A series of three-dimensional (3D) lanthanide–copper coordination polymers, namely [Ln2(NA)6Cu6Br6(H2O)4]·3.5H2O] [Ln = Sm (1), Eu (2), Tb (3), NA− = nicotinate], [Ln(NA)2Cu2Br2(C2O4)0.5(H2O)2]·2H2O [Ln = Gd (4), Er (5), C2O4 = oxalate], [Ln(NA)2Cu3Br3(OAc)(H2O)] [Ln = Sm (6), Eu (7), Tb (8), OAc = acetate], [Er2(NA)6Cu7Br7(H2O)4]·2H2O (9) and [Gd(NA)3Cu3Cl3(H2O)2]·H2O (10) have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Compounds 1–3 are constructed from Ln–organic chains and two distinct Cu4Br4 clusters possessing a (411.64)2(414.67)2(418.610)(49.6)2 topology. Compounds 4 and 5 are composed of two-dimensional (2D) Ln–organic layers and cubane-like Cu4Br4 clusters possessing a (43.66.8)(43)(46.66.83) topology. Compounds 6–8 can be viewed as the connection between Ln–organic chains and prism-like Cu6Br6 clusters with 4,6T50 topology. Compound 9 is constructed by Er–organic chains and dicubane-like Cu8Br7 clusters possessing a fluorite (flu) topology. Compound 10 consists of Gd–organic chains and inorganic Cu3Cl3 chains with tcj/hc topology. The diversity of the products demonstrates that the auxiliary ligand, pH value, reaction temperature and anion have significant effect on the construction of the structures. Moreover, the photoluminescence of 1–3 and 6–8, and the magnetism of 9 and 10 were investigated.