We’ll always feel nostalgic for a good old chocolate advent calendar, but it’s fair to say there’s a lot more choice these days than your classic daily dose of Dairy Milk. It doesn’t matter what your budget is or what your interests are, there’s something for everyone and they’re all available already to shop on Oxford Street. Are you into your beauty regime? Beauty advent calendars are one of the Holy Grail of calendars, often selling out when they launch. A real foodie? Try a gin, popcorn or tea advent calendar. Want something you’ll keep forever? There are plenty of wooden and fabric options. Shop these and many more below.
And in the run-up to Christmas, why not make a sick child’s festive period a little brighter by sponsoring a star for just £10? Oxford Street has teamed up with charity Starlight, which helps make children’s stays in hospital a bit easier through the power of play.
Chocolate advent calendars
Chocolate advent calendars have also come a long way since our childhood (you still can’t knock a Dairy Milk though). Whether you want traditional chocolate or something a little fancier, there’s something to satisfy every sweet tooth. Lindt’s festive chocolate selection includes all the best-sellers from the brand, including Lindor and teddy bears, while Charbonnel & Walker’s calendar includes the finest truffles (they were a favourite of the Queen’s). For a vegan option, try Monty Bojangles’s vegan cocoa.
Shop: Lindt advent calendar (£18.99), Selfridges – Charbonnel & Walker (£39.95) John Lewis – Monty Bojangles (£15), Boots
Beauty advent calendars
They might not be the most affordable advent calendar out there, but there’s a reason beauty advent calendars are the hottest ticket in town. Add up the value of all the products inside and you often save at least 50%, and they’ll last you a few months if not more. There are now several No7 advent calendars which include skincare based on your skin type as well as makeup. The Rituals set offers a selection of home, skincare and body products like candles and body oil. The Body Shop advent calendar is filled with bestsellers like the tea tree toner, the rose hand cream and the avocado body butter.
Shop: No7 Restore & Renew (£54.95 but worth £213), Boots – Classic advent calendar (£87.90 but worth £150.50), Rituals – The advent of change calendar (£59 but worth £119), The Body Shop
Jewellery advent calendars
Calendars filled with jewellery are a relatively new thing, but they’ve grown increasingly popular over the last couple of years, and despite the higher price tag, they’re good value. Plus, if a piece of jewellery isn’t to your liking, you can gift it to friends or family. Missoma’s calendar features 12 pieces, all wrapped in their own boxes, including the Lucy Williams tiny horn necklace, pave huggies and the Interstellar drop bracelet. By popular demand, Pandora is launching a calendar for the first time, available on 10th October. It’ll include a bracelet, some signature charms and more. A more affordable option comes in the form of Accessorize’s calendar, featuring gold-tone jewellery such as hoops and diamante bracelets.
Shop: Missoma (£395 but worth £917), Selfridges – 12 Days of Pandora (£350 but worth £550) – Accessorize 12 Days of Christmas calendar (£50), Next
Luxury advent calendars
There’s no more decadent way to count the days until Christmas than with a luxurious advent calendar, of which there are plenty. Liberty’s advent calendar is shaped like the iconic store and is filled with travel and full size beauty treats from luxe brands including Byredo and Sunday Riley. Makeup enthusiasts will adore the YSL calendar, full of lipsticks, mascara and mini perfume bottles. For something unusual, try the Villeroy & Boch calendar, a porcelain tree which you decorate with a different ornament everyday. If you’re a child at heart, you’ll love Swarovski’s newly released calendar, which celebrates 100 years of Disney. Behind its 25 doors you’ll discover colourful ornaments of some of your favourite characters as well as festive motifs, two necklaces, and a playful set of stickers.
Shop: Liberty Advent Calendar (£250 but worth £1,043) – Yves Saint Laurent (£250 but worth £419), Selfridges – Villeroy & Boch 3D advent tree (£446), Selfridges – Disney100 Advent Calendar 2023 (£1,100), Swarovski
Eco-conscious advent calendars
There are also plenty of eco-friendly advent calendars to be bought this year on Oxford Street. Jojo Maman’s advent calendar is made of wood and filled with woodland creatures your kids will discover for years to come. Or you could choose Flying Tiger’s fabric calendar which you can hang your own gifts on, making sure none of them go to waste. Lush’s advent calendar is made of 100% recycled board and tied with ribbon made using recycled drinking bottles, and filled with beauty products that have a low impact on the planet.
Shop: Jojo Maman Bebe wooden advent calendar (£38), Next – Lush advent calendar (£195) – Flying Tiger fabric advent calendar (£10)
Kids’ advent calendars
It’s easy to forget that advent calendars were originally for the kids, so it would be rude not to include some children’s options in here. Of course, Peppa Pig is a must, with a calendar that includes jewellery and hair accessories. The Lego Star Wars calendar is always a delight, as it includes characters and vehicles from both the new and the old films. With Barbie’s renewed popularity thanks to this summer’s blockbuster, you can bet its advent calendar will be a sell-out, so get yours soon.
Shop: Peppa Pig (£30), Boots – Lego Star Wars (£29.99), Disney store – Barbie Dreamtopia advent calendar (£26) Next
Budget advent calendars
You definitely don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy daily treats in the run-up to the big day. For beauty, try the Skin Treats 24 Days of Masking calendar at Boots, giving you a face mask per day for glowing skin in time for New Year’s. The calendar candle at John Lewis is a great traditional and eco-conscious option, while there’s a fun festive activity hidden behind each door of the personalised elf calendar you can buy at Next.
Shop: Skin Treats 24 Days of Masking (£12.99), Boots – Talking Tables Holly Advent Pillar Candle (£10), John Lewis – Personalised elf calendar (£16), Next
Food & drinks advent calendars
Sweet, savoury, boozy or soft, there’s an advent calendar specialising in every snack and drink under the sun. The Selfridges coffee one is an ideal way to start the day, perhaps paired with Joe & Steph’s vegan popcorn, a nice alternative to chocolate. For the end of the day, a good all-rounder like the John Lewis beer and snacks calendar – filled with ales and lagers and classic bar snacks like Bombay mix – will do just fine.
Shop: Selfridges coffee calendar (£34.99) – Joe & Steph vegan popcorn calendar (£280), Next – Beer & Snacks calendar (£80), John Lewis
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