Yahoo News Best alternative advent calendars: weird and wonderful countdowns to Christmas 2021
December is here: Christmas is within striking distance.
If you’re anything like us, your diary is already heaving with Christmas party invites, and you’ve already started edging your faux Christmas tree out of its box, much to the chagrin of the humbugs in your house.
While we can’t wait for the parties, reunions and food, one thing that’s making us fidget with excitement is the thought of opening the windows of our advent calendars.
Traditionally stuffed with chocolate and made for kids, advents have snowballed into a pre-Christmas must-have all of its own. Beauty advent calendars have been a festive fixture for a while now, and other brands are joining the festive fray too.
There are options for every taste, budget and whimsy imaginable, from stationery to sex toys, lipstick to LEGO.
The contents may have grown up, but the sheer glee of ripping open a new window every December morning remains the same, no matter your age.
With this in mind, we’ve created an edit of some of the weirdest, wildest and downright wonderful advent calendars around - many of them are still available, with the added bonus of ripping open multiple windows at a time, depending on what point you start in the month.
Most are for adults but we’ve sectioned off the sweet-free ones for children in a dedicated section below. Find chocolate advent calendars here.
Scroll on to see the alternative Christmas advent calendars to get now before they sell out.
Let the countdown commence!
Best Boozy advent calendars
That Boutique-y Gin Advent Calendar
Gin-uine fans of the juniper-spiked spirit will adore this advent calendar from specialist That Boutique-y Gin Company in partnership with Drinks by the Dram. Now a mainstay on all advent calendar line-ups, this year’s offering serves up 24 wax-sealed 30ml miniatures of the good stuff, from festive chocolate orange gin to Moonshot Gin. Bottoms up!
The Premium Gin Advent Calendar from Drinks by the Dram
Offering a great way to trial new bottles of gin without forking out for an entire bottle, this premium calendar helps you countdown to Crimbo sip by sip. Brands involved are top-notch: think Tanqueray, No.3, Hendrick’s and Jaisalmer. One for aficionados.
Beavertown Brewery Advent Calendar
Beer advent calendars are probably only second behind beauty ones in terms of popularity, and now Beavertown is back with it’s iteration that will leave you having a very hoppy Christmas indeed. What’s different this time around is that the calendar can break down into five fridgepacks, so you’ll always have a chilled can when the time comes - whether that’s the new Bones range or classics like 8Ball Rye IPA, Black Betty Black IPA and Smog Rocket Smoked Porter. This 24-pack comes with a free glass too, so you can sip in style.
SEVEN BRO7HERS advent calendar 2021
Craft beer lovers will delight in this advent calendar, which brings together a festive mix of special beers from the Salford-based brewery. Varieties include the brewery’s award-winning Watermelon Wheat Beer and the ‘Crunchie in a can’ Honeycomb Pale Ale. If that doesn’t have you ready for your moment under the mistletoe, we don’t know what will. A very satisfying way to support a small business.
The Very Merry Gin Calendar
Craft Gin Club is back this Christmas with an advent that will have you gin-gling all the way to December 25. There are 25 varieties to discover behind corresponding doors, and QR codes take you to exclusive content from CGC ambassador Philip Schofield for every drink.
The selection include a sloe gin from Warner’s Distillery, the Chalkstream Gold Gin from The River Test Distillery, and the Cuckoo Supernova Gin from the Brindle Distillery to name a few. Fill the ice tray and grab the tonic, Christmas is about to get very merry.
The Snaffling Pig Co. Crackling & Beer Advent Calendar
Offering a winning selection of snacks alongside beer, we can't imagine many men who wouldn't go wild for this advent calendar. There are 24 windows to open, behind which will sit either a packet of flavoured pork crackling (we're talking Low & Slow BBQ, Marvellous Maple and Perfectly Salted), or 330ml cans of Snaffling Pig beer.
