Tired of necking Cadbury chocolate squares every December morning?
The answer to this question is of course no, because who gets tired of chocolate, but we must admit that there are days when we wish our advent calendar gift was a little more of a surprise.
Luckily, we’re not the only ones that have felt this way, and over the past couple of years, more and more alternative advent calendars have sprung up for sale. And the array of fillers on offer is getting better and better each year!
From beauty products to booze, and toys to treats for pets, here are the best non-chocolate advent calendars for 2017 — to sit beside your chocolate one, obviously…
Food & drink advent calendars
Beauty advent calendars
Lifestyle advent calendars
Toy advent calendars
Food & Drink
The Naked Marshmallow Co Advent Calendar
£13 from The Naked Marshmallow Co
Who doesn’t love a marshmallow? This alternative advent calendar boasts 25 ‘gooey pieces of heaven’, with flavours including s’mores, candy cane, humbug, and gingerbread. Place your pre-order now to receive your calendar by the end of November.
John Lewis Edinburgh Gin Advent Calendar
£100 from John Lewis
If you want to wake up to a different type of gin everyday, then the new John Lewis advent calendar is for you.
The calendar, which costs £100, contains 25 bottles of 5cl gin of varying flavours, including the original Edinburgh Gin, navy-strength Cannonball Gin and briny Seaside Gin.
Aldi Wine Advent Calendar
£49.99 from Aldi
So dreams do come true. Aldi are launching a wine advent calendar for the holiday season this year, giving you an excuse to try a different every day up to Christmas — what more could you want?
The boozy calendar comes equipped with 24 bottles of red, white, rose and bubbly, which are the equivalent of six full bottles. This game changer will probably mean you’ll have to open your advent calendar in the evening rather than in the morning, but no judgement here…
Gin & Tonic Advent Calendar
£99 from The Pip Stop (available for pre-order)
We all went mad for the Prosecco Advent Calendar below, but this calendar works a little differently. Instead of opening the tiny doors to mini measures of gin, this Gin and Tonic Advent Calendar holds a range of different flavoured tonics to open each day. Mouth-watering flavours like pomegranate and basil, tangerine, cinnamon and cucumber and watermelon — delish. And from great brands from Fever Tree and Fentimans to Bottlegreen and London Essence, make room in your fridge because come Christmas Day you’ll be opening a full sized bottle of The Lakes Gin.
The Ultimate Tea Connoisseur Advent Calendar
£55.00 from newbyteas.com (available from 1st November 2017)
For Christmas 2017, luxury tea company Newby Teas of London presents a collectable advent calendar full of sumptuous tea choice for those who love a cuppa with a bit of luxury on the side. Two giant calendar doors open outwards to reveal a chest of 24 individual white drawers, each embossed with the day of the month. Inside each drawer is an individually wrapped sachet of tea, and no two are the same. From Rosehip & Hibiscus and Rooibos Orange to Darjeeling, Earl Grey and English Breakfast, there will be something for everyone.
Sparkling Wine Advent Calendar
£125 from The Pip Stop (available for pre-order)
If you love your fizz then opening this calendar every day will be your idea of heaven. Behind each door there’s a 20cl bottle of sparkling wine for you to drink, including Prosecco, Cava, Sparkling Pinot Noir and Rose from Italy, Spain and Australia. Christmas Eve’s door even has a mini bottle of Laurent-Perrier Champagne — helping you start the celebrations early!
Pukka Herbs tea Advent Calendar
£7.99 from Pukka Herbs (available from October)
Variety is the spice of life — so why not try a new tea every morning on the run up to Christmas? This advent calendar has different herbal teas to try for each day in December — the perfect way to unwind after a busy day of Christmas shopping.
Biscuiteers Advent Box and Calendar
£48 (£99 with the cloth calendar) from Biscuiteers (available from 1st September)
This collection of Christmas-themed iced biscuits are almost too beautiful to eat. They arrive in a limited edition, hand-illustrated tin, and include circus favourites like a fire place, an ice skate and a cute snowman. The matching re-usable cloth calendar is gorgeous as well!
World’s First Cheese Advent Calendar
£9.99 from selected Asda stores (available from 1st November)
Last year, Annem — a food blogger from So Wrong It’s Nom — went viral with her handmade Cheese Advent Calendar. This Christmas she’s making cheese lovers dreams come true with a mass-produced number, with 24 individually wrapped cheeses, including Jarlsberg, Applewood, Mexicana and Ilchester behind the doors.
