I received this set as a gift, so I'm a bit biased on the price because if relatives felt they could purchase it and then send it to me from overseas, it's got a good value that way.

For those on a budget, this is a perfect, small scale model of the Big Ben clock tower. It's just fantastic to build. It even breaks down easily to store away in the box it comes with and if you pull it apart correctly, it's easy to rebuild each time.

The instructions were easy to follow as always with LEGO, including history on Big Ben as well. One of those models you build and have setting somewhere for conversation starters where people can see you're into LEGO.

Just a beautiful model with right level of details for its size that people know what it is.

This is a very quick build, but enjoyable and fairly detailed for the number of pieces. This was my first LEGO set in years and it sucked me back in.

This is a very nice display piece there is just one problem my pieces keep on cracking so need to order more from Customer Service but all it has done is sit on my shelf

Box/Instructions

VERY NICE, which is the norm for all architectural sets. I really would love to see TLG make these types of boxes for most of their sets, would make storing/inventory-ing of original sets much easier. With many of my more "complicated" sets, I will alter the box so that it opens and closes like the Architecture line. Would even be willing to pay more for every set!

Parts

If you are an AFOL, the pieces in this set are nice additions to existing collections, IMO. Tan, Tan and more Tan!!

Minifigures

NA

The build

Enjoyed the build. Not the most challenging but watching it come together is, as always fun. Gets repetitive but again, that is not necessarily uncommon for Architecture themed sets.

The completed model

I've not personally seen Big Ben rather pictures. Whilst not perfect, it's pretty obvious what it is and I think it looks pretty cool!

Overall opinion

As always, you may be paying a bit more than it's worth but isn't that pretty much always the case with Lego? I have it on display along with my other 20 or so Architectural sets. If you are an AFOL with a pretty decent existing collection you probably can build this by buying missing/needed pieces off of Bricklink pretty easily which I would recommend as opposed to paying a premium for this retired set.

This is a pretty standard Architecture set: lots of small pieces, all in the same color, and lots of repetition in the build. I'm not a huge fan of that, but it does seem like a requirement when you are depicting real buildings with lots of symmetry and multiple floors.

The build has some interesting techniques to it. The whole structure is shifted a half brick from the base. The roof tiles are 2x1 pieces centered on a brick with a holed stud, which is a bit unusual for an official build but it holds well enough. I was surprised it wasn't pointed out in the instructions. There's one other dodgy bit with a vertical 2x1 flat tile attached vertically that really seems to intrude on a nearby stud. It's not structural though so it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.

My main problem with this set is that it doesn't really look like the real Big Ben. The color is pretty spot-on, and the lower tower and parliament buildings are as good as they could be at this scale, but the top of the tower is just wrong. The real one has big square clockfaces that don't stick out and cover the entire side of the top, while Lego decided to use smaller round stock clock pieces that have to stick out an extra piece's thickness to attach. A custom 2x2 printed brick with the real Big Ben clock face would have made this set look so much better. If they can print up the Big Ben name plate brick, they should also print up other pieces that are much more important to the build.

This is a general issue with these micro-scale Architecture sets. They choose scales that are just too small to accurately reflect a real building's nuance and details. 3x3 to represent Big Ben? Impossible.