When a huge LEGO box arrived on our doorstep this summer, I don't think anyone in our house was more excited than my 11-year-old son.

LEGO is definitely "his thing", and the moment he realised it was the brand-new LEGO Icons SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom set that had already made its way onto his wish list, it instantly became his summer holiday project.

Over the following couple of weeks, our dining table slowly transformed into Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob's pineapple appeared brick by brick, Patrick's rock took shape, Squidward's house came to life, and there was plenty of excitement (and the occasional moment of frustration!) along the way.

If you're wondering whether the LEGO Icons SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom set is worth buying, whether younger builders can tackle an 18+ LEGO set, or whether the £189.99 price tag feels justified, we've put it to the test as a family. This LEGO SpongeBob review is based on our experience of building all 1,794 pieces together.

LEGO SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom at a glance

⭐ Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Product Number: LEGO 11386

Price: £189.99

Age Recommendation: 18+

Pieces: 1,794

Build Time (for our family): Around 5 hours over several sessions

Best For:

• Experienced LEGO builders
• SpongeBob SquarePants fans
• Families looking for a long-term holiday project
• Adult LEGO collectors

Pros

• Incredible attention to detail
• Beautiful display piece
• Surprisingly fun to play with
• 14 numbered bags make a huge build feel manageable
• A satisfying challenge for experienced builders

Cons

• Some sections are quite challenging
• Less experienced LEGO builders may struggle
• Younger children will need support with parts of the build

What do you get in the LEGO SpongeBob Bikini Bottom set?

The LEGO SpongeBob Bikini Bottom set recreates some of the most recognisable locations from the television series, including:

• SpongeBob's pineapple house
• Patrick's rock
• Squidward's house
• Jellyfish Fields
• The Patty Wagon-style boat
• SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward minifigures
• Brick-built Gary the Snail and DoodleBob

The very first thing that struck me was the size of the box.

I knew this was a premium LEGO set, but it was much bigger than I expected. Opening it up only added to that excitement and it immediately felt like a really special build rather than just another LEGO set.

How long does the LEGO SpongeBob SquarePants set take to build?

When I first heard there were 1,794 pieces, I honestly wondered whether it might feel overwhelming.

Instead, one of my favourite things about this LEGO SpongeBob SquarePants set was the way LEGO had split everything into 14 numbered bags.

It completely changed the experience.

Rather than facing one enormous pile of bricks, each bag became its own mini project. Oscar could simply choose to complete one bag, tidy everything away neatly and then come back another day.

We built the LEGO SpongeBob Bikini Bottom set over roughly two weeks, completing around an hour at a time, and altogether it took us around five hours.

Instead of feeling like one giant project, it felt like lots of achievable milestones, making it a brilliant school holiday activity.

Is the LEGO SpongeBob set really only for adults?

This was probably the biggest question I wanted this LEGO SpongeBob review to answer.

The box is clearly marked 18+, but our experience was a little different.

Oscar, who is 11 and already a confident LEGO builder, completed almost all of the build himself.

That doesn't mean it was easy.

There were definitely sections that challenged him, particularly attaching some of the Technic pieces to the houses and fitting the curved pineapple sections together. At one point he became frustrated enough to stop, take a break and come back later.

He rated the build an impressive 8 out of 10 for difficulty.

What impressed me most, though, was that despite needing one small bit of help, he persevered and completed the project himself.

When I asked him what age he thought someone could realistically build the LEGO SpongeBob set without help, he answered:

"I'd say about 13+. Someone who doesn't build much LEGO would struggle a lot."

Alexa, who is nine and much less experienced with LEGO, joined in for around a third of the build. We took it in turns completing pages from the instruction manual, and while she could happily build individual sections, she wouldn't have managed the complete build independently.

So although I completely understand why LEGO has marketed this as an adult display set, I also think experienced older children who already enjoy LEGO could absolutely tackle it with a bit of patience.

What are the instructions like?

This definitely isn't a tiny folded instruction leaflet.

Instead, you get two full magazine-sized instruction books packed with clear diagrams and easy-to-follow illustrations.

Considering how detailed the LEGO SpongeBob Bikini Bottom build is, I thought LEGO had done an excellent job explaining every stage.

Even during the trickier sections, Oscar always knew what he was trying to achieve.

What is the LEGO SpongeBob set actually like to build?

Although I wasn't the main builder, I loved watching everything gradually come together.

Every completed bag revealed another clever detail, another room or another SpongeBob reference that made the children smile.

Oscar's favourite section was Squidward's house.

"The detailing is amazing," he told me. "Especially when I was building SpongeBob's bed."

His favourite room was actually Squidward's bathroom because of the clever way LEGO had used different pieces to recreate everyday objects.

Alexa loved helping build Patrick's house, while both children agreed that the incredible detail inside each building was one of the biggest highlights.

Neither of them found the build repetitive, which is impressive considering there are almost 1,800 pieces.

What are the best SpongeBob details?

Even as someone who doesn't know SpongeBob anywhere near as well as my children do, I couldn't help being impressed by the attention to detail.

The outside of each house already looks fantastic, but it's what's hidden inside that really makes this LEGO SpongeBob SquarePants set stand out.

Every room feels carefully designed with clever building techniques and little references that fans will instantly recognise.

