No matter your age, there is a LEGO set that will inspire you to pore over the pages of the instruction manual to assemble a beautiful creation that you can play with or display at home. LEGO City is a prime example of a LEGO theme that appeals to older children as well as adults. The product line has gained popularity because of the challenging build projects that depict the city life. You can build modern structures, trains, airports, and even train sets using hundreds of LEGO bricks.

LEGO City sets include several accessories that greatly increase the fun factor and playability of the models. Although all sets under this theme come with detailed instructions for building the exact structures pictured on the packaging, you can always rebuild the models to something that is completely original. Once done with your creative projects, you can combine them to build one big LEGO City collection.

Here are the top City building sets to get your started on your brick-built city adventure: 

60200 CITY Capital City

This awesome set has 1,211 pieces, and is designed to provide LEGO builders ages six to 12 with an immersive building experience. Assemble the pieces to build the two-story hotel that features a host of authentic details including a kiosk with seat, rooftop terrace, a skate ramp, and a museum construction site. When built, the hotel measures 5 inches wide and over 9 inches high. Six vehicles are also included in the set: an ice cream tuk-tuk, a sports car, a crane with a lowering hook and moving arm, a double-decker bus complete with seats on the roof, a police motorbike, and an electric car.

60198 CITY Cargo Train

With a motorized engine and a crane wagon with rotating boom arm, kids ages six to 12 can enjoy delivering goods using the Cargo Train set. There are 1,226 pieces in this set that kids can put together to build the powerful Cargo Train with a pantograph on the roof, and a driver's cabin with a control panel. Included minifigures are four train workers, a crook, and a security officer. The full circular toy train track, which can be set up in different configurations, has a railroad switch with lever, 16 straight rails, and 16 curved rails.

60125 CITY Volcano Heavy-lift Helicopter

This massive set is built using 1,277 pieces of LEGO bricks. It is recommended for kids between the ages 8 and 12 who love taking part in discoveries with the huge Volcano Heavy-lift Helicopter. The model has an eruption function that can be activated by pushing a lever.

In addition to the helicopter that features spinning rotors, lowering crane, and opening rear hatch, you have eight minifigures including a female scientist, two volcano adventurers, a scientist, pilot, and a female and male volcano explorer. Accessory elements include a shovel, camera, metal detector, and jackhammer can be stored in the back of the helicopter where there is a space for tools.  

60216 CITY Downtown Fire Brigade

LEGO builders ages six and above can play the role of fire rescue heroes with this Downtown Fire Brigade set that includes 943 pieces. This building toy set features authentic details like an extending swivel ladder, a fire hose with a  ‘water jet’ function that can be activated by squeezing the bellows. Also included in the set is a fire motorbike, and a fire rescue helicopter with spinning rotors and opening cockpit.

60195 CITY Arctic Mobile Exploration Base

This 786-piece set makes for a great play set as well as a display model because of its wealth of impressive features. The crane vehicle has all-terrain wheels, an articulated hook and arm, a trailer, and a hauling platform. There is also a mobile lab unit that measures four inches high, and 8 inches long, and features an opening door plus a radar dish. The Arctic Mobile Exploration Base set includes six minifigures: a driver, an arctic expedition leader, four arctic explorers, and a mammoth figure. There are also accessory elements like ice packs, a jackhammer, camera, saws, and two pairs of snowshoes.