Planning a LEGO City - tips and tricks with MrBookieboo

How to plan a LEGO city from the ground up including modulars, trains, roads, and more! Tips and tricks that I’ve used in building my LEGO city layout.

[@MrBookieboo]

How do you plan out your LEGO layouts and projects?

[@thelegochickens3310]

Ours is on a floor and we change up the city layout at least a few times a year. We just love to switch it up and try new things.

[@BrickRevolution]

I recently caved and started using Studio through Bricklink for helping with designing MOCs, it has been helpful for design once I got the hang of it!

[@bananaface1445]

I just build things and put them on the tables I have.

[@svbricks3228]

I only have 7 baseplates so planning is quite easy

[@H311m4nthegreat]

I swear you look like the coolest dude to hang out with 😊

[@acimagination7982]

educational. during my spare time I have been trying to work on my little lego town. work within the space I have. trying to stick with small structures. always changing. tricky but fun.

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you very much! It’s amazing what you can do even in a small space. Keep building 👍

[@jacklambrick13]

new to building a lego city was super overwhelmed seeing cities like bricksies but you making a beautiful city in a small room really makes it fathomable to start my own city! thanks

[@lakemodestymurderer]

Great video. Nice to know I'm not the only one who dreams of Lego at night.

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you! I’m always dreaming of Lego 😂

[@svbricks3228]

You're definitely not alone

[@zedarkboi6589]

Same

[@jackiebak2132]

So much talent! Thank you for sharing your close up tips and tricks for city planning. This was a very helpful video.

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m so glad you found it helpful!

[@starwarsdeepcut2824]

My city is in my bedroom and my table is about 3 feet x 7 feet I can about fit 6 grey base plates (3 rows of 2) and with the limited space there's not much I can do but you inspired me to build in ways I never thought I could and made me think in different ways when I'm building. Thank you

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you! I’m so happy that I can share my knowledge and help others.

[@jimmyneutron1276]

Mine is 5x9 (normal baseplates) it’s hard to fit the suburbs and the dwtn area in that space, Good luck.

[@derryslander9379]

mine is 2 by 4 big

[@ThecrackedBrick93]

Thank you - my Tables are wide enough for a 2 base plates then 10 studs which is enough for train track - I have built above the road for shops - thanks for sharing your awesome city and how you do it

[@MrBookieboo]

Sounds like a great plan! Thank you for your comment 🙂

[@originaljk555]

I have 3 of the Linmon Ikea tables and decided about a month ago to dive into making a Lego city with my son. I wanted to do a train and decided to create a subway rail under the city above to maximize space. This video was very helpful with ideas.

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m glad you found it useful. Happy building!

[@Stickfigure414]

This was a great video that gave me a lot to think about and I really appreciate the advice in it. Great set up, by the way! The City looks fantastic!

[@MrBookieboo]

Thanks so much!

[@chumley307]

Your city is just beautiful! I love that you can walk all the way in and enjoy scenes on all sides of where you're standing. That "U" shaped layout is really paying off. Hope my city turns out as nice (tho it's a long way off).

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you very much! The “U” was the pivotal ah-ha moment when I realized how cool it would be to have the city surround you on nearly all sides. Happy building!

[@TwoDollarTuesday]

I love these types of videos

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m glad you like them! I’ll make sure I do more of them.

[@BlackGloveBricks]

I was lucky enough to have a custom LEGO table built for my LEGO room. It really helped maximize the amount of available space I have.

[@unclefredsbrickslot5824]

I don't yet have a permanent home for my layout - I have to keep moving it upstairs when the family requires the dining room table. Therefore, I have set out the city in two rectangular "blocks" on MDF boards, so it is easily transportable.

[@ScifiJohn]

Hi Sir, I know this an older video, but I like your teaching. Thank You! - John

[@MrBookieboo]

Thanks so much!

[@yoyobenjo1]

Bookieboo live stream bring it on. Just don't forget the time difference for us Aussies. 👍

[@MrBookieboo]

Definitely! The timing is going to be tricky. Any suggestions on times that work?

[@siakaramalegos5755]

This was super helpful! Thanks!

