The new LEGO Icons 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook focuses on facades, but gives the recent 10362 French Café some stiff competition.
LEGO building facades are surprisingly common in LEGO Icons in 2025. The start of the Restaurants of the World range earlier this year, with 10362 French Café, was met with some criticism for its lack of minifigures and confusing target audience. The building techniques on display are impressive, but it eschews compatibility with the popular LEGO figures in a facade scene.
That's unlike the similarly facade-focused 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook, which was revealed earlier today.
10362 French Café has 1,101 pieces for £69.99 / $79.99 / €79.99, whereas 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook has 1,359 pieces for £109.99 / $129.99 / €119.99. 10362 French Café also notably has printed pieces, while 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook.
For an increased price and size, 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook amends the minifigure scale issue in 10362 French Café with five new minifigures that scale with the street and buildings.
There's not much furniture for the minifigures to use, but opening doors and small interior spaces are designed to fit the minifigures, and their relevance to the scene gives 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook an edge over 10362 French Café.
10362 French Café has a small interior that's hard to access, but since it's a facade, that's understandable. 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook is a facade too, with just as much space for an interior, and much more detail as well as accessibility.
By making the most use of the available space, both 10362 French Café and 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook offer something to explore beyond the facade, but it's only easily accessible to appreciate the details in the book nook.
Despite a higher price, 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook presents some stiff competition for 10362 French Café after its release earlier this year. It will be interesting to see how the two perform when they're both on shelves at the same time from June 1. 10362 French Café is available now, and 10351 Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook is available to pre-order ahead of June 1.
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