With the festive season rapidly approaching, there's no better way to stir up excitement than with an advent calendar. Here's a round-up of some of our favourites for this year:
Advent calendar season is fast approaching
The best for… Her:
Rituals of Advent (£91.90)
This online exclusive is crammed full of goodies including face masks, handwash, candles, scrubs and even a bracelet, with a total value of £166.90. https://www.rituals.com/en-gb/advent-calendar.html
Soap + Glory On Cloud All-Mine Advent Calendar Set (£48)
Always a best-seller and it is easy to see why. Scrubs, washes, body butters and more, in the brand’s iconic scents including original pink and berry bright. An affordable price that feels a real pampering treat.
https://www.boots.com/
Holland and Barrett Beauty Advent (£45)
An absolute steal, this vegan wonder if crammed with almost £220 worth of products, including 16 full size items from brands including Faith In Nature and Dr. Organic.
https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/info/beauty-advent
Arran Sense of Scotland Perfume and Fragrance calendar (£80)
With its luxury packaging and premium product, its no wonder this one is a sellout every year. This year features two limited edition seasonal scents, Rowanberry Embers and Winter Forrest, as well as other popular fragrances from the brand.
https://arran.com/products/advent-calendar
The Fuzzy Duck 24 Days of Christmas (£45)
With festive red and green packaging with a wreath motif, and products fragranced with mulberry, mistletoe and frosted cranberry, few calendars feel quite as festive as this one.
Available from Amazon, Ocado, Morrisons and Next.
Revolution (£30)
Have a glam makeover with a host of new make-up products from Revolution, including lipsticks, highlighters, eyeliners, and even a mini eye pallet, just in time for party season.
https://www.superdrug.com/gift-shop/beauty-advent-calendars/revolution-magical-advent-calendar-2024/p/842356
Debenhams Christmas Beauty Selection Box Edit (£50)
Sometimes you don’t want to have the patience to open one door every day. Debenhams have pulled together some beauty, make-up and fragrance treats from premium brands such as Benefit, Lancome, Percy + Read and Clarins, and it’s all in one box so you don’t need to wait for a new day to see what’s next.
https://www.debenhams.com/product/debenhams-christmas-beauty-selection-box-edit-worth-251_ydd15493?colour=multi
Bimble and Bolt Yoga and Wellness, Running advent calendars (from £39.99)
Because party season doesn’t mean parking all your good habits! Both include premium socks, along with edibles, accessories and aids to help support yourhobby.
https://bimbleandbolt.com/collections/runners-gifts
Northumberland candle company (£10)
The TikTok favourites have two festive designs – gonks or a snowy scene – and each one features 24 wax melts in seasonal scents including gingerbread, Christmas tree, eggnog, and nutcracker.
https://www.thenorthumberlandcandlecompany.com/
The best for… Him:
Rituals Men’s Advent (£103)
A 12-day calendar featuring best-selling home and men’s products, including an Eau de Parfum and a new refreshing shower gel, the contents are worth more than £170.
https://www.rituals.com/en-gb/advent-calendar.html
12 Days of Craft Rum (£49.99)
The Craft Gin Club prove there’s more to them than just er, gin, with this offering. Does exactly as the title says, a 12-day countdown with a range of spiced rums from different independent distillers.
https://club.craftginclub.co.uk/products/rum-advent-calendar-2024
Build Your Own’s Pinball Machine Advent Calendar (£24.99)
Who doesn’t like a project? Behind each door are all the parts needed to build a fully-functioning Pinball Machine for some Christmas Eve family game time. It’s suitable for age 8+ but we’re sure it’ll keep the big kids in the household entertained!
https://buildyourownkits.com/product/pinball-machine-advent-calendar/
Electronic games (£25)
And if digital gaming is more your thing, try this one. Collect the components then put them together to make 24 games including Whack a Mole, code Breaker and Wire Maze. Requires 3AA batteries but everything else is included.
https://www.menkind.co.uk/haynes-electronic-games-advent-calendar
Hawkstone (£85)
The first advent calendar from Jeremy Clarkson’s drinks brand, it features a selection of lagers, IPAs, and ciders, as well as branded surprises, in a nice Christmassy design.
https://hawkstone.com/products/hawkstone-advent-calendar
The best for… Kids:
Among Us Surprise Gift Box (£29.99)
One to last beyond Christmas, each day brings a new piece to make up a crew for your spaceship – and then the box doubles up as a spaceship background scene to continue the fun.
https://toynado.co.uk/product/toikido-official-among-us-advent-calendar-countdown-gift-box/
LEGO (£19.99 - £29.99)
From their own City and Friends brands, to collaborations for calendars themed around ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Star Wars’, Disney, and Marvel, each of the beloved firm’s advent kits come with a minifigure or a tiny model to build each day, building up to make your own scene at the end.
