LEGO Friends refreshes part of its range every year. In 2026 the 2023-2024 sets make way for a new wave: Grand Hotel, Cozy Fall Forest Cabin and the Mermaid Roller Coaster. Ten sets are retiring as a result.
For most of those ten: no rush. For one: yes.
Last-chance decision rule
With sets moving toward retirement, waiting only makes sense while there is still enough reliable stock. Look less at the biggest price drop and more at how many trustworthy retailers still carry the set. Once availability narrows to marketplace listings or prices climb above RRP, the calm buying window is over.
| Signal | What it means | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Several major retailers in stock | There is still price competition | Keep the price alert running |
| Only one or two reliable retailers left | Stock is becoming fragile | Wait only if the set is not a must-have |
| New stock sits above RRP | Scarcity is starting to price in | Buy deliberately or skip deliberately |
From the sets in this guide, I would track 42670 Heartlake City Apartments and Stores, 42673 Family Vacation Beach Resort and 42671 Plant Café & Flower Shop first. Not because those are automatically the best deals, but because a price move on a larger or more giftable set changes the buying decision fastest.
The ten retiring sets
| Set | Pieces | RRP | Urgency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42670Heartlake City Apartments and Stores | 2,040 | € 169.99 | High |
| 42673Family Vacation Beach Resort | 1,140 | € 129.99 | Low |
| 42671Plant Café & Flower Shop | 1,138 | € 89.99 | Low |
| 42674Comic Book and Game Store | 1,005 | € 89.99 | Medium |
| 42663Friendship Camper Van Adventure | 778 | € 59.99 | Low |
| 42654Pony Ranch & Stable | 727 | € 69.99 | Low |
| 42664Travel Boat Adventure | 685 | € 74.99 | Low |
| 42653Music Store & Apartment | 483 | € 49.99 | Low |
| 42649Heartlake City Sweet Shop | 376 | € 29.99 | No rush |
| 42650Pet Accessories Shop | 375 | € 39.99 | No rush |
42670 Heartlake City Apartments: unique in the line
42670 Heartlake City Apartments and Stores (2,040 pieces, RRP € 169.99) is the only genuine modular city block LEGO Friends has ever released. Multiple apartments above, shops at street level, a full streetscape and characters. This is not another Friends building; it is a complete street block.
Friends sets do not typically spike dramatically after retirement, but this format is distinctive enough that I would not skip it. If you are seriously building out Heartlake City: this is the anchor piece of the collection.
Comic Store versus Beach Resort: one buy, one skip
42674 Comic Book and Game Store (1,005 pieces, RRP € 89.99) is a niche theme that does not return in the 2026 wave. If you are a Friends fan who also likes gaming or comics, this is the set with the most lasting appeal after retirement. I expect it to hold steady on the secondhand market.
42673 Family Vacation Beach Resort (1,140 pieces, RRP € 129.99) is a large beach hotel. Nice set, but the beach-holiday concept is guaranteed to return in Friends. Wait for a price drop here.
Same reasoning applies to 42671 Plant Café & Flower Shop (1,138 pieces, RRP € 89.99): a good combination, but the café-and-shop format will cycle back into Heartlake City.
Camper, Boat and Pony Ranch
42663 Friendship Camper Van Adventure (778 pieces), 42664 Travel Boat Adventure (685 pieces) and 42654 Pony Ranch & Stable (727 pieces) cover the holiday and outdoor side of Friends. Solid build experience, gift-friendly sizing.
One note on Pony Ranch: if you collect the Friends horse line, 42654 is the natural companion to 42688 Horse Stable (2026, still active). Combine them if you want the complete stable setup. After the Pony Ranch retires, a separate secondhand purchase will cost more than buying now.
Smaller sets: buy if you like them, no pressure
42653 Music Store & Apartment (483 pieces), 42649 Heartlake City Sweet Shop (376 pieces) and 42650 Pet Accessories Shop (375 pieces) are entry sets under 40 euros. Good gifts for a Friends fan, no special retirement story.
Small Friends sets sometimes outlast the larger sets from the same wave because LEGO keeps them in basic range fills longer. No urgency here.
Buying window by quarter
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| May-June 2026 | Everything at RRP, wide availability |
| July-September 2026 | First price drops 10-15% on larger sets; Apartments may get tight |
| October-December | Deepest prices on Beach Resort, Plant Café, Camper Van |
| Black Friday 2026 | Last reliable moment for Comic Store and Pony Ranch |
| After retirement | Secondhand only; Apartments above RRP, rest stable to cheap |
TL;DR for the quick buyer
Buy now: 42670 Apartments. Wait for a price drop: Beach Resort, Plant Café, Camper Van. Gift now: Sweet Shop or Pet Accessories Shop.
Check current stock and price drop status per set on the LEGO Friends theme page.
Apartments, Camper Van and Pony Ranch
Friends sets from 2023-2024 disappearing in 2026.
Best for each buyer type
The four Friends sets from this retirement wave that make the most difference per buyer type.
The only modular city block Friends has ever had. Not repeatable, so buy now and don't wait.
Recognisable Friends format, large enough to be a real surprise, widely available into deep Q3 2026.
Café and flower shop combined in one building. Sits as a solid block on a shelf without loose parts slipping away.
Niche theme that does not return in the 2026 wave. A pre-Black Friday price dip is the only good buying window here.
