After a lacklustre Christmas last year, it’s more important than ever to up the ante on the seasonal magic - particularly for your little ones.
We have the perfect way to kickstart the enjoyment a little earlier than usual and ignite the childlike excitement we all feel around this time of year: through the power of advents.
Advent calendars have come on leaps and bounds in recent years with options for just about every taste and interest. From booze to beauty, jewellery to socks, the countdown to Christmas can be more varied than ever. And yet, nothing will replace the classic chocolate iterations.
Below you will find a selection of chocolate and sweet advent calendars as well as ones filled to the brim with special toys, accessories or treats promising to bring the festive feels ahead of December 25 for your pint-sized people.
From some of the biggest retailers in the game; LEGO, Playmobil and more, as well as the most coveted chocolatiers - Charbonnel et Walker and Kinder to name but a few, these pre-Christmas presents will build anticipation until Santa’s arrival.
Act fast as these advents tend to fly off the (virtual) shelves.
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Charbonnel et Walker Peter Rabbit Advent Calendar
For your budding chocolate aficionado, this Peter Rabbit-inspired advent from Charbonnel et Walker will have them start each day with a smile. The luxury chocolatier is one of the oldest in Britain with the seal of approval from the Queen in the form of a royal warrant. For Christmas, there are milk chocolates with a white truffle centre behind each of the windows.
Buy now £20.00, John Lewis
Joe & Seph's Popcorn Advent Calendar
When it comes to popcorn, few do it better than Joe & Seph’s. The artisanal family-run label use real ingredients to craft its flavours - each of which is as delicious as the last. The gourmet popcorn is handmade and air-popped in the brand’s North London kitchens where the ever-growing range boasts over 60 varieties. In this calendar, you will sample 19 of them including the hugely popular salted caramel and the milk chocolate bites.
Buy now £25.00, John Lewis
Ferrero Kinder chocolate advent calendar
As far as chocolate goes, you can’t go wrong with anything from Kinder. The delightfully milky chocolate is beloved by little and big kids alike and in the lead up to the Christmas period will be a surefire win. The box is adorned with a suitably festive design of Santa Claus riding his sleigh to up the seasonal ante.
Buy now £6.99, Selfridges
Jelly Belly Advent Calendar 2021
The most wonderful time of the year is made even more so for your little one with a sweet tooth. The Jelly Belly advent is shaped like a Christmas Tree and so will up your festive decorations, while they feast on the selection of flavours within. There’s a mini bag each day and even a special Christmas-inspired one to be enjoyed on December 24. The treats are gluten, gelatine, fat, peanut and dairy-free and certified Kosher.
Buy now £20.00, John Lewis
Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Calendar
You can always count on a classic Cadbury advent to see you through the festive season in sweet, sweet chocolatey style. A certified crowd-pleaser, smiles are guaranteed with this calendar which is filled with bite-sized blocks of Dairy Milk.
Buy now £2.00, Tesco
Up to Snow Good Advent Calendar
For a luxe chocolatey surprise behind each door, the Hotel Chocolat’s kids calendar will be sure to go down a treat. Each of the chocolates is sculpted by the in-house experts to resemble penguins, Santas and snowmen where there is an extra-special iteration for Christmas Eve.
Buy now £8.00, Hotel Chocolat
Fortnum's Piccadilly Chocolate Advent Calendar
Watch their little faces light up when you present them with this festive pre-Christmas treat from Fortnum & Mason. Housed with the beautiful carousel-shaped box, it features an illustration of the luxury department store’s facade. Inside they’ll find premium Colombian milk chocolate treats crafted from 35 per cent cocoa solids. Each chocolate resembles a festive figure.
Buy now £22.00, Fortnum
Swizzels Christmas Advent Calendar
Sure to satisfy their sweet tooth and some, Swizzles’ advent calendar is packed with sweet shop favourites like Drumstick Squashies, Refreshers chew bars and Love Hearts. This one will suit both little and big kids alike.