£32.50 | John Lewis *On sale from £65
Best Food + Drink advent calendars
Fortnum's Feasting Advent Calendar
We may have only just folded away our lockdown loungewear, but dusting them out on the last night of November will be necessary if you're planning to crack into this gigantic advent calendar from Fortnum & Mason.
Designed to delight foodies, the beautiful blue and red box hides all manner of mini and deluxe-sized gourmet goodies, plucked from F&M's famous foodhall. We're talking teas, preserves, chocolate truffles and condiments that will make your meals sing, and which can all make a special appearance on the Christmas lunch table.
An advent calendar like this would earn you serious brownie points if you're planning to give it to someone, but we're eyeing it up as a self-gift treat to enjoy all by ourselves. If not at Christmas, then when?
£200 | Fortnum & Mason SOLD OUT
Fenwick Food & Drink Advent Calendar 2021
Calling all foodies! Fenwick is bringing forward Christmas with its 2021 advent calendar which offers a series of food and drink treats to enjoy in the lead-up to the big day. Feast on the likes of Blackcurrent & Sloe Gin Jam from Blueberry Hill Preserves, Scottish Blossom Honey from the Edinburgh Honey Co, quince from The Fine Cheese Co (a welcome addition to any Boxing Day cheeseboard) and a classic gin from The Lakes Distillery amongst many other festive treats. We're licking our lips already.
£110 | Fenwick SOLD OUT
Whittard The Tea Advent Calendar
There's nothing like a warming brew on a cold winter's day. Make it part of your Christmas countdown this year thanks to Whittard of Chelsea's marvellous tea calendar, which serves up 18 types of teas and infusions, one day at a time.
VAHDAM tea advent calendar
Bringing the flavours of the Subcontinent to your tea break this Christmas is VAHDAM, a certified climate and plastic-neutral brand. Its chic advent calendar is packed with 24 red boxes, inside which sit a variety of in-house blend teas. Beautiful and refined, it would suit a recipient with similar qualities.
Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar
Cheese fans know a good thing when they see it. There'll no doubt be stampedes to buy this Cheese Advent Calendar, made by So Wrong It's Nom with 24 bite-size portions of Ilchester's finest cheeses. Made for solo grazing, the cheese range from the spicy Mexicana to Aged Red Leicester and classic Cheddars. Why not pair them with a wine advent calendar to really make the most of your Christmas countdown?
Cheesies Baked Cheese Advent Calendar
Whether you're trying a low-carb diet or you just really like your cheese, this calendar presents a new way to enjoy your curds this Christmas. Behind each of the 24 windows is a packed of pure baked cheese bites, made from varieties like gouda, emmental, goat's cheese, red leicester and cheddar. Nibble them solo, or save them for when soup and salad need livening up.
Giant Welsh Cheese Advent Calendar
Brace for gut-busting levels of gluttony with The Welsh Cheese Company. The brand has released a cheese advent calendar this year, and it's not one for the faint of heart, nor the weak of artery. It weighs a whopping 4.2kg, or 24 truckles of specialist cheese from the finest producers in the country. Clear the fridge and dig out the elasticated waistbands ahead of its arrival.
£149 | The Welsh Cheese Company SOLD OUT
Candy Kitten 2021 Advent Calendar
The vegan confectioners are back at it, pleasing our sweet tooth with their treat-filled advent calendar. Shaped like a Christmas tree, 24 treats lie behind numbered windows, with a bonus treat in a pink box to enjoy on Christmas Day. This budget-friendly buy can easily be in addition to a bigger advent countdown. What's more, social change and reforestation charity TreeSisters will plant a sapling for every calendar sold.
Cartwright & Butler Luxury 2021 Advent Calendar
Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry, so why not splash out on this food-filled advent, packed with Cartwright & Butler’s finest. No minis in sight: the huge calendar holds 24 full-size products from biscuits and tea, to drinking chocolate, fudge, and chutney.