[@kewluae]

I love this, I came to check it out once you talked about it today in the live Instagram with heathersbrick. I did pretty much the same but there are builds completed and others still gathering the stuff to start it. I love your city very much the mountings are amazing. You should do tutorial. I subscribed already and I will be following your channel from now on.

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you so much!

[@dsuppd9730]

Awesome video! This gave me so many new ideas for my city layout 😀👍

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m really glad you found it useful!

[@marlonbrand1944]

Very nice Lego city . Thank you for the planning tips .

[@d4bricks889]

Well done awesome vidio looks great. Brilliant lego city

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you very much!

[@brysonmartin3390]

I'd figure out a way to use tecnic to make a ramp upwards and put a car with a locked differential or a piece to lock it in place there like it'd climbing up the ramp

[@christianforster3646]

Thanks for the video, I already tool some inspiration from you for my city. Greetings from Germany!

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful

[@pcoussa]

Really good advice. As I am starting to build my city, this info was invaluable! Cheers

[@HeathersBricks]

Great video once again, Mark! I like how you explained how you plan out before you build. I’m not a planner so it was very interesting to me. Thank you.

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful. I actually enjoy planning as much as building which is good and bad. It can lead to analysis paralysis where I get nothing done 😂.

[@machr293]

@@MrBookieboo I feel you.

[@TheRealFeechLaManna]

3 plates deep, gotcha. Cheers!

[@Pepper150]

Thank you, this was super helpful :) I really love your city :D

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you 😃

[@brettwoods5218]

Really enjoy your video and love your city

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m glad you enjoyed it, thank you!

[@guleri]

Nice talk about planning, a very important thing when building a city. I also use IKEA Linnmon tables for my town. Then for the second height I used to have MDF but after seeing how it warps slightly between the legs I have changed to plywood. Right now I am in the process of changing everything so I can have teains on the lower level and city on the upper level. I also want to build a mountainside between my ocean and the city to hide that the water and the trains will be at the same level, so your info with how much sspace your maountainside takes was very useful. Might have to see if I can get some more space out of my layout so the ocean doesn't get too small...

[@MrBookieboo]

Sounds like a great plan!

[@dirkbeekhuis7286]

I started building a city a year ago, Luckily i have a friend who already had a city so i could for advice. Only i havent planned anything in the start

[@FireheartRaider]

Thank you so much for your video! The explanation was so clear and it helped me a lot on thinking how I’ll build my city since I have a small space for it. Oh and I also had the train problem, it didn’t fit right with my modulars, but I’ll start planning a 2nd floor for my city, thanks again!

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m so glad it helped! Adding the second level was the best thing I ever did - I gained so much space and I was able to keep my beloved trains. Happy building!

[@AussieBricks]

Some really great tips in this video!! You have an awesome city so it’s very welcomes to hear your tips.

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you very much! I’m glad you found the video useful.

[@micheldziadul7581]

Looking sharp! 👌

[@BlockHeadUK]

Good to hear your process for planning. I'm with you in using pencil and paper to start with! My city is much smaller but the same design principles still apply. 👍

[@MrBookieboo]

The drawings really help solidify the ideas in my head, especially now that I’m in more of a rebuilding cycle. I can’t tear out everything all at once and start with a clean slate so the drawings are a good fill in.

[@MamasBricks]

That are verry good tips and a great video!!! 👍 Thank you!!!

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m glad you found it useful!

[@thelab8175]

Love Lego. I hadn’t seen you’re videos before. Yesterday someone asked me if I was you. lol. We do look similar. Great Video!

[@jarvbricks7422]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I need to draw my plans out more, mine are all in my head. I’m trying to think of having ,y city in multiple layers. But, my roof get in the way.

[@MrBookieboo]

I used to keep it all in my head too, but drawing helps me visualize things that I may not to notice. Space is always an issue 😊

[@swoletrain44]

This will be very helpful. Thank you in advance.

[@MrBookieboo]

You are very welcome!

[@Brickostan]

Nice video. Love your channel. 👍 For me trains were the most important thing in my city. And most of my city is only 2 base plates deep, but with multiple levels it’s possible to have both railroad and modular buildings. But as said in the video: if you plan your city ahead you can fit a lot more into your layout.

