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Advent calendars weren’t always so exciting. People over a certain age will remember them as two pieces of card stuck together with 24 small windows, each revealing little more than a religious-themed picture. You might have got to open one each day throughout December in the leadup to Christmas, but would you have got chocolate, snacks or toys for your trouble? No chance.
Today, the world of advent calendars could hardly be more varied, with pretty much no product on the market immune to being converted into miniature-versions and popped in a festively decorated cardboard box. In some cases, manufacturers don’t even bother making the box look Christmassy. From beauty to beer and prosecco to pork scratchings (we’re not joking), there’s literally something for everyone.
Whatever floats your particular boat, read on to discover our top advent calendar picks for the season ahead, as well as some sound advice on how to find the right advent calendar for the right person.
How to buy the best advent calendar for you
Hang on, I thought advent calendars were for kids?
It might have been the case, back in the 1970s, that no self-respecting grownup would have been seen dead with one, but today adult advent calendars sell better than kids’ ones. And it doesn’t stop there, with pet ones also selling increasingly well. And while advent calendars of old were entirely nativity-themed, research from last year found that just 11 per cent of them were religious-themed; the rest are linked to high street brands, pop groups and movies.
How much do I need to spend?
You can still get an old-school nativity-themed advent calendar from the likes of Caroline Gardner for around a fiver, but beyond that the sky’s the limit. For instance, this year, there’s a Scotch whisky advent calendar from Drinks by the Dram that will set you back a whopping £10,000. If you want to ensure value for money, do some rough sums about how much you’d pay for the products bought separately – pound for pound, ml for ml etc. While some calendars, such as the Amazon Beauty Advent Calendar, offer huge savings, other manufacturers charge much, much more for products exhibited in a Christmassy box.
What themes are available?
What themes aren’t available, more like. From coffee to craft beer and hama beads to hair products, nobody need miss out on the advent fun. But don’t get carried away with the more gimmicky ones – no-one wants to wind up with a ‘badvent’ calendar, where you’re ripped off with stuff behind the windows that nobody actually wants. There’s enough choice out there to make sure your recipient can have a little soupçon of something they genuinely enjoy every day of December. Start with the person’s interest, hobby or wish-list, then find the calendar to match – there will be one.
Any other advice?
Remember that retailers have spotted an opportunity to monetize this sweet spot of Christmas. We have no problem with advent calendars having gone secular, but remember the devil is in the detail. Just because you have a beer-loving friend, for example, doesn’t mean s/he’s going to want 24 overly-sweetened festive tasting beers. And with some calendars, such as Zoella 12 days of Christmas Advent Calendar, you might feel a bit cheated at only finding 12 windows.
The best advent calendars to buy this Christmas
1. The Snaffling Pig Company Pork Crackling Advent Calendar: The best savoury snack advent calendar
Price:£18 – Buy now
Pork scratchings are one of the best savoury snacks around. Bar none. Just ask anyone in a pub. There are six different flavours hidden behind the windows in this unusual calendar, including maple, black pepper & sea salt, bbq, salt & vinegar, salted and – our favourite – pigs in blankets. With enough crunch to remind you how good your hearing is with every bite, as well as a noticeable lack of grease, they are the first thing you’re likely to reach for when you pour yourself a festive tipple. Or just be done with it and have them for breakfast – it is Christmas, after all. Easily the best quirky advent calendar around that isn’t gimmicky.
Key specs – Size: 42 x 30 x 5cm; Age range: 12+
2. LEGO City Advent Calendar 60155: The best advent calendar for Lego fans
Price:£26 – Buy Now from Amazon
This is a great way for LEGO fans to countdown to Christmas. With 24 minifigures, vehicles, buildings, seasonal items and more from the world of LEGO City – each hiding behind its own numbered window – there’s a LEGO Friends and LEGO Star Wars version too. Each model is quick (but not too quick) and easy (but not too easy) to assemble and each comes in its own bag to avoid you losing the smaller pieces. Coming in the same size box as a decent (and expensive) LEGO set, kids will feel they’re getting something really special the moment they’re presented with it, and the scene they’ll have built up by Christmas day is impressive.
Key specs – Size: 38.2 x 26.2 x 7cm; Age range: 5-12 years (or upwards)
3. Drinks by the Dram Gin Advent Calendar: Count down to Xmas one gin at a time
Price:£125 – Buy now
We can’t rate the ‘ginvent’ calendar highly enough. Behind each window of this inconspicuous brown cardboard box lies a sample of magnificent gin. From household names to artisanal delights and from new brands to hard-to-find gems, it’s a gin-lover’s dream - and there’s a whisky version too. Each little satisfying bottle contains 3cl – just enough for a decent G&T but not so much that you need to feel guilty for boozing on a school night (and it is Christmas, after all). Yes, it’s pricey, but when you break it down, each bottle works out at just over a fiver each, which – considering the quality – is by no means a rip-off. From Bathtub to Mayfair, and lots of more besides, this is a treat among treats.
Key specs – Size: 34 x 23 x 7.5cm; Age range: 18+
4. Amazon Beauty Advent Calendar: Pamper yourself with Amazon's beauty-focused advent calendar
Price:£50 – Buy Now from Amazon
Amazon has released its first beauty advent calendar and we’re impressed. Worth over £185, it contains samples of make-up, beauty ranges, hair and nail care and perfumes from brands including Molton Brown, essie, Rituals, Balance Me and Rimmel. So while most beauty advent calendars contain products from a singular brand, this is better for those who like to mix and match and who fancy a complete surprise each morning. The box itself is big and bold, making it a lovely gift, and there’s a leaflet with key info on each product. On the downside, it’s only the cheapo brands that include the full sizes and the chances of every single product matching your beauty needs is slim. But still, this is a sizeable advent calendar with some excellent beauty treats at a good price.