Mariage FreÌres’ luxury Christmas calendar
Dressed in a suitably festive box, this advent calendar is perfect for the tea-lover in your life. The luxury French brand offers a selection of Noel-ready teas straight from some of the world’s finest plantations. Add a packet of your fave biscuits, and you’re set.
Walkers Shortbread Advent Calendar
What better time than Christmas to indulge in the daily treat of shortbread? It is the season for excess, after all. Walkers makes biscuity dreams come true with its 24 window calendar packed with festively flavoured shortbread, from pure butter to salted caramel and chocolate chip. At this price, why not pair it with a tea advent and really treat yourself?
£19.99 | Selfridges OUT OF STOCK
Lola's Cupcakes Chocolate Brownie Advent Calendar
Tis the season of excess, so get ready to gorge with Lola's Cupcakes. The bakers have dreamed up the perfect advent calendar for anyone with a sweet tooth - one packed with brownies! The 24 delicious bites will be drip-fed in packages of six every six days to ensure maximum freshness, so you'll get four boxes throughout December. Flavours vary from caramel popcorn and red velvet to rocky road.
£59.99 | Lola's Cupcakes OUT OF STOCK
Best Beauty advent calendars
ASOS Grooming 12 Day Advent Calendar
The beauty advent calendar bandwagon leaves no man behind - not at ASOS at least. The online retail giant releases advent calendars for him and her every year. Designed for the 12 days before Christmas, this year it comes in tote bag format with the products in a numbered box to keep the surprise levels high. Gifts include items from the likes of Bulldog skincare, Egyptian Magic, Lab Series and Elemis.
Lynx Advent Calendars
Lynx is on a mission to make this Christmas your most fragrant yet. This year's offering includes enough fragrances, body sprays and shower gels to keep you on top of your grooming game throughout the festivities. There are two calenders: a 24-day countdown (£40) and a 12 day one dedicated to Lynx Africa (£20).
William Morris at Home Dove & Rose Advent Calendar
The enduring appeal of William Morris' art has been channelled into beauty advent calendar form for the holiday season. Contents include #selfcare must-haves: think scented bath fizzers, bath salts sachets and shea butter enriched scented hand creams plus plenty more besides. Lovely.
£40 | John LewisOUT OF STOCK
Boohoo beauty advent calendar
The fashion retailer has joined the countdown frenzy with a new calendar packed with beauty to get you ready for all the end-of-year parties in your diary. The contents total £140, a total bargain for the £60 price tag. There are 24 drawers inside and goodies include self-care heroes, eyeshadow palettes, beauty tools and more.
£18 | Boohoo *On sale from £60
Barry M Nail Paint Advent Calendar
Festive fingertips are in the bag with Barry M’s advent calendar, which offers a selection of 12 full-sized varnishes plus accessories like nail and cuticle oil.
Cowshed Beauty Advent Calendar
Enjoy the ultimate pampering Christmas countdown with Cowshed. The brand's 24-window design is packed with bestsellers including candles, hand cream and haircare. Add some plump white towels and you could be in one of their spas.
£140 | John Lewis SOLD OUT
Best Jewellery & Accessories advent calendars
Missoma Advent Calendar
The cult jewellery brand is back with its glitz-filled advent calendar, the contents of which would cost more than £800 if you purchased them separately. Aside from offering stonkingly good value for money, the box design itself is something to behold: the sleek black case is covered with a gold chain print and opens up to reveal 12 drawers complete with ribbon pulls. Trinkets include hair accessories as well as chokers and the Missoma's must-have huggies. All of it is perfect for adding a festive gleam to your daily look. Because if not at Christmas, then when?
£395 | Missoma SOLD OUT
Estella Bartlett Christmas Advent Calendar
As far as debut advent calendars go, Estella Bartlett has got it on the money with the first one from the brand. Fashion to resemble a town house, the facade pulls back to reveal 12 numbered drawers, each containing a lovely lifestyle or jewellery item: think a necklace, huggie hoops, cuffs and more. Contents are more than £230, and with this calendar now on sale, it's a total steal.