https://www.lego.com/en-gb/holiday-gifts/advent-calendars
Danilo Musical Advent Calendars (£24.95)
With themes including ‘Frozen’, ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Star Wars’, ‘Gruffalo’ and ‘The Snowman’, the calendars play associated music and some of the figures even dance along once they’re opened up and added to the scene.
https://danilo.com/collections/advent-calendars?srsltid=AfmBOoq9_XT5pFDKE2Sg-feh-zYc6RvH5-KIewmun2z9ni7UM4vTSqzr
Plus Plus (£33.05)
Each day – including Christmas Day – brings a new festive-themed build from Santa to his sleigh, a reindeer and a Christmas tree, with the calendar featuring around 600 plus pieces, as well as wheels and building bases to keep small hands and minds busy throughout the festive season.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plus-Calendar-Surprise-Contains-Christmas/dp/B0DFWWPPCP
Harry Potter Magical Infinity Advent Calendar (£29.99)
Currently available at an offer price, this is an absolute bargain for any Potterhead. Its unique design is enough of a selling point, and crammed inside are plush toys, charms, bags, and other fun items worth over £120.
https://toynado.co.uk/product/wizarding-world-harry-potter-advent-calendar/
The best for… Foodies
Wonderland Cocktail Co 12 Cocktails of Christmas (£40)
Get the party started with a dozen different cocktails to countdown to Christmas. Includes classics including mojito, cosmopolitan and whisky sour, to twists on old favourites such as a chocolate orange espresso martini and a watermelon margarita.
https://brewdog.com/products/12-cocktails-of-xmas
Bonne Maman (£28)
A lovely Christmassy design and 23 mini jars of limited-edition conserve, especially created for the festive season – think apricot with orange blossom, purple fig and cinnamon, and cherries with chestnut honey – as well as hazelnut chocolate spread, vanilla caramel and other delights. Day 24 comes with a special surprise.
https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/advent
Bird and Blend (£38)
Each day brings a little box containing two tea bags – some in festive flavours such as mulled cider, snowball or mince pie – with brewing instructions included. It’s eco friendly too, and one tree is planted for every calendar sold.
Tea Advent Calendar 2024 | Bird Blend Tea Co.
Giant Welsh Cheese Advent Calendar (£189)
The cheese-lover in your life couldn’t possibly be disappointed by this. Four huge triangle – of for each shelf of the fridge - with each containing six doors to individual portions of artisan cheese and weighs in at a total of 4.2kg of dairy treats. If that’s too much, The Welsh Cheese Company also offer a 1.2kg calendar for £40 containing one triangle with six doors.
GIANT Welsh Cheese Advent Calendar - The Welsh Cheese Company
Contact Coffee Co Ground Coffee (£30)
For those who need a caffeine fix every day, try out some new blends courtesy of the UK veteran-founded brand. Each day brings one of 13 different coffees, with the 16g filter sachet suitable for a range of brewing methods.
https://www.contactcoffee.com/products/ground-coffee-advent-calendar
The best for… Those with a sweet tooth:
Vistaprint customisable calendars (from £17.99)
For a unique advent gift, Vistaprint will make personalised calendars featuring your own photos and designs. You can even choose from a non-branded milk chocolate, Kinder Minis, Celebrations, Lindt Balls or Lindor Praline for your treats inside.
https://www.vistaprint.co.uk/photo-gifts/calendars/advent-calendars
Pierre Marcolini Gentleman of the Snow (£54)
A true taste of luxury every day, behind each door of a beautiful wintery scene is one of the brand’s premium pralines, truffles, hearts, caramels, and more, in flavours inspired by childhood Christmases.
https://www.marcolini.co.uk/en/p/advent-calendar--gentleman-of-the-snow--6214.html
Hotel Chocolat advent calendars (£8.95-£80)
From the cute penguins in Up to Snow Good for kids, via the Advent Calendar for two for couples, to the Grand Advent for true chocoaholics, Hotel Chocolat have something for everyone – and there’s even a nutmilk calendar for those seeking an alternative to dairy.
https://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/shop/christmas/advent-calendars/
Swizzels’ Sweet Shop Advent Calendar (£5)
Because not everyone likes chocolate! Beloved sweets including Squashies, Refreshers, Love Hearts and Drumsticks are accompanied by fun jokes and festive facts, all for a bargain price.
Available nationwide at major retailers and convenience stores.
Cadbury 3D Advent Calendar (£11)
Sometimes one bite of chocolate isn’t enough. This tower has a treat-size Cadbury favourite behind every door, including Dairy Milk buttons, Freddo, Curly Wurly, Fudge and Chomp.
Available at retailers nationwide.
Yumma Santa's Sweet Collection 24 Day Advent Calendar (£30)
Designed to look like a stylish Santa’s Grotto, there’s plenty of treats inside this reusable calendar, with a selection of gourmet gummies for every day including Christmas specials Mulled Magic and Santa Baby, as well as brand favourites like Yumma Cups and Strawberry Fizz and even some newcomers.
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/yumma-candy-santas-sweet-collection-24-day-advent-calendar/989402-832570-832571