LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse review

The very first view that Harry got of Hogwarts has now been rendered in detail in LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse – but is it worth a purchase?

The LEGO Group is working on a new brick-built iteration of Hogwarts Castle, made up of four sets that have been revealed or released so far: 76435 Hogwarts Castle: The Great Hall, 76430 Hogwarts Castle Owlery, 76431 Hogwarts Castle: Potions Class, and 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse. The last one in that list is the subject of this review and is one of the smaller ones of the wave.

76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse is made up of (unsurprisingly) a buildable boathouse, with a pretty substantial minifigure line-up for a 350-piece set. Let’s dig into more of the LEGO Harry Potter set’s details to find out whether it’s a worthy starting point for the latest modular Hogwarts…

— LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse set details —

Theme: LEGO Harry Potter Set name: 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse Release date: March 1, 2024

Price: £31.99 / $37.99 / €37.99 Pieces: 350

LEGO: Order now

— Where to buy LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse —

LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse is available to buy now for £31.99 / $37.99 / €37.99. You can find it at LEGO.com and in LEGO Stores, and through some third-party retailers.

— LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse build —

At just 350 pieces, you’d think that perhaps there wouldn’t be much detail packed into 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse – but you’d be mistaken. The LEGO Harry Potter set uses its modest piece count wisely to include little easter eggs for fans of the franchise, from a hiding place for Neville’s always-missing toad, Trevor, to a lookout telescope affixed to the top of the tower.

We don’t get much of a good look at the boathouse at any point in the movies, aside from when Voldemort uses it as a base to terrorise Lucius Malfoy and kill Severus Snape (spoilers, sorry) – and then the focus is on the characters, rather than the dark boathouse itself. It’s therefore tricky to say how accurate it is but, at face value, it ticks every box it needs to.

The roof and rocks are well-decorated with leaves, transparent blue elements that give a sense of waves, and even some aquatic wildlife to add some extra depth in the form of a fish and a crab. A spider crawls over the wall and two oars are affixed to the walls inside the brick-built boathouse.

The style of the trees and roof also match perfectly to the other parts of Hogwarts Castle we’ve already seen (namely, 76435 Hogwarts Castle: The Great Hall and 76430 Hogwarts Castle Owlery), but it would be unfair to reduce 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse to just a small set that you need to get in order to build the new minifigure-scale version of the wizarding school. It has plenty to enjoy as a set in its own right and the only indicator that it’s meant to be part of a wider display are the small clips on the back, ready to snap onto 76435 Hogwarts Castle: The Great Hall.

Even if you’re not planning to buy the full range of LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle sets, 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse has an aesthetic detail or fun reference packed into virtually every square inch of its compact base. There’s space inside for one boat to squeeze in and plenty of display options for Professor McGonagall to stand on, awaiting her newest students.

— LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse minifigures —

With minifigures on the mind, five minifigures in a 350-piece set is pretty good going – even if four of them are made from nearly identical parts. Nonetheless, all but Hermione are new to this set, making for fresh versions of Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, and Professor McGonagall.

Of course, there’s not a tonne to write home about when it comes to four students in Hogwarts uniforms, but we believe this is Dean’s first minifigure appearance as a child and Neville’s darker hair is a closer match to his on-screen appearance.

However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Professor McGonagall’s green, printed robes are the standout of this selection of minifigures. She’s kitted out with an (admittedly oversized) list, conveniently populated with the four students included in this set, offering some convincing play options.

— LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse price —

Considering what we’ve just covered in terms of minifigure appeal and the impressive level of detail in such a small set, £31.99 / $37.99 / €37.99 isn’t too bad – but it still feels like a lot when you step back and see what you’re left with at the end of your build. There’s no other way of looking at 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse: it’s a small set, so paying over £30 does feel on the higher end of the spectrum. Nonetheless, it will likely be worth it to many who want to build up the latest minifigure-scale version of Hogwarts Castle.

— LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse pictures —

— LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse pros and cons —

All in all, 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse is a solid little set – if a little overpriced. Even if you’re not planning on carving out a space (and the budget) for a minifigure scale version of the school, it could be a good way to scratch that itch without needing to find a whole new shelf. A strong minifigure selection, subtle references to the movies, and aesthetic decor in-keeping with the set’s design mean it’s hard to find much to complain about.

76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse pros	76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse cons
Impressive level of detail	Slightly overpriced
Just as good to display as for play
Works standalone

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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— Alternatives to LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse —

Of couse, there are other options if you want a little piece of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Just as the boathouse is set away from the school, so too is 76428 Hagrid’s Hut: An Unexpected Visit. While larger and more expensive, this LEGO Harry Potter set packs the same level of detail into its 896 pieces. The unfolding walls mean it’s perfect for play, or keep it closed up to display Hagrid’s cosy home in the grounds.

76430 Hogwarts Castle Owlery is closer to 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse in terms of architectural style, but looks slightly more impressive thanks to its tower silhouette. The wealth of owls packed into the set is also a fun extra, but its minifigures are slightly less impressive. After all, is there any world where Argus Filch bests Professor McGonagall?

— LEGO Harry Potter 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse FAQs —