[@MrBookieboo]

Thanks so much! The multiple levels definitely add to the flexibility and space.

[@ezace7548]

Such a great video, thank you for doing this

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you!

[@bleedingedge6187]

Love it!

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you!

[@artemgusakov9005]

Thank you for so much helpful info !

[@MrBookieboo]

You’re welcome!

[@CarlosAvilaArquin]

Great video and advices I am in a project to change my layout and this is very useful to me Greetings from Gatobricks

[@WelcometoEuphoria]

This is a great introduction and explanation - thank you!

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m glad you found it useful

[@scioli700]

This was very informative for someone like me just getting into the planning process! Thanks so much!

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m glad you found it useful!

[@thelegochickens3310]

Hi it is the lego chickens from instagram! I really enjoy your videos! My town is actually not on tables and is on the floor. Our legos have outgrown their current room, and they are getting moved to our frog! Our city will be moved in a couple weeks so this video was perfect timing!

[@MrBookieboo]

Good to see you! I’m glad the video was helpful. Can’t wait to see the new city 🙂

[@brickaddict]

Great insight into your city. I’d always wondered whether the two sides linked train tracks.

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you!

[@lollol-yl7gq]

I like your videos keep going👍

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you for the support!

[@bricklover2258]

We all have that city rebuild happen every once in a while for me I think I have redone my city probably 6 times in almost 10 years. Last time I did a full rebuild being in 2018. Have done small changes over the past 2 and a half years but I am happy with most of it now since a lot of my plans I need to do have been set for years 1 has been set for 7 years and that is get a palace cinima in my city which is currently in my backlog of things I need to build.

[@MrBookieboo]

Rebuilding is fun! I’m already starting to plan out version 5 of my layout 😂

[@bricklover2258]

@@MrBookieboo I am working on redesigning part of my city right now to fit the palace cinima how I have it in my head.

[@jerseybrickguy]

Great video for those just starting their cities!

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you!

[@sklaus2721]

Thank you very much for your video. In the late 80s and 90s I had a Lego city with an amazing 12V train layout. In the middle of the train tracks I had space for 3 x 2 baseplates. They represented the downtown. Due to a move I had to disassemble the layout. Later I started to collect the modulars but until now I never had the time and the space to build up a new entire city. Thanks for the inspiration - I will definitely try to make my dream alive again... What distance in height is between your ground level and your second level / city level?

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you! It’s about 14 studs high, which is enough for most trains to pass easily. Only the new Crocodile and the Disney Train are too tall.

[@jesseslego]

Awesome video, really great tips for planning a city! I didn't know the IKEA tabletops were the perfect width for baseplates, are they the perfect length too? I am thinking of replacing my tabletop one of these days for something studier. Also love your Hidden Side-ing haha!

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you! The ikea tables aren’t quite an exact fit length wise, but that’s easier to remedy. They are fairly sturdy, I have had them for several years with tons of weight on them and minimal sagging.

[@jesseslego]

@@MrBookieboo I am really glad to hear that, mine are MDF and have begun to sag at the corners... I'll have to check them out next time I am at IKEA, if they can hold 3 by 6 32stud baseplates, I'm sold :D

[@OrangeskyWW]

Fantastic video, I’m starting a small Lego city with a train track and I have three modulus, but I would like to rise my buildings, I’ve just got one IKEA table which is three base plates deep and 6 a cross but how do I ride my city for my train tho and to cover it with walls?

[@evank.4715]

I absolutely love your vids. My room is practically identical to yours. I was planning a layout very similar to yours when I found your channel. You’ve given me some great ideas to incorporate into my build. Next time you do a build consider live streaming it. If it helps try doing it via FaceTime or Zoom with a couple of friends to get used to it. Personally I think you do just fine in front of the camera. 👍🏻

[@MrBookieboo]

Thanks so much! I’m actually looking into some live-streaming in the near future.

[@lisalorenzo4703]

Love this video, I just got a Lego room and will be working on a city.

[@MrBookieboo]

I hope you find these videos useful. Happy building!

