Best advent calendars UK 2025: luxury beauty to eco-friendly options
Luxury beauty advent calendars
Beauty advent calendars have become increasingly popular in recent years, offering an exciting way to discover premium skincare, makeup, and fragrance products. For 2025, several luxury brands have created stunning calendars that combine value with indulgence.
Leading the pack is the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Beauty Calendar, priced at £170 but offering products worth £243. This 12-day calendar features a carefully curated selection of the brand’s most coveted items, from skincare essentials to makeup must-haves, all housed in a jewelled drawer and heart-shaped box. Beauty experts particularly praise its elegant packaging and high-quality product selection.
For those seeking maximum value, the Sephora Advent Calendar 2024 offers an impressive collection worth £1000 for £199. This comprehensive calendar includes both skincare and haircare products from various premium brands, making it perfect for beauty enthusiasts who enjoy trying new products.
Premium beauty calendars highlights
- L’Occitane En Provence Advent Calendar (£68) – Features 24 travel-sized products including their bestselling hand creams and shower oils
- Jo Malone Advent Calendar – Contains a luxurious selection of their signature fragrances and body care products
- Boots Limited Edition 24 Days of Beauty – Includes full-size products from prestigious brands like Laura Mercier and Drunk Elephant
The trend for 2025 shows a clear shift towards more sustainable packaging and refillable options, with many luxury brands incorporating eco-friendly elements into their calendar designs. Several calendars now feature reusable packaging that can be repurposed as jewelry boxes or makeup storage.
For those considering value for money, these luxury beauty calendars typically offer significant savings compared to buying the products individually. Many beauty experts recommend checking the contents carefully to ensure the products align with your preferences and skincare needs.
Food and drink advent calendars 2025
For those looking to indulge in gourmet treats during the countdown to Christmas, there are several luxurious food and drink advent calendars available in 2025. From artisanal chocolates to premium wines, these calendars offer a delightful way to celebrate the festive season.
Chocolate and confectionery
Hotel Chocolat’s The Grand Advent Calendar leads the luxury chocolate category, offering an exquisite selection of their finest chocolates presented in elegant packaging. At around £150, it’s a premium option that delivers 24 days of sophisticated chocolate treats.
For those seeking artisanal chocolate experiences, Magno Chocolates’ 2025 Calendar features handcrafted bonbons and pralines, each carefully selected to provide a unique tasting experience every day.
Wine and spirits
Wine enthusiasts can explore the 24 Days of Wine advent calendar, featuring 24 carefully curated 187ml bottles from renowned wine regions across France and the world. At £173, it offers an educational journey through different wine styles and varietals.
The popular 24 Days of Rum calendar presents a global rum-tasting experience with 24 different 30ml bottles, perfect for spirits connoisseurs looking to expand their palate. Priced at £73, it offers excellent value for premium rum samples.
Gourmet food selections
The Harry and David Best of Advent Calendar stands out for food lovers, featuring a carefully curated selection of sweet and savoury treats including:
- Artisanal chocolates
- Premium nuts and dried fruits
- Gourmet cookies and crackers
- Specialty condiments
- Seasonal preserves
For those interested in international flavours, Bokksu’s Golden Japan Calendar offers an immersive experience with 16 authentic Japanese treats and eight traditional figurines, providing both cultural and culinary exploration.
Craft beer selections
Beer enthusiasts can enjoy the Beer52 Advent Calendar, which includes 24 craft beers from around the world, complete with a commemorative glass on day one. Each beer has been selected to showcase different styles and brewing traditions, making it perfect for those wanting to explore new craft beverages during the festive season.
Children’s Christmas advent calendars
Finding the perfect advent calendar for children can be exciting yet challenging. From educational options to themed collectibles, here’s a comprehensive guide to the best children’s advent calendars for 2025.
LEGO advent calendars – A timeless favourite
LEGO continues to dominate the children’s advent calendar market with their innovative themed collections. The LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar stands out as a particularly popular choice, featuring mini Star Wars sets and figures that provide a creative countdown to Christmas. For young wizarding fans, the LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar recreates magical Christmas scenes from The Great Hall, making it perfect for children aged 7 and above.
Educational and learning calendars
For parents seeking educational value, several options combine learning with festive fun:
- Jojo Maman Bebe Nativity Fabric Calendar – Perfect for toddlers, featuring interactive fabric characters that help tell the Christmas story
- Mr. Men Little Miss Advent Calendar – Contains 24 mini books, ideal for encouraging daily reading
- Hey Duggee: Advent Calendar Book Collection – Combines storytelling with beloved characters
Interactive play calendars
These calendars offer hands-on engagement and creative play opportunities:
- Playmobil Christmas Bakery Advent Calendar – Includes cookie cutters and festive figures
- Hot Wheels Advent Calendar – Perfect for vehicle enthusiasts
- Pokémon Holiday Calendar – Features unique Pokémon figurines
Sweet treats and chocolate options
For those seeking traditional chocolate calendars with an educational twist, the M&S Milk Chocolate Natural History Museum Dinosaurs Calendar combines delicious treats with fascinating dinosaur facts. It offers an excellent balance of fun and learning while maintaining the excitement of daily chocolate discoveries.
