Advent calendars come in all shapes and sizes making the December countdown all the more exciting – our shopping writer team have rounded up our favourites
With Christmas just around the corner – November is almost here – alongside our gift-buying, many of us need to start planning which advent calendar we will get to help us with our countdown to December 25. While many people opt for a classic chocolate advent calendar, others have their minds on a 25-day haul filled with goodies that tap into their loves and hobbies.
While the high street and online are heaving with calendars that cater to beauty fans – see our pick of the best ones under £50 here – there are a number of calendars that are a little more niche.
From socks to tea to tools to Lego, there’s an option for all who want an extra boost on a cold winter morning. With endless options, we’ve found a few fun advent calendars that are out of the norm and will bring some joy come December 1.
Rise Coffee Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Ruth Ovens
If you are someone who starts every day with a fresh cup of coffee then a coffee advent calendar is the perfect festive countdown. Rise has carefully curated 24 days of individual coffee.
Each day users discover a new coffee with a handy QR code revealing the full story behind your cup, plus interactive videos.The pouches of ground coffee are suitable for brewing methods including: French press / Cafetière, filter, pour over, AeroPress and Chemex and Moka Pot.
The advent is £40, which may feel steep, but it works out as £1.66 a day – less than a takeout coffee. It’s a great way to treat a coffee loving friend (or yourself) without being tied into just one flavour.
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Narin Flanders
LEGO is the home of geeky advent calendars, with an option for everyone, whether you love Harry Potter, Minecraft, Disney or sci-fi. Having had the LEGO Star Wars calendar over several years I was really excited to unbox this year’s as it offers something new and different. The calendar is £24 from Amazon, or £29.99 from the LEGO Store.
Moving away from a minifigure only collection, this year’s version is an adorable droid workshop diorama headed by engineer Babu Frik, one of the limited edition characters included in the set along with festive-themed C3PO and Jawa figures. Throughout December, builders will assemble eight different droids, alongside nine other mini builds such as a workbench and tool rack, building up to a full workshop set with bags of replay value.
Papier 24 Days of Desk Delights
Writer’s pick: Lauren Codling
Stationery brand Papier – whose 2024 calendar famously sold out last year – has done it again, creating what’s sure to be another cult favourite. Valued at £200 but retailing for £140, this year’s advent calendar is bursting with limited-edition treats and mini bestsellers – everything shoppers need to make their home office feel more ‘main character’ and a little less ‘where did I leave my pen?’
True to Papier’s chic, nostalgic aesthetic, the calendar itself is a beauty. The treasures are tucked into individual printed boxes, all housed within a bold red drawer-style case. Inside are 24 surprises that range from the practical to the purely delightful: think pen clips, sticky tabs, washi tape, notebooks, and a set of highlighters.
The whole collection follows a warm, vintage-inspired palette that instantly transforms my once-drab desk into something straight off a cosy Pinterest mood board. There’s a lovely balance between decorative and functional items, though the seven notepads feel a little ambitious for daily use.
Lovehoney Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Lauren Codling
Lovehoney is turning up the heat this festive season with five brand-new advent calendars for 2025, designed to suit a range of preferences and price points. Starting at £79 – the sexual wellness brand’s most affordable calendar yet – and going up to £299, each set offers impressive savings of up to 70% off the total value.
For anyone looking to add a little excitement without overspending, the Enjoy Advent Calendar (£79, worth £205.76) is the perfect entry point. Behind its 24 doors lies an assortment of toys, games, and accessories – including the Womanizer Mini 2, which alone is worth £22.99 (nearly a third of the calendar’s total value).
At the other end of the spectrum is the Couples Day Advent Calendar (£149, worth £501.76), a premium selection packed with high-end favourites like the Womanizer Classic 2 and the We-Vibe Sync Life. Together, those two products alone are worth £188.99, making this calendar one of the most cost-effective ways to curate a collection of luxury pleasure products.
BONNE MAMAN Jam advent calendar
Writer’s pick: Jada Jones
The countdown to Christmas isn’t just about chocolate and Bonne Maman is on the ball when it comes to giving a different flavour every day in the lead up to Christmas. While conventional flavours like raspberry do make appearances this calendar has a lot of unique flavours to get shoppers in the Christmas spirit. There are three different cherry jams (one with spices, one with hibiscus and one with elderflower), peach with mint, a fig and cardamom jam and even some tropical fruits making an appearance.
While I usually opt for St Dalfour at home which has no added sugars and a huge range of flavours, I haven’t seen this many variations of cherry jam before and would defnitely be curious to try this. At £34.99 it is on the pricey side but for those with a jam aficionado in their life this would be a great option.
Disney Crystal Art Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Narin Flanders
If the stresses of December get too much then what better way to embrace the calm than with some mindful craft? Crystal art is a mess-free and fun option for all ages and this calendar is a great way to while away the winter evenings.
The calendar includes 24 individual mini kits to make a tiny Disney character who can then be added to the magnetic display tree. As well as being fun for all the family the finished tree is an impressive looking Christmas decoration you’ll be getting out to display every year.
Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Lucy Addicott
As someone who has previously worked for two major cinema chains, I like to think I know a lot about popcorn. Ready to take any December movie night to the next level, Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar retails for £35 at Debenhams, or £32.99 at Selfridges.
Forget sweet, salt or mixed, this calendar is full of incredibly unique flavours including salted caramel, tiramisu, milk chocolate and cinnamon custard roll. There are 24 days of treats to open, each with a mini bag of gourmet popcorn.
Laithwaites White Wine Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Jada Jones
Wine advent calendars have been growing in popularity and are a great way to try a new range of flavours without committing to a full sized bottle. It’s pretty standard for them to cost £99.99 with a £10 deposit, and Laithwaites are offering one filled with exclusively white wines.
There are 23 mini bottles filled with a wide range of crisp white wines including Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Gruner Veltliner and Chardonnay before a full sized bottle of prosecco for Christmas Eve as a treat to share with family.
Yankee Candle Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Lauren Codling
This Christmas, Yankee Candle is spreading seasonal cheer with its Advent Wreath Calendar (£22.95 from £27, available at Boots) – a charming countdown promising 24 days of cosy, wintery fragrance. Day one begins with a lovely surprise – a tea light holder – that sets the tone for what’s to come. Each day after reveals a new scent to light and enjoy, featuring festive favourites like Cinnamon Sticks, Black Cherry, Amber and Sandalwood, and Christmas Cookie.
Several fragrances make repeat appearances throughout the month – a detail that can be seen as both a perk and a drawback. The repeats allow for extended enjoyment of the most popular scents, but those less fond of a particular fragrance may find its recurrence less appealing.
Grind Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Jada Jones
Grind can be recognised for their pink coffee pads and pretty branding, and in the countdown to Christmas they’ve kept in mind the different methods of making coffee at home. Their main advent calendar has 26 Nespresso compatible pods – with two on Christmas day. They’ve got sixteen different pods, with different blends and even flavours including Pistachio, Pumpkin Spice and even Baileys. At £29.95 this isn’t the most expensive calendar we’ve seen and it could make a nice treat this December.
For those without Nespresso machines there’s still an option, it’s the same price although it does have less variety. Shoppers can either choose for a ground or whole bean finish with 12 different single-origin coffee beans. The ground coffee option is an omni-grind, suitable for cafetières, stovetop espressos, or filter brews. Each sachet contains 18g of ground coffee or coffee beans, the ideal amount for one cup of coffee.
Lakrids By Bulow Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Narin Flanders
Forget everything you know about liquorice. Lakrids By Bulow hand makes delicious, gourmet liquorice balls, covered with chocolate or crispy fruit flavoured shells.
These treats are packed with so much flavour that I find one or two is a decadent treat to enjoy in front of the TV as a perfect end-of-the-day snack in a way that doesn’t feel too OTT ahead of Christmas excesses but still brightens the night. The calendar has two pieces per day and showcases both some of the brand’s most popular flavours as well as seasonal specials – the question is whether you love someone enough to share or are eating both pieces yourself.
Christmas Sock Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Narin Flanders
If you love Christmas socks then this calendar is the ultimate festive fun. But make no mistake. Sockshop’s calendar is made of beautiful quality, soft bamboo socks which are wicking when your feet get hot and warming when your feet get cold.
The calendar includes 25 pairs, ranging from Christmassy themed ones through to cheery prints and patterns and bright colours. The wide range and quality means they’ll last you long after December 25.
This is the advent calendar I didn’t know I needed but the contents have bought me much joy and inspired a full sock drawer declutter in time for 2026.
Bird and Blend Tea Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Narin Flanders
When the weather is cold and life is busy, what’s better than a relaxing brew and a bit of me time? I’ve had the Bird and Blend advent calendar for the last few years and it’s a lovely way to try all the different festive blends made by the brand, who are basically the Willy Wonka of tea-making.
My favourite so far is the Irish Cream festive brew, which is a Rooibos blend I’ll be picking up a separate box of before it goes out of stock. The moreish brew tastes and smells like Baileys but is non-alcoholic so you can sip it all day.
Joma Jewellery 6 Days of Sparke Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Eve Rowlands
Jewellery advent calendars are great for those who value jewels over blushes and lipsticks. It doesn’t need to be overboard, either, as Joma Jewellery has launched a mini advent calendar in its Silver-Plated 6 Days Of Sparkle Advent Calendar, which costs £84.99 but is worth up to £135.
With a one-size fits all approach, the jewellery inside – which is made with silver plated brass – is all adjustable, to ensure they will fit the wearer. A lovely extra-special touch for anyone getting the box is that the A Little Bracelet can also be personalised with your loved one’s name and handpicked charms.
Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar
Writer’s pick: Jada Jones
To say I’m a matcha fan feels like an understatement. In fact, I’ve managed to associate myself with the green powdered tea so much that whenever a new flavour is launched it’s expected that I’ll have run out to try it first thing.
The calendar is filled with tiny tins of matcha that each give two portions, working out at 48 matchas for £54.99. It’s available directly from Bird & Blend. This is a great way to try a huge range of flavours for matcha lovers and those trying to get into the tea. I find that my energy levels are always great after I have a cup of this.