[@lisalorenzo4703]

Hardest part right now is getting the room organized in order to get things set up.

[@MrBookieboo]

That’s always a challenge. I just cleaned up my room so I could better reach the city 😂

[@jimjohnson8329]

Wow thanks be safe

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you!

[@gaabty9580]

Hello. Great videos! Starting my own layout with my son…building LEGO city around an existing HO train table layout. Have a question about baseplates…my current thinking is to place baseplates under the entire HO train layout and then to build the LEGO city on top of that to accommodate for the HO track, curves, etc. Is this how you’d approach it? If not, how would you do it differently? Thank you so much!

[@jordansweetn]

I love the way the water looks like it’s splashing!! Is there a tutorial for that?

[@jadebrunner8699]

You should attempt at a LEGO starwars battle of geonosis moc.

[@lovegoodbrix1962]

Great video! I've been thinking about making a city for a long time now and I'm finally gonna be able to do it soon! This was super helpful!

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m glad you found it useful. Good luck with your city building and have fun!

[@lovegoodbrix1962]

Where are those 3 foot wide tables? I can't seem to find any tables that are 3 feet wide.

[@MrBookieboo]

It’s the larger “Linnmon” table top.

[@lovegoodbrix1962]

59 inches by 29 inches?

[@TwoDollarTuesday]

I plan on using the 3 baseplate deep city layout also

[@MrBookieboo]

Yeah, any deeper and I find it difficult to reach.

[@geography__jackson6139]

Honestly thought this was Jack Black at first. Sounds and kind of looks like him.

[@madisonyager4291]

How did you build the structure underneath the trains and mod buildings ?

[@shaliniarora4223]

I love your city! So much thought into this that mountain is making me want to put it in my future lego city! How did you make that mountain?

[@MrBookieboo]

Thanks so much! If you browse through my videos I have a few that talk about mountain building. I’ll also do an updated video soon 😊

[@shaliniarora4223]

@@MrBookieboo Thanks so much

[@aussiewheels9965]

Question how did you make your grey walls to hide the plywood & how did you make your tunnel entrance as i'm working on a lego city & if you look amy my profile pic thats me in lego form , hope you can help me out with my questions

[@MrBookieboo]

Lots and lots of light bluish gray bricks. I came up with a design that I liked and just started building until I was happy with the result. It does take a lot of bricks, though.

[@DieCastoms]

What does it cost to build that facade wall, per 32-stud section?

[@MrBookieboo]

That’s a very good question and I’m afraid to look 😬. They are fairly brick intensive. Lots of bricks go into each section. They are about 16 studs high not counting the railing so I’d guess there is over 300 pieces in each section.

[@Hammerhead87]

Great video! I’m thinking of doing the same thing with the same thing with the train loop. How high did you elevate your city to accommodate the trains going under?

[@MrBookieboo]

It’s about 13 bricks high at the tunnel portal but the new crocodile is too tall 😬

[@petewakefield111]

I love this video , its always so hard to start a city , I've tried so many times and its just not working for me.

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you, I’m glad it was helpful. Check out some of my other videos for inspiration too. Remember, start small and go from there. My original city was on a tiny single table. Most importantly, have fun!

[@petewakefield111]

@@MrBookieboo thank you for the response, yeah I've watch all of the videos many times over. I think for me I jumped in so quickly like many and had too much too soon without being selective. Ive lost the direction of what sorta city I wanted and have too much for the space I have, please do some more videos on this topic as I'm sure I'm not unusual in getting overwhelmed . Love watching your content and find it all very helpful. Pete

[@MrBookieboo]

Great idea! I’ll see what I can do 😃

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

How did you build such cool looking mountains

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you! They are built from scratch using burps (big ugly rock pieces) as a foundation. From there I add lots of slopes and bricks to make them look unique. It’s a lot of experimenting.

[@lt.danhooper1635]

I would love to build a city, but I would need to have my train running through it, and you need at least 3x3 baseplates just to make a circle with 16 R40 curves, and I don't have tables or anything, so idk where to start. Not to mention how dang expensive baseplates are. Edit: Got myself a table, now I just gotta figure out what to do next!