Carluccio’s Luxe Advent calendar
£75 from Carluccios (available from October)
For an Italian-inspired countdown to Christmas, this limited edition luxe advent calendar features Italian products from Carluccio’s core collection. Treats behind the doors include limoncello chocolates, truffle butter, aged balsamic vinegar, torrone pieces and porcini oil.
Lily’s Kitchen Advent Calendar for Dogs and Cats
£9.95 from Lily’s Kitchen (available from 4th September)
Dogs and cats may not be able to open the actual calendar doors, but with a little bit of help they can have a treat, every day, in the run up to Christmas. It’s full of tasty items like cheese and apple treats!
Chase Advent Calendar
£129.95 from 31 Dover (available from 1st October)
Christmas is the time to celebrate — so this is the perfect calendar to enjoy on the run up to Christmas. Behind every door is a Chase spirit in a 5cl miniature bottle — ranging from Rhubarb Vodka, pink grapefruit gin and even some tasty liqueurs.
Haribo Advent Calendar
£14.99, from Amazon (available from mid September)
If chocolate isn’t your thing, but gummy sweets most definitely are, then try the Haribo calendar, with 25 mini bags of everyone’s favourite chewy candy.
Merry Piggin’ Christmas Advent Calendar
£15 from The Snaffling Pig Co.
A very interesting one, but bound to be a hit with any pork scratching lovers! From the creators of the flavoured pork scratchings, they’re bringing you flavours like BBQ and Maple this holiday season.
Kelloggs Advent Calendar
£4 from Tesco (available from October 23rd)
If you’re a Coco Pops addict or love a cornflake then you’ll be excited about this — Kellogg’s has launched its first advent calendar this Christmas. The ’24 bowls til’ Christmas’ is the UK’s first breakfast advent calendar and will give you a chance of try a different Kellogg’s cereal every day.
English Tea shop calendar
£10.90 from Amazon
Another one for tea lovers, the English Tea shop have launched Christmas flavours such as Christmas Cake, Ginger bread man and Candy Cane. Drink
one every day and you’ll be feeling extra Christmassy by the time the 25h
rolls around.
Wine Advent Calendar
£69.99 from The Pip Stop (available for pre-order)
Finally — this is all we’ve ever wanted for Christmas! It contains a
combination of 24 mini bottles of white, red, rose and even mulled wine, each 187ml bottle showcases the best grapes from around the world. The
calendar includes South African Merlot, Australian Chardonnay, Chilean
Sauvignon Blanc and a White Zinfandel from the USA — we can see this
flying off shelves pretty fast, so get your pre-orders in soon…
Beauty advent calendars
L’Occitane Advent Calendar
from £49 from L’Occitane
Beautifully illustrated, this beauty advent calendar by French brand L’Occitane is filled with 24 irresistible luxury products, including a relaxing shower gel, shea butter hand cream and repairing shampoo.
There’s also a luxury version of the calendar, which costs £89, and comes with fragrances, hand creams and skin products like their Divine Youth Oil.
Benefit Advent Calendar
£34.50 from Benefit
Go for a beauty blowout with the Benefit advent calendar, which includes 12 of their bestsellers. Includes their hit matte powder bronzer, lengthening mascara, Benefit’s #1 pore primer. What’s not to love?
Rituals’ Advent Calendar
£59.50 from Rituals
Likely to be the most relaxing way to count down the days until Christmas and beat the festive madness, with the Rituals’ advent calendar you get 24 surprises. They four special advent candles, shower gels, body mists, body scrub and more…
Superdrug’s Beauty and the Beast Advent Calendar
£6 from Superdrug
With a great price, this Superdrug Beauty and the Beast advent calendar comes with two lip balms, nail files, bath fizzers, bath salts and a body wash, body lotion, hand cream and a bath puff — all themed around the Disney tale. It’s a yes from us…
Birchbox’s Advent Calendar
£75 from Birchbox
There’s not much info on Birchbox’s advent calendar yet, but they revealed on social media that the product will have limited stock and will go on sale to subscribers first — so get on the list quick!
ASOS’s Advent Calendar
£55, from ASOS
Online fashion giant ASOS is offering one of the very few beauty advent calendars that will give you a surprise for 24 days (most are 12).
The calendar, which is perfect for any beauty junkies out there, includes a mix of skincare, make-up and hair care products, featuring brands like Smashbox, Eyeko and Cowshed — so you have an excuse to treat yourself every day until Christmas!