Creative and craft-based calendars
These calendars encourage artistic expression and hands-on creativity:
- Aquabeads Christmas Advent Calendar – Suitable for ages 4+, featuring daily crafting activities
- Sesameless Slime Advent Calendar – Includes 12 different slimes and decorative accessories
When selecting a children’s advent calendar, consider factors such as age appropriateness, safety standards, and educational value. All recommended calendars meet strict UK safety requirements and come from reputable manufacturers. The popularity of these calendars among parents stems from their ability to combine festive excitement with meaningful activities or collectibles that extend beyond the holiday season.
Sustainable advent calendars for eco-conscious Christmas countdown
For those looking to celebrate the festive season while minimizing their environmental impact, sustainable advent calendars offer a thoughtful alternative to traditional options. These eco-friendly choices combine holiday cheer with responsible consumption, featuring recyclable materials and ethical production practices.
Reusable fabric advent calendars
Leading the sustainable trend is L’Occitane’s innovative reusable advent calendar, featuring cotton pockets that can be mounted on the wall and refilled year after year. The brand’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond the calendar itself, as they work with over 130 French farmers and 10,000 pickers to ensure environmentally conscious ingredient sourcing.
Zero-waste beauty calendars
Lush’s advent calendar stands out for its commitment to sustainability, constructed entirely from recycled materials. The reusable box showcases artwork by a neurodivergent artist and features a ribbon made from recycled bottles. Inside, you’ll find their signature package-free bath bombs and sustainable beauty products. The calendar exemplifies Lush’s dedication to reducing environmental impact while maintaining luxury standards.
Eco-friendly tea and beverage calendars
The Pukka Herbs Tea advent calendar offers a sustainable option for tea enthusiasts, featuring 24 organic herbal teas housed in recyclable packaging. Each tea variety is ethically sourced and non-GM, making it an excellent choice for environmentally conscious tea lovers.
Sustainable chocolate calendars
Montezuma’s Dark Chocolate advent calendar sets a new standard for sustainable confectionery. Their calendar features 25 award-winning chocolates that are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and palm oil-free, all packaged in recycled and recyclable materials. The brand’s Trading Fairly Policy ensures ethical practices throughout their supply chain.
Luxury sustainable options
The Nkuku Alu advent calendar represents the perfect blend of sustainability and luxury. This permanent piece features an elegant glass and antique brass finish, designed to be treasured and reused for years to come. It can be filled with personally chosen treats and comes with key-hole fittings for easy wall mounting.
- Made from sustainable or recycled materials
- Designed for multiple years of use
- Support ethical production practices
- Minimize packaging waste
- Often feature organic or natural contents
DIY and unique advent calendars
For those seeking something different this Christmas season, DIY and unique advent calendars offer creative alternatives to traditional options. These innovative calendars allow for personalization while creating lasting memories during the festive period.
Craft-based advent calendar kits
DIY advent calendar kits have seen a surge in popularity, particularly among craft enthusiasts. The Sew Your Own Advent Calendar kit includes pre-printed cotton panels and comprehensive instructions, making it accessible even for beginners. The finished calendar becomes a cherished family heirloom that can be used year after year.
For those interested in embroidery, the Nelly Makes Embroidery kit presents a unique daily crafting experience with 24 mini motifs on pre-printed cotton fabric. Each day reveals a new embroidery project, complete with all necessary materials and guidance.
Ready-to-decorate options
If you prefer minimal crafting but still want a personal touch, several options stand out:
- Personalised wooden DIY hangers for displaying wrapped gifts
- Paper house village kits with printable Christmas activities
- Pre-cut candy stripe boxes with festive number stickers
Experience-based advent calendars
Moving beyond physical gifts, experience-based advent calendars have gained traction. These calendars focus on creating memorable moments through daily activities and challenges. The DIY Advent Calendar Houses kit combines crafting with daily festive activities, making it perfect for families looking to create meaningful holiday traditions.
Minimal effort, maximum impact
For those seeking simplicity without sacrificing style, the Liberty Advent Calendar Kit offers an elegant solution using Liberty London’s renowned fabrics. While more straightforward to assemble than full craft kits, it still creates a stunning visual impact that can be treasured for years to come.
Whether you’re an experienced crafter or simply looking for a unique way to count down to Christmas, these innovative advent calendar options provide creative alternatives to traditional choices while allowing for personal expression and family involvement.