[@flamestoyershadowkill6400]

a way to save space while maximizing city size is to have multiple layers

[@MrBookieboo]

Yes, I’m trying to figure out how to add a third level.

[@flamestoyershadowkill6400]

@@MrBookieboo maybe use wall mounted shelves

[@thebrickcat905]

Thank you I need this I have tried to make a city TWICE and they both failed

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m glad you found it useful. Good luck with your city, you can do it!

[@thebrickcat905]

Thank you!!

[@cstedtler4964]

Hallo, first time on your channel. By planing ahead building (work) smart not hard. Same size baseplates can be moved in available space. More tables, move and add and add and play and enjoy. Thank you

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you!

[@autominestudios1579]

Awesome city, how long have you been working on it???

[@MrBookieboo]

This version is maybe 9 months old. In total, I’ve had a city layout for 6-7 years I’d guess.

[@countrabricksbuildcraze8916]

I'm glade I build my train tunnel top high up. as the new. cargo train set has a car caridge and. not Shaw how high top would be with car on top level. so low tunnel s. it wouldent fit thru...hope mine will be okay to fit it thru. .do you have a exit part so. you can put arm. in to train Tunnle s part. incase. train derail s. as I cee most the train line s in Tunnle s part.

[@jeffbenson7278]

What was that table name, again?

[@MrBookieboo]

Linnmon at ikea

[@druhill2008]

How do you feel about Lego retiring the old style road plates and replacing them with the new style road plates?

[@MrBookieboo]

I’m on the fence. I’ve seen people do some very creative things with the new ones. I will probably experiment with them at some point.

[@druhill2008]

@@MrBookieboo the new road plates are higher so I'm wondering how someone would raise their city to match the road plates

[@MrBookieboo]

You have to stack plates underneath the modulars, not cheap.

[@druhill2008]

@@MrBookieboo that's what I was thinking. Maybe a discussion for your next live stream with heather?

[@MrBookieboo]

Good idea!

[@Rula2020]

what happened to your podcast on itunes?

[@MrBookieboo]

I’ve never had one that I know of 🤔

[@Rula2020]

MrBookieboo Sorry. There is a podcast called -all sorted, one guy sounds just like you. All this time I thought it was you, but I guess I got to the bottom of this now.

[@countrabricksbuildcraze8916]

yes ..hi man 😊 👍. working with a space .love the in s an out s. talk all thing s Lego City to train .s In city's. 😊..leve s geting diffrent level than just. flat city. and be creative ..😊..it's all in name of fun. most the Lego I buy. is just for Lego City .stuff. I got few. desplay sets but. it's endless to lay out s. the guy s who do the big train room lay out s. all the buildings and land scape s are amazing. sume do have. Lego .stuff..to...or just only Lego. building an landscaping .😊 .yes a sketch out.of a ruff thort on lay out. whit. what sets got. for. placement. . I do same 😊👍 I got it on ruff price of paper. 👍 right in frunt of me. now. as I Waching this 👍I'm slowly gathering part s to for a. Ninjago moc. build I have in mind I sketch out few things 😊 so gathering parts mountine s yes. 😊I doing on top with train Tunnle. tuning thru it. volcano set. at top of one mountin .I got three set out on the mountin top s .look good.i. just need to add land scaping. ...my first big city. was at. floor level. I could. walk into my city with sox on .it took up my hole bed room floor. the up to on-top .of a chest ...box .and mountin on one side I had. only to work with. space 😊... mountin look great 👍

[@macslayah]

You have a train made from a million pieces??? Show me.... pleazźz

[@MG-ik3wy]

I love your skyline and the depth the facades bring. I would argue that your dependence (and every other Lego City's) on official Creator Expert Modular Buildings is disheartening. For me, Lego is a medium to create what my imagination dictates. And although that medium is produced and supported by talented designers in Billund, their creations do not reflect my creativity. I understand that you can create beauty with the work of others, but that requires a work-cited page. We can build upon the achievements of others, but the true, imaginative child takes those achievements farther. Don't get me wrong, I bought the Parisian Restaurant, but that pales in comparison to My MOCs in my mind.