Have you ever wanted to visit the Pyramids in Egypt, experience the Niagara Falls or the Great Wall of China or see at first hand a Mini Shuttle? Now you can — or at least the Lego version of 70 wonders of the ancient and modern world that are on display in Derry.

The seven Wonders of the World are among the many unique and intricate LEGO designs that are featured in the 70-piece Brick Wonders exhibition in Derry for a 12-week showcase that has captured the imagination of thousands of LEGO lovers across the world.

The exhibition arrived in Derry for its first visit to the island of Ireland after a hugely successful showcase in Rome. The exhibition, secured by Derry City and Strabane District Council as part of its Science and Innovation Programme, will be hosted at the Nerve Centre from until 02 May 2016 and is expected to be a huge draw for families and LEGO enthusiasts across Ireland especially during the mid-term break and Easter holidays.

Tickets for the exhibition are selling well and fans are encouraged to book their 90-minute slot in advance to avoid disappointment. Tickets are currently on sale via the Nerve Centre box office on 028 71 260 562 and www.nervecentre.org. Prices: Under 2 yrs Free; Child (2-16yrs) £4; Adult (16+) £5; Family (1 Adult + 3 Children) £15; Family (2 Adults + 2 Children) £15. A £1.50 booking fee will apply. Group bookings (15+) can be made via Nerve Centre at the number above.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Elisha McCallion speaking ahead of the launch on Friday says securing the Brick Wonders exhibition is a major coup for the city.

“The Brick Wonders exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for families to see at first hand over 70 LEGO models of the Wonders of the World featuring not only the Seven Wonders of the World but a range of ancient, modern and historic exhibits such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, the Great Barrier Reef and Niagra Falls. It’s an ideal midterm break activity and a huge draw for LEGO enthusiasts across the country,” she said.

Warren Elsmore, creator of Brick Wonders, has recreated the Wonders of the World in painstaking detail and is hugely excited to bring the exhibition to Derry. “We are delighted to bring the Brick Wonders exhibition to Ireland and particularly to Derry, after a very successful run in Rome. The Brick Wonders exhibition is great fun and a fantastic way for me as an artist to show the versatility of LEGO and the amazing wonders of the world through time. While many of the original seven ancient wonders of the world have crumbled away, the Brick Wonders exhibition shows them in full LEGO glory while at the same time exhibiting some of the new wonders of the world and treasures from the past millennium that remain standing today.”

Oonagh McGillion, Director of Legacy withDerry City and Strabane District Council said in addition to the exhibition, the Council is organising a LEGO trail across the Council area to showcase the winning entries of the Brick Wonders LEGO competition, which attracted over 140 participants creating unique designs of significant landmarks.

“The LEGO trail will be an opportunity for the public to view the winning entries of our competition at a host of locations across the Council area including a number of shopping centres, leisure centres, the Alley Theatre in Strabane,  Altnagelvin Hospital, the Visit Derry offices and Ebrington. It is our way of showcasing the creative talent of the entries and to promote the exhibition to a wider audience.”

In addition to the exhibition and trail, a series of workshops are being held, details of which are to be announced later in the week.

Elsa Edwards, legacy officer with the Council added:  “The arrival of Brick Wonders in Derry is fantastic for the city and district. It’s a fantastic learning tool for kids and a good way of encouraging young people, families and LEGO enthusiasts to interact and be creative. We have a special break-out area just off the exhibition space where you can get involved in creating LEGO and interacting with each other in a series of games and experiments. The Brick Wonders Exhibition is another way of encouraging children and young people to become interested in the STEM subjects and to use their creative and design talents to come up with unique creations and intricate designs.”

For more information on the exhibition and to purchase tickets visit www.nervecentre.org.

School bookings can be made through Derry City and Strabane District Council, contact Elsa Edwards on Tel: 02871253253 or Email: elsa.edwards@derrystrabane.com