Is it too early to start talking about Christmas? Never, especially when there are so many luxurious advent calendars up for grabs!
While we can’t get enough of chocolate advent calendars, why not treat yourself to something a bit more luxurious this year?! Depending on your tastes and hobbies, you can find plenty of alternative advent calendars this year, including make-up, toys, skincare, alcohol, candles, jewellery and much more.
For 2024, I’ve been seeing some amazing advent calendars from top brands, including the likes of Charlotte Tilbury, Harrods London, Nespresso, LEGO and others. There are 12 and 24 door options available, and below, I’ve listed the top three advent calendars in each category that you can buy or pre-order today.
P.S. If you can’t get enough of Christmas, check out our best Christmas gift ideas guide and get ready for Christmas lunch by decorating your table with the best Christmas crackers.
The best food advent calendars
Best chocolate option
If you can’t get enough chocolate in your life, the Hotel Chocolat The Grand Advent Calendar is the ultimate chocolate option for this year (£75). Inside the 24 doors, there are delicious truffles, Velvetiser sachets, mini-crackers and Hotel Chocolat’s own vodka and gin creams.
Best cheese option
The Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar (£25.99) is the first ever cheese advent calendar and is popular year on year. Behind each door are individually wrapped cheeses and cheesy jokes (we see what they did there!) and you can try an array of cheeses, like cheddar, red Leicester, double Gloucester and festive flavours.
Best crisps option
Who doesn’t love crisps, especially at Christmastime! The Pringles 24 Days Crisps Countdown (£49.99) feature 24 tubs of Pringles classic flavours, including original, salt and vinegar, sour cream and onion and Texas BBQ sauce. Treat yourself to a tin of crisps a day or save them all up for snacks over the Christmas period.
Want more food advent calendars? Here are some of our favourites...
- Biscuits: Biscuiteers Advent Biscuit Tin
- Chocolate: Tony's Chocolonely Big Tiny Advent Calendar
- Lindt: Lindt Pick & Mix Advent Calendar
- Luxury selection: Fortnum & Mason Feasting Advent Calendar
- Mince pies: Exclusive Selfridges Selection Mini Mince Pies Advent Calendar
- Spices: Just Spices Advent Calendars
The best beverage advent calendars
Best coffee option
A popular alternative advent calendar is the Nespresso Advent Calendar (£35). This year, Nespresso has partnered with French luxury outerwear brand, Fusalp for the box’s fun diamond smock pattern. Inside, you can find limited edition festive pods for Original and Vertuo coffee machines.
Best tea option
If you’re more of a tea fan, the Bird & Blend Tea Advent Calendar (£38) has been all over social media this year. This limited edition advent calendar gives you two tea bags to enjoy each day and there are regular and caffeine free options for your personal tastes. It also looks pretty and colourful too!
Best alcohol-free option
For those planning an alcohol free Christmas, the Alcohol Free Craft Beer Advent Calendar (£69.95) is a brilliant way to ease into the season. It has 24 hand-picked craft beers from around the world, including Brewdog, Krombacher, Brooklyn Brewery and much more.
Want more drinks advent calendars? Here are some of our favourites...
- Ground Coffee: Pact Coffee Advent Calendar
- Pukka: Pukka Tea Advent Calendar
- Waterdrop: Waterdrop Advent Calendar
- Whittard: Whittard Tea Advent Calendar
The best alcohol advent calendars
Best beer option
Every year, the Brewdog Craft Beer Advent Calendar (£49.95) is increasingly popular. Inside, you get a glass and 24 cans of beer, including fan favourites like Punk IPA, Hazy Jane, Dead Pony Club and Elvis Juice.
Best wine option
My ideal advent calendar is the Virgin Wines Mixed Wine Advent Calendar (£89.99). Inside the 24-door calendar, you get 24 red, white and rose 187ml bottles, a bottle of sparkling and a full sized bottle for Christmas Day. This calendar is available for pre-order, and you spend £10 to reserve yours before you pay the remaining £79.99 once it’s dispatched.
Best gin option
The ultimate gin advent calendar is the Fever Tree Gin & Tonic Advent Calendar (£65). For everyday in December, you get 12 gins and 12 tonics that perfectly pair together or to experiment with. There are classic and festive flavours, and gins from brands like Opihr and Edinburgh Gin.
Want more alcohol advent calendars? Here are some of our favourites...
- Beer: Beavertown Craft Beer Advent Calendar
- Cocktails: NIO Cocktails Advent Calendar
- Fizz: John Lewis Fizz Advent Calendar
- Prosecco: Prosecco O Clock Advent Calendar Countdown
- Whisky: Master of Malt Whisky Advent Calendar Explorers Edition
The best toys advent calendars
Best LEGO option
Build a Harry Potter scene throughout December with the LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar (£29.99). For ages 7+, this advent calendar has 227 pieces and includes mini-figures of Harry Potter characters in festive outfits, including Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Albus Dumbledore.
Best Disney option
For Disney lovers, the Mickey and Friends Share The Magic Advent Calendar (£25) is covered in fun illustrations and colourful cartoons, perfect for displaying and keeping for next Christmas. Inside the drawers, you can find popular Mickey Mouse and Disney characters, including Minnie, Bambi, Stitch and Chip ‘n’ Dale.
Best Playmobil option
The bakery edition of the Playmobil Christmas Advent Calendar (£19.99) is great for kids who love to help in the kitchen. This 24 door calendar features a Santa Claus mini-figure, baking utensils and baking accessories like biscuit cutters and stamps.
