separately. This design has the benefit of enabling two people to build simultaneously, and if you want to check out the interior details, it also provides more space for easier access.
LEGO 76437 The Burrow – Collector’s Edition features detachable hinges
Furthermore, some parts of the building can be modularly detached, allowing players to see specific details. However, despite this feature, there are still a few areas inside where the space is cramped due to the structure, making it difficult to interact with. While it’s visible during the build, once completed, it can feel like your hands don’t quite fit inside or that the lighting is a bit dim.
Upon entering the Burrow, you’ll find that the interior includes bedrooms for several members of the Weasley family. Strictly speaking, aside from Bill and Charlie Weasley, who no longer live there, the remaining seven family members each have their own bedroom, fully covering all the facilities needed for the Weasley family’s daily life (except for bathing).
There’s also a nice detail in the bathroom that reflects the family’s living situation: the toothbrush holder shows that Bill and Charlie don’t have toothbrushes because they no longer live there, while two people sharing a room also share a toothbrush cup. Additionally, Ron’s toothbrush, like his wand, has been mended, referencing a plot point from the film.
The first floor of the Burrow serves as the family’s living room, kitchen, and communal dining area. Through the printed glass windows, you can see the exterior scenery of the building. Based on the window prints and color choices in this set, I strongly feel that the person leading the LEGO Harry Potter series must also be in charge of the LEGO Friends and LEGO Disney series because the color scheme of these prints is exactly the same as the style of those two series…
LEGO 76437 The Burrow – Collector’s Edition Window Print Design (Left) Compared to the Window Decals in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, with LEGO modifying the colors in the set.
Magical Design
On this floor, you’ll find the most “magical” design in the entire set. Using LEGO bricks to recreate magic is an incredibly creative concept, and in this set, three key magical moments from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets are brought to life: enchanted dishwashing, magical knitting, and Floo powder. With simple yet clever designs, these features beautifully capture the interactive nature of the wizarding world.
Enchanted Dishwashing
Pressing the nearby button makes the scrub brush move side to side, recreating the dishwashing effect from the film.
The enchanted dishwashing scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Enchanted knitting
Although it’s a static scene, it cleverly uses simple pieces to depict the yarn being pulled from a ball on the floor and woven into a sweater.
The enchanted knitting scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Floo Powder
By turning the gear in the model, the green rod lifts the minifigure, making it “disappear” into the fireplace. This recreates the scene from the film where green flames appear as characters use Floo powder to reach their destination.
The Floo powder scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Other Details
In addition, the stickers on the interior walls of the Burrow are filled with numerous details, not only showing various household items but also some fun little touches.
For example, there’s a photo of Gilderoy Lockhart and his book Magical Me (with his initials “G.L.” on the spine), various magical world foods, and even Ron’s rat, Scabbers, sneaking a bite of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans.
Weasley family clock
On the first floor, there’s also the Weasley family clock. The clock face can track the location of family members, and by turning a knob at the back, you can rotate the clock’s hands.
Bedrooms
At the top of the Burrow are the bedrooms of the family members, each reflecting the character’s traits and personality through the furniture and decor. The placement and size of each room vary; for instance, Ron and Ginny’s rooms are slanted, and the location of Ron’s room is consistent with the description in the novels.
Fred and George’s bedroom
Fred and George’s bedroom is filled with various magical prank elements. The blackboard in their room features design ideas for some of their toys, a prototype of their products sits on the bedside table, and there’s even a box on the floor in the same colors as the future Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes products.
Arthur and Molly Weasley’s bedroom
Arthur and Molly Weasley’s bedroom includes some Muggle elements, such as a wind-up key, an electrical outlet, and a London red telephone box. This could reference the entrance to the Ministry of Magic, or it might be a nod to the LEGO IDEAS set of the same telephone box, which is scaled similarly to LEGO minifigures.
This printed brick with the outlet design is going to be really popular in the future.
Percy’s Bedroom
Percy’s bedroom is located on the top floor and includes several Gryffindor elements, particularly in the design of his bed and the pattern/colors of the bedspread. Given Percy’s academic success, his room also features a desk, a quill, and other study-related items.
