Blocks Magazine

5 November 2020

WELCOME Do you remember seeing Diagon Alley for the first time? Whether it was in your imagination while reading the books, on the silver screen while watching the movies, or in person at Universal Studios, the wizarding world’s most iconic shopping street is truly the stuff of magic. And the LEGO Group’s newest take on the location looks to live up to that reputation, so we’ve taken a deep dive into Diagon Alley for this month’s issue. On page 20, we’ve chatted with the set’s designer, Marcos Bessa, to find out how the enormous project came together. Then we’ve built it, played with it and dissected it to give you our final verdict on page 38. And if you’re not satisfied with 5,544 pieces alone, you can take matters into your own hands with our updated version of Gringotts on page 78. It’s built perfectly to scale with the official set, and we’ve even shown you how to recreate some of its more complex techniques. There is a LEGO life beyond the Potter-verse, though, as demonstrated by the rest of this varied issue. Graham’s headed into the jungle with LEGO Friends, Daniel’s figured out why Castle and Space aren’t coming back, and I’ve poked and prodded at pieces with the element design team. That’s really just the tip of the iceberg, so what are you waiting for? Grab your wand and dive in. Chris Wharfe Editor