Want more toys advent calendars? Here are some of our favourites...
- Barbie: Barbie Dreamtopia Advent Calendar
- Bluey: Bluey Inspired Advent Calendar
- LEGO Minifigures: LEGO Minifigure-a-day Daily Advent Calendar 2024
- Paw Patrol: Paw Patrol Advent Calendar
- Rubber Ducks: Rubber Duck Advent Calendar
The best beauty advent calendars
Best make-up option
The most talked about beauty advent calendar is the Charlotte Tilbury Lucky Chest of Beauty Secrets(£160). For make-up lovers or people who want to stock up on beauty products for next year, this Charlotte Tilbury beauty calendar has 12 doors of full sized and mini make-up and skincare must-haves, like lipsticks, serums and blushes.
Best mixed beauty option
Exclusively available to ELLE COLLECTIVE members, the ELLE Beauty Advent Calendar (£125) features 25 luxury brands, including Fenty Beauty, Cle de Peau Beaute and much more. There are full-size and mini products available, including candles, masks, creams and lip glosses.
Best luxury option
Worth over £1,000, the Liberty London Beauty Advent Calendar(£250) is the most luxurious advent calendar on this list. The calendar is beautifully designed and fun to display, and is filled with goodies like mascara, blush, bronzer, candles, perfumes and more. Brands included are BIBBI, Votary, Dr Sebagh and more.
Want more beauty advent calendars? Here are some of our favourites...
- Clarins: Clarins 24 Day Advent Calendar
- Fragrance: The Fragrance Shop Christmas Advent Calendar
- GLOSSYBOX: GLOSSYBOX Feel The Magic Advent Calendar
- LOOKFANTASTIC: LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Chest Edit
- No7: No7 Restore & Renew 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
- Perfume: Harrods of London 12 Days of Fragrance Advent Calendar
- SEPHORA: SEPHORA Favorites Advent Calendar
The best bath and pamper advent calendars
Best bath option
Lush has many advent calendars up for grabs this year, but I’m recommending the limited edition Lush Advent Calendar (£195) with 25 doors. Inside, you can find Lush bath bombs, shower gels, jellies, bubble bars, lip scrubs and much more, all scented and decorated for the festive season.
Best shower option
The Body Shop Box of Wishes and Wonders Ultimate Advent Calendar (£145) is worth £250, saving shoppers £105 on this premium pamper calendar. Perfect for baths and showers, the calendar features hand wash, shampoo and conditioner, face masks, moisturisers, sprays and more.
Best pamper option
Described as ‘25 moments of joy’ The White Company Advent Calendar (£175) is full of luxurious home and bath products. You can find candles, shower gels, body lotions, hand creams and home and body sprays. The box is also beautifully decorated with wreath and sparkle accents.
Want more bath and pamper advent calendars? Here are some of our favourites...
- Baylis & Harding: Baylis & Harding Jojoba, Vanilla & Almond Oil Luxury 24 days of Beauty Advent Calendar
- Cath Kidston: Cath Kidston Beauty Advent Calendar
- Jo Malone: Jo Malone Advent Calendar
- Lovehoney: Lovehoney Rose Sex Toy Advent Calendar
- Molton Brown: Molton Brown Advent Calendar
- ORIGINS: ORIGINS Exclusive Beauty Advent Calendar
- Soap & Glory: Soap & Glory It's A Pinker Wonderland 24-Day Advent Calendar
- Ted Baker: Ted Baker Advent Calendar
- Yankee Candle: Yankee Candle Advent Book
The best jewellery advent calendars
Best earrings option
Another advent calendar I’ve been seeing everywhere is the Astrid & Miyu 12 Day Advent Calendar (£325). Available in gold or silver, this 12 day calendar is perfect for earring lovers as it’s full of studs, hoops, climbers, cuffs and more, adorned with stars, moons and sparkles.
Best mixed jewellery option
Featuring jewellery that’s worth over £900, the Missoma Jewellery Advent Calendar (£395) is available in gold or silver for a limited time only. Inside the 12 drawers, you can find hoops, bracelets, studs and jewellery from the Lucy Williams and Harris Reed collections. If you find a golden ticket inside, you can also be in with the chance to win a diamond necklace worth £495.
Best personalised option
The Abbott Lyon Advent Calendar (was £450, now £249) is a beautiful personalised advent calendar that you can completely customise. In gold or silver, you get birthstone pendants, rings and earrings and you can choose the birthstone and initials that you want so it’s completely unique to you.
Want more jewellery advent calendars? Here are some of our favourites...
- New Look: New Look Gold Jewellery Advent Calendar
- Oliver Bonas: Oliver Bonas 12 Days of Dazzle Gold Jewellery Advent Calendar
- VOGUE: VOGUE Festive Calendar
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Beth is Home Editor for T3, looking after style, living and wellness. From the comfiest mattresses to strange things you can cook in an air fryer, Beth covers sleep, yoga, smart home, coffee machines, watches, grooming tools, fragrances, gardening and much more. If it's something that goes in your house, chances are Beth knows about it and has the latest reviews and recommendations! She's also in the know about the latest deals and discount codes from top brands and retailers.
Having always been passionate about writing, she’s written for websites, newspapers and magazines on a variety of topics, from jewellery and culture, to food and telecoms. You can find her work across numerous sites, including Wedding Ideas Magazine, Health & Wellbeing, The Bristol Post, Fashion & Style Directory, TechRadar, CreativeBloq and more. In her spare time, Beth enjoys running, reading, baking and attempting craft projects that will probably end in disaster!
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