Ginny’s Bedroom
Ginny’s bedroom reflects a young girl’s love for music and idols, with posters of the Weird Sisters band and Gwenog Jones, the captain of the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team, on the walls. Her bedspread is also themed in the colors of the Holyhead Harpies.
Ron’s Bedroom
Ron’s bedroom has a similar design style to Ginny’s, but since his favorite Quidditch team is the Chudley Cannons, the posters and bedspread in his room have been adjusted accordingly.
However, I have to point out that both Ron and Ginny’s beds are positioned with the headboards facing the windows—aren’t they worried about the wind blowing on their heads at night? Also, both beds have the head lower than the foot—aren’t they concerned about the potential side effects of blood rushing to their heads while they sleep?
Bathroom
Additionally, the Burrow includes a bathroom that features a rubber duck, referencing the scene where Mr. Weasley first meets Harry Potter and asks him about the purpose of a rubber duck.
Two Small Boxes are Labeled “G.W.” and “P.W.
As a fun little detail, the set includes an Easter egg located in the mezzanine of the Burrow, where two small boxes are labeled “G.W.” and “P.W.” These initials refer to the model designer George Gilliatt and graphic designer Peter Kjærgaard, who have playfully turned themselves into members of the Weasley family (i.e., George Weasley and Peter Weasley).
Minifigures
This set focuses on the Weasley family, featuring all nine key members: Arthur and Molly Weasley, Ginny, Ron, Bill, Charlie, Percy, George, and Fred. Additionally, Harry Potter is included, bringing the total to 10 minifigures.
As mentioned earlier, these minifigures are well-suited to this set, and it might be the only opportunity to collect the complete Weasley family in one set. All minifigures have dual-sided facial expressions, and based on their respective ages (most are from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), they have different leg lengths.
However, there are two drawbacks: (1) all minifigures have plain-colored legs; (2) the set lacks Death Eater minifigures from the Battle of the Burrow.
Regarding point (2), I did some further research and noticed that in the LEGO Harry Potter collector’s series, minifigures that span different ages or films tend to be repeated (for example, Harry Potter appears in both the Hogwarts Express and Gringotts sets).
So, if they were to include the Death Eater attack in this Burrow set, it would require adding a lot of extra characters, likely driving up the cost. Moreover, the minifigures from The Half-Blood Prince are already featured in set 75980 “Attack on the Burrow,” which might explain why LEGO designers repeatedly compare the two Burrow sets without mentioning the minifigures. It seems like they’re subtly encouraging fans to get both sets…
Arthur Weasley comes with two interchangeable options: hair and a tall hat.
The owl Errol, who appears in the films, is also recreated in this set.
A Bit Disappointing
As I mentioned, this is an imperfect LEGO Harry Potter collector’s edition set. In terms of overall quality, I think it holds up well. The set successfully recreates the architectural structure and family life details of the Burrow, while also cleverly using LEGO bricks to simulate “magical” effects.
The attempt to incorporate different structural elements from various scenes at the Burrow is commendable. However, the set entirely focuses on the Weasley family, omitting the major event of the Death Eaters attacking the Burrow. Additionally, the lack of a complete passageway in the building is a bit disappointing.
Since the Burrow isn’t one of the most iconic or popular subjects in the Harry Potter series, it’s hard to say if there will be another chance to release a set like this in the future. I would have preferred to see a larger, more perfect model this year, even if it meant an extra cost.
LEGO 76437 The Burrow – Collector’s Edition includes 2,405 pieces and is recommended for ages 18+. It officially launched on September 1, 2024. When fully assembled, the model measures 25 cm in length, 23 cm in width, and 46 cm in height. Alongside its release, exclusive promotional items include the LEGO 5009008 Weasley Family Magical Clock Tile and the LEGO Harry Potter exclusive 40695 Borgin and Burkes: Floo Network set as limited-time gifts with purchase.
LEGO Flying Ford Anglia 76424
Oh, and remember the Ford Anglia set that was released earlier this year? It turns out that the set was designed to complement the new Burrow. Going forward, we should pay closer attention when LEGO quietly releases some seemingly random sets—chances are, they might come in handy with future releases!
Although our friend The Wooden Duck thinks the LEGO 76437 – Harry Potter The Burrow still has some flaws, I believe it looks nearly perfect! Its strengths and features more than make up for its minor flaws.
What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