Carolina Bucci FORTE Beads 18-karat gold and multi-stone advent calendar
Shine bright this festive season with this stunning jewellery calendar, packed with beads. By the end of the 24 days, you'll have enough to fashion your very own bracelet. Each one is carved from gemstones and selected for their beautiful colours - find out more from the information guide included.
£850 | Net-A-Porter SOLD OUT
Nasty Gal 12 Days of Recycled Jewellery advent calendar
Accessories make the outfit. Whether your jewellery box could do with an upgrade or you just want more shiny things to covet, Nasty Gal's advent calendar is a treasure chest of options. The 12 day countdown offers treats in the form of finery, from hoop earrings, simple studs and layered necklaces, with contents worth £80.
In short, everything you need to make this Christmas sparkle.
Diamonique 12 Days of Sparkle Calendar
The jewellery magpie in your life will love this glittering advent calendar from Diamonique. Available exclusively at QVC UK, the book-style case opens to reveal a dozen numbered windows. Behind each sits a brand new accessory, from necklaces and bracelets to earrings and pendants. Ideal for anyone who loves jewellery layering.
Happy Socks sock advent calendar
Cute festive socks are theme of Happy Socks' 2021 advent calendar offering, which this year comes as a 24 or 12-day design. Both are made in cardboard and covered in the usual Yuletide fare with pairs of socks nestled behind each window. This is a great unisex calendar from teens to pensioners.
SockShop 25 Pair Christmas Advent Calendar
You can rarely put a foot wrong when giving the gift of socks, which is why SockShop's bumper 25 day calendar makes the ideal present when you're stumped for ideas. The winning mix contains a selection of everyday socks as well as festive pairs, all in supersoft bamboo fibres to be kinder on your feet. Choose from a men's or women's selection.
Disney 12 Socks of Christmas Advent Calendar
If you're looking for a non-sweet treat for the Disney fanatic in your life, this advent calendar has it nailed. Instead of chocolate, eager fingers will prise free a pair of socks from behind each window, covered in characters from top movie classics. Available in Adult size 4-8.
Cartilage Cartel Sparkle Advent Calendar
The quest for the perfectly curated ear never stops, not even for Christmas. With this in mind, Cartilage Cartel has dreamed up a jewellery calendar that will take your ear stacks to greater, shinier heights. The advent holds a dozen gift boxes, filled with a shimmering selection of huggies, studs, cuffs and hoops. Time to shine.
Best Fitness advent calendars
Myprotein advent calendar
The fitness expert has launched its first ever advent calendar for Christmas 2021. The contents are worth over £75 and include the brand's bestsellers, from Impact Whey Protein in salted caramel, a Crispy Layered Bar and The Myvegan Choc Chew in Chocolate Orange. The gold and blue box will make the perfect treatfor anyone who believes in fitness year around, not just in January.
£44.99 | Myprotein SOLD OUT
Best advent calendars for adults
Durex Advent Calendar 2021 - Fun & Play Gift Box 12 Days of Fun, Limited Edition
Ready for a red hot festive season? Durex has you covered with its first ever advent calendar, packed with sex toys, condoms, lube and fun games designed to put the XXX into Xmas. There are 12 products in total, so either start your countdown a bit later or pair with another calendar to keep the treats coming thick and fast.
Lovehoney Best Sex Of Your Life Couple’s Sex Toy Advent Calendar (Man + Woman)
Designed for hetero couples to spice up the cold winter nights leading up to Christmas, Lovehoney’s sex toy adult calendar is back with a bang. There are 24 items nestled within, offering fantastic value for money as well as plenty to keep you occupied between the sheets. The headliner is the Womanizer Classic, which costs £119.99 on its own usually. Now that’s bound to get your bells jingling.