Some of our favourite details included:

• SpongeBob's bedroom
• Squidward's beautifully detailed bathroom
• Jellyfish Fields
• The Pencil of Creation reference
• The moving jellyfish feature
• Patrick's cleverly designed minifigure proportions

Both children also wished Mr Krabs and the Krusty Krab had been included, although neither felt it took away from how much they enjoyed the finished set.

Is the LEGO SpongeBob display set fun to play with?

This was one of the biggest surprises.

Because it's marketed as an 18+ LEGO Icons display set, I expected it to become something that simply sat on a shelf once we'd finished building it.

Instead, the children started playing with it before we'd even completed the build.

Patrick was immediately driving around in the boat, while both children loved exploring the different houses as they were completed.

Oscar still believes it's strongest as a display piece.

"It's a really lovely set to display."

Alexa completely disagreed.

She'd much rather play with it.

And honestly, I think they're both right.

The finished LEGO SpongeBob display set looks fantastic on a shelf, but unlike many collector-style LEGO models, it still feels playful enough that children genuinely want to interact with it.

I also suspect the minifigures will have a very long life after the build is complete, as Oscar has already claimed they'll definitely be appearing in future LEGO creations.

Does the LEGO SpongeBob Bikini Bottom set look impressive once it's finished?

Absolutely.

Even without knowing every SpongeBob episode, I couldn't stop looking at it once it was complete.

The colours are vibrant, the three iconic houses instantly stand out, and the finished display has a real wow factor.

Despite containing nearly 1,800 pieces, it's also not quite as enormous as I expected, so finding somewhere to display it shouldn't be too difficult for most families.

It's definitely one of those LEGO sets that visitors will immediately notice.

Is the LEGO SpongeBob set worth it?

Rather than focusing purely on the £189.99 price tag, I think it's more helpful to look at the overall experience.

This isn't a quick afternoon build.

It's a substantial project that can be enjoyed over several sessions, making it ideal for school holidays or as a memorable birthday or Christmas present.

The combination of a rewarding challenge, beautiful display model, clever interiors and continued play value means you're getting much more than simply 1,794 bricks.

For us, the experience didn't end when the final brick was added. The children immediately started playing with the finished set, and the minifigures have already been claimed for future LEGO adventures.

Who would we recommend the LEGO SpongeBob set to?

I'd happily recommend the LEGO SpongeBob Bikini Bottom set for:

• SpongeBob fans aged around 11+ who already enjoy larger LEGO builds
• Teenagers looking for a rewarding challenge
• Adult LEGO collectors
• Families wanting a long-term school holiday activity
• Anyone who genuinely loves both LEGO and SpongeBob SquarePants

If someone loves SpongeBob but has never really built LEGO before, I'd probably recommend starting with a smaller set first.

Likewise, if you're a huge LEGO fan but don't really know SpongeBob, you'll still appreciate the clever building techniques, although some of the references may be lost on you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the LEGO SpongeBob set worth buying?

If you're already a SpongeBob fan and enjoy LEGO, we'd definitely say yes. The detailed interiors, clever building techniques and impressive finished display make it feel like a genuinely special project.

Can an 11-year-old build the LEGO SpongeBob set?

Yes. Our 11-year-old completed almost the entire build independently. Some sections were challenging enough that he needed to take a break and ask for a little help once, but he successfully finished the project himself.

How difficult is the LEGO SpongeBob set to build?

Our son rated it 8/10 for difficulty. Experienced LEGO builders should enjoy the challenge, while beginners are likely to find some sections quite tricky.

Can you actually play with the LEGO SpongeBob set?

Yes. Although it's marketed as a display model, our children enjoyed playing with it throughout the build and have continued using the characters and boat since finishing it.

How long does the LEGO SpongeBob Bikini Bottom set take to build?

For our family, it took around five hours spread over several one-hour sessions across two weeks.

What age is the LEGO SpongeBob set suitable for?

LEGO recommends it for ages 18+, but based on our experience, confident LEGO builders aged around 11–13 and above could also enjoy it, although younger builders may need some support.

What is the best part of the LEGO SpongeBob set?

Without hesitation, all three of us agreed on one thing: the incredible attention to detail.

Whether it's the interiors of the houses, the hidden references or the clever building techniques, it's those little details that make this feel like such a special LEGO set.

Our final verdict

As a parent, what I loved most wasn't actually the finished model.

It was watching a project that initially looked enormous become something completely manageable.

The 14 numbered bags meant Oscar could tackle one stage at a time, building his confidence as he went, while Alexa could happily join in whenever she fancied helping.

By the end, they hadn't just built a LEGO set—they'd shared a project, solved problems together and created something they were genuinely proud of.

Oscar's verdict: 9/10

"The detailing in the houses is amazing. I'd definitely recommend it, but only if you love both SpongeBob and LEGO."

Alexa's verdict: 9.5/10

"I loved all the details and Patrick was my favourite. I'd definitely play with it again."

Our family verdict: 4.5/5

If you're looking for a LEGO SpongeBob SquarePants set that offers a satisfying challenge, rewards careful building and celebrates the wonderfully quirky world of Bikini Bottom, this is one that's likely to put a smile on your face long after the final brick is in place.

 

Disclosure: We were kindly gifted the LEGO Icons SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom set by the LEGO Group in exchange for an honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are our own.