Key specs – Size: 41 x 35.7 x 16.5cm; Age range: 13+
5. Lakeland Milk Chocolate Advent Countdown Slims: Best chocolate advent calendar for kids
Price:£10 – Buy now
You barely have to turn around in a high street at this time of year to see yet another shoddy looking chocolate advent calendar. Most are full of over-sugared inferior chocolate with a cheap cardboard box that looks so awful once you’ve started opening the windows that adults can’t wait to shove it in the bin. Which makes this all the more appealing. Not only are the individually wrapped and numbered chocolate bars made by the House of Dorchester (which sounds and tastes posh, but they weren’t too posh for our little tasters to knock them back with glee), but there is no hideous box. Instead, each of the chocolates, which is decorated with an enchanting vintage Santa scene, is packaged in a transparent plastic case. Plus, nobody told the manufacturers that advent finishes before Christmas as you get one on December 25th too. Bonus.
Key specs – Size: 29.5 x 18cm x 1cm; Age range: 1+
6. The Beer Hawk Craft Beer Advent Calendar: Best for beer fans
Price:£85 – Buy now
Beer lovers, rejoice. This gives you 24 flavours to get your laughing gas around, ranging from Magic Rock to Thornbridge and Brewdog to Mondo. Spanning across seven countries over four continents and 17 different beer styles from 23 different breweries, even the most discerning beer fans is likely to be satisfied, provided they relish the idea of one day having a hoppy IPA in their hand, the next day a porter. This is by no means the only beer-themed advent calendar around, but we think it’s the best by far, not least because four of the beers have been exclusively brewed for this advent calendar and because daily tasting videos will be published across Beer Hawk’s social media channels throughout advent. Be warned the box is big (even though it’s been innovatively designed to be as small as possible) but that means more booze for your buck, with cans containing 330ml and bottles 355ml. It’s nicely decorated with hand-drawn artwork.
Key specs – Size: 42cm x 38cm x 29cm; Age range: 18+
7. Usborne Advent Calendar to Colour: The best pick for arty youngsters
Price:£7 – Buy Now from Amazon
Rare is the child that doesn’t enjoy colouring, making this beautifully illustrated, fold-out advent calendar with black and white festive street scene likely to light up young eyes. There are doors and windows to open each day and when the colouring is complete, you can stand it up to display to the rellies or fold it away like a book as a keepsake. The pages are thick and durable and the scene, which has the odd splash of colour thrown in, has plenty to colour in including cafes, shops, trees, buildings, people, presents and lots of mice. A shame they don’t throw in the colouring pens, but the lack of them keeps it cheap. For under-fives, the Crayola Christmas Countdown Activity Advent Calendar might be better.
Key specs – Size: TBC; Age range: 5+
8. Carluccio’s Limited Edition Advent Calendar: The best for foodies
Price:£75 – Buy now
If you’re a foodie and love Italian cuisine (are there any that don’t?) you need to snap one of these up pronto because there aren’t too many being made. From the restaurant and café chain that has managed to stay true to the quality of good Italian food despite expanding dramatically, the wide range of mini treats behind the windows include panettone, truffle butter, chocolate, chilli pesto and more - not to mention our favourite, the limoncello. It looks stylish too, with the vibrant colours making this a welcome addition to your Christmas kitchen. Buan Natale!
Key specs – Size: 51 x 35.5 x 7.5cm; Age range: 18+
9. Fortnum & Mason Christmas Tea Lovers Advent Calendar: The perfect pick for tea addicts
If you’re fond of a brew, then this is the calendar for you. As you’d expect from this premium retailer, the calendar itself looks stylish, with its glossy, thick gold box with posh illustrations - and the contents are far more welcome than a rubbishy chocolate, especially first thing in the morning when all most of us really want is a decent cuppa. The flavours contained within the silky bags include the likes of royal blend, sour cherry & orange infusion, gunpowder, Darjeeling, Assam, camomile, chai, Christmas tea and more. The aromas are enticing and the flavours delicious. For serious tea lovers that want to splash the cash even further, there’s a rare tea wooden advent calendar available for £125.
Key specs – Size: 33.5cm x 25.5cm x 4cm; Age range: 13+
10. Hotel Chocolat Calendar For Two: The best advent calendar for chocolate loving couples
Price:£26 – Buy now
For households with at least two chocoholic adults, this is worth forking out on. But it’s not just the fact that you get not one, but two, baby truffles behind each window that makes this stand out in the saturated market of chocolate advent calendars – it’s also that the chocolate is superb quality and the flavours are innovative, ranging from gingerbread praline to Madagascan vanilla to salted caramel cream. The book-style box is nicely presented, with the usual minimalist design that Hotel Chocolat is renowned for. The only problem is that while it’s meant for sharing, these tasty morsels are so darn good that you might wind up eating both yourself.
Key specs – Size: 32. x 20.5 x 4.8cm; Age range: 18+
11. Jelly Belly Advent Calendar: The best calendar for people with a sweet tooth
Price:£16 – Buy now
If chocolate doesn’t float your child’s boat, then sweets surely will, making this jelly bean calendar an instant hit. From the brand that makes the best jelly beans by a long shot, each window contains a little bag of several in the same flavour, ranging from the more predictable orange, apple, cherry and vanilla to more unusual offerings such as toasted marshmallow, cotton candy and a fabulous Christmas Eve surprise. It’s a substantial size box, although it’s a shame they’ve let their branding dominate the picture, which give an unnecessarily tacky look. But the children won’t care. Actually, thinking about it, who says it has to be for kids anyway?
Key specs – Size: 36.5 x 28 x 5cm; Age range: 3+