The retailer is also offering a ‘grooming’ version for men, with products hair and skin from brands Elemis and Carmex.
Superdrug’s Advent Calendar
From £16, available at Superdrug
Superdrug has gone advent calendar crazy this year and have quite a few festive offerings available.
One of them is Superdrug’s Bloom 12 days of Christmas (£24), which is hiding 12 mini Eau de Toilettes, which can be worn individually or layered to create a personalised scent.
Superdrug’s Flutter (£16) will keep you supplied with new products for your eyes, lips and nails, including six Mini Nail Polish, six Mini Lipgloss, six Mini Eyeshadow and six Mini Lip & Cheek Tint.
Zoella’s Advent Calendar
£50 from Boots
While it only caters for 12 days, Zoella’s Christmas calendar is sure to brighten up half of your advent. Goodies include festive gifts like a bauble, confetti, a candle, two cookie cutters, a room spray, a key ring, and others.
Molton Brown Advent Calendar
£165 from Molton Brown shops (available from October)
This delight of a calendar comes with lots of mini versions of your most favourite Molton Brown products — from perfumes to baubles and even body creams — its the sort of advent you want to be waking up to every morning.
Sleek Advent Calendar
£35 from Boots (available from 18th September)
If you want to up your beauty game this Christmas then this is one easy way to do it. With lip glosses, brushes and a few surprises along the way from the Sleek beauty range you’ll wow at the Christmas party this year.
Body Shop Advent Calendar
£90 (worth £139) from The Body Shop (available from September 12th)
This calendar will make sure you up your beauty game for the festive season with classic Body Shop body butters and lip glosses behind every door on the run up to Christmas.
Decléor Advent Calendar
£65 (worth £180) from Beauty Things
Boasting the brand’s cult favourites in miniature form, as well as three full sized products this calendar is perfect for those who’ve loved the brand for a while, or those who are curious to try the luxe brand. Having mini version of products is always a plus, as you get to try them out before investing in the full-sized one. From dry oils, night balms, radiance masks and a body exfoliator, there’s a whole range of products to cater to every skincare need.
Soap and Glory Advent Calendar
£40 from Boots (available from 18th September)
Mini version of all of your favourite Soap and Glory products including hand creams, lip pencils and body butter. These 24 products will keep you looking beautiful well into the new year.
Charlotte’s World of Legendary Parties Advent Calendar
£150, from Charlotte Tilbury
This calendar is the ultimate treat, whether it’s a gift to yourself or for someone very lucky! The theme revolves around parties, and this glamorous beauty cabinet boasts a range of Charlotte’s best-loved products such as her Magic Cream, mascara, K.I.S.S.I.N.G. lipstick, and many more!
Lifestyle advent calendars
The Rudolph Advent Calendar
£24 from Bubblegumballoons
This cute Rudolf picture calendar allows you to be a little creative. Hang it up across a wall and pop in a chocolate treat or a surprise every day inside each red balloon on Rudolph’s face and then get the kids to pop his nose on each designated day.
Yankee Candle Advent Calendar
£24.99 from Yankee Candle
The Yankee Candle calendar, in the form of an advent wreath, is a scented festive treat, with each window concealing a different tea light candle that will no doubt fill your home with festive scents.
Toy advent calendars
Smiggle advent calendar
£25 from Smiggle
This is one for the little stationery fans out there. Filled with 25 goodies, this colourful festive calendar is hiding limited edition surprises you won’t be able to find in store, including scented pens, colourful erasers and plenty more. Golden tickets have also been hidden in 30 different advent calendars, which will give the lucky winners a whooping £500 to spend in store!
V-Tech Toot Toot Animals Advent Calendar
£24.99 from Amazon
This calendar will get your little ones into the Christmas mood with fun characters behind each door to play with — including a reindeer, a snowman and a penguin.
Lego Advent Calendars
£18 (Friends) and £24.95 (Star Wars), from Amazon
Lego’s range of advent calendars have the novel build-as-you-go element, which makes door number 25 the most exciting for all the right reasons, as you get your finishing touch! Once Christmas is over, you can keep the pieces for use in the massive tub of bricks we all have in the cupboard, so it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Hama Advent Calendar
£15.99, from Amazon
The popular craft toy now offers a complete advent set, with all of the beads to create a different design for each day leading up to Christmas!
Play-Doh Advent Calendar
£15.99, from Amazon