Buy now £8.12, Amazon
Fidget Christmas Pops advent calendar
Many adults may not be familiar with the term ‘fidget spinners’ but the trend for small hand-sized toys took on a life of its own in recent years where you were hard pressed to find a Gen-Zer without one of the contraptions. This calendar puts them into advent form with 24 surprises within. The compact toys help keep fidgety fingers at bay, keeping them away from screens. Age 5+.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon
Paperchase Kids Advent Calendar
For the mini stationery lover in your life, this calendar from Paperchase will go down a treat. The calendar contains 24 sought-after items including hair accessories and temporary tattoos, packing £45 worth beneath its walls.
Buy now £28.00, Paperchase
LEGO advent calendars
Everything you need to keep your kids entertained in the run up to Christmas, LEGO has squirrelled away a whole host of surprises behind each of its themed advents. From Harry Potter, to Star Wars, there is something to suit every LEGO fan.
LEGO Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar Building Set 76196 - £25
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar Christmas Toys for Kids 75307 - £25
LEGO City Advent Calendar Christmas Toys for Kids 60303 - £20
LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar Toys Christmas Gift 76390 - £25
LEGO Friends Advent Calendar Christmas Toys for Kids 41690 - £20
Buy now £20.00, Argos
PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendars
This Christmas, there are so many Playmobil advent calendars to choose from which are filled to the brim with toys to take your little ones through the festive season and beyond.
Behind each of the 25 windows they will find figures, animals, vehicles and accessories to fill them with joy and so that by the big day itself, there is a full set where the box transforms into a backdrop to play on. The boxes is suitable for kids aged 4 to 10 years-old.
Playmobil Advent Calendar 70322 Pirate Cove Treasure - £20.99
Playmobil Magical Mermaids advent calendar 40cm - £30
Playmobil Nativity advent calendar 40cm - £30
Playmobil City Action Police Diving Mission advent calendar 40cm - £30
Buy now £30.00, Selfridges
Smiggle 10th-edition advent calendar
This calendar from Australian-born label Smiggle is brimming with stationery treats. The brand is on its 10th edition of its hugely-popular advent and it’s bigger and better than ever before. From spiral keyrings to rainbow gel pens, there’s extra special surprises behind every door.
Buy now £30.00, Selfridges
L.O.L Surprise Christmas Advent Calendar
L.O.L Surprise dolls have been given a Christmassy makeover. Hidden behind each of the 24 windows, your doll obsessive can unwrap hair accessories like a brush or hair ties that they can wear throughout the festive period and beyond all branded with the motifs of the cult playthings.
There is also a very similar calendar with 24 hair styling favourites that is Frozen themed also available at Very (£15).
Buy now £15.00, Argos
Marvel Storybook Collection Advent Calendar
Your little ones can celebrate Christmas with their favourite Marvel superheroes this year with this advent calendar. Each day reveals brand new content: a story jam-packed with action.
Buy now £19.99, Very
Disney Storybook Collection Advent Calendar
If Disney is more their speed, this advent will simplify their bedtime reading with a book for each day in the lead up to December 24. This is one pre-Christmas treat sure to bring the seasonal magic.
Buy now £19.99, Very
PAW Patrol 2021 Advent Calendar
There are 24 exclusive gifts packed within this Paw Patrol advent calendar. The beloved TV show has been given a wintery twist where their favourite pups and Ryder have been revamped to withstand the colder temperatures. There’s pup friends, play pieces and a backdrop for their imaginative play.
Buy now £21.99, Amazon
Barbie Advent Calendar
Barbie has stood the test of time, as popular today as in our childhood. Your kids - aged 3+ - can countdown to Christmas with the doll, bringing her to life with jewellery, stickers and hair accessories.
Buy now £19.99, Very
The Elf on the Shelf North Pole Advent Train
Elf of the Shelf seems to grow in popularity each year. It originated in the US and has taken a life of its own that goes far beyond the original purpose to check on whether your kids are being naughty or nice. Now simply a playful Christmas tradition, the elves are available in advent form and paired with a pets, a plastic train, train cars, trees and more with a seasonal twist.
Buy now £27.99, John Lewis
Personalised Advent Calendar Kids
Make each day special in the lead up to December 25 with this reusable advent calendar from Not Another Bill. It can be affixed to your wall with a soft corduroy construction and adorned with red ribbon detailing and the option for personalisation. The fill your own version is available for £50 or you can opt for the children’s pre-filled option with toys, sweets and chocolates hidden in each pouch.
Buy now £100.00, Not Another Bill