£120 | Lovehoney SOLD OUT
Lovehoney 7 Nights of Temptation Lingerie Calendar
This mini seven-day calendar is designed for maximum fun, with each compartment housing a piece of one-size lingerie that can fit a UK 8 - 16. Offered in a floral print ribbon-tied box, the contents are worth a whopping £100. If you're on the curvier side, there's a plus size option which goes to UK24.
Twelve Days Of Sexmas Sex Toy Advent Calendar
Make it an XXXmas this year. Nasty Gal has this adult toy 12-drawer calendar to make this festive period red hot with gifts including items such as a love dice and nipple clamps set, a bullet vibrator, edible bodypaint, feather tickler and cuffs, g-spot rabbit vibrator, and a massage candle. It’s enough to make Santa all hot and bothered.
£65 | Nasty Gal *On sale from £219
Best Stationery advent calendars
12 Days of Bond paper-wrapped advent calendar
For the 00 obsessive in your life, there really is no better advent to be found than this James Bond-themed design, exclusive to Selfridges. The fully recyclable box contains a dozen of the sorts of things an international spy could feasibly ask for in his Santa letter, from playing cards, dry martini-flavoured popcorn and a Dr. No pocket square, plus so much more. No time to waste.
£50 | Selfridges *On sale from £199
Best no-sugar advent calendars for kids
The Gruffalo & Friends Advent Calendar Children's Book Collection
Parents looking for a way to ramp up the pre-Christmas excitement levels without sugar can look to John Lewis this year. The department store has this charming Gruffalo advent calendar in stock, containing 24 mini activity, song and rhyme books. Oodles of family fun.
£9.99 | John Lewis SOLD OUT
Peppa Pig Advent 2021 Children's Book Collection
Expect squeals of delight from young Peppa Pig fans upon receiving this themed advent calendar on Dec 1. The box holds a collection of 24 stories to read every day until Christmas.
£19.99 | John Lewis SOLD OUT
LEGO® #76390 Harry Potter™ Advent Calendar
There's no Christmas like a Hogwarts Christmas. If you can't get into the Grand Hall yourself, build your own with the help of LEGO's HP-themed advent calendar. Every day until December 25, you'll discover new pieces to collect and keep, ready for your Christmas Day build.
£12| Selfridges *On sale from £25
Polly Pocket Advent Calendar
Countdown to Christmas with everyone's favourite tiny doll, Polly Pocket. The bright pink box contains 25 days of playtime treats including the micro dolls, wearable jewellery and magical animals.
£19.99 | John Lewis SOLD OUT
Best brilliant and bonkers advent calendars
Advent of Change The Premium Advent Calendar
It's the season of goodwill to all, so if you're looking for an advent with meaning, look no further than Advent of Change. Instead of chocolate or treats, you'll open each window to discover how your purchase has changed the world for the better, from boosting the efforts of wildlife sanctuaries to funding medicine for sick children. Choose from three options: The Premium Advent Calendar (pictured), the Advent Calendar, and the Children's Advent Calendar. A beautiful idea promoting important charities.
Also available at Advent of Change
The Beatles Advent Calendar
Rocking around the Christmas tree just got that bit easier thanks to this advent calendar themed on the Fab Four. Wrapped in pop art style, there are 24 gifts that will leave Beatlemaniacs twisting and shouting with joy as they discover one each day until the 25th: think a Yellow Submarine-shaped tea diffuser, coasters and a Beatles bauble for the tree.
Eaglemoss also has a Doctor Who and a Star Trek advent calendar to delight screen fans this Christmas.
£79.99 | Eaglemoss *On sale from £109.99
Draper Tools advent calendar
If you're one of the millions of people who embarked upon a DIY project in the last 18 months, you'll know the value of a properly kitted out toolbox. For those whose collections are lacking, Draper Tools' DIY advent calendar is perfect. The practical gift features 54 tools and associated bits hidden behind its doors: think a precision screwdriver handle, a hex magnetic screwdriver bit holder, and even a sturdy bottle opener which is bound to come in handy during the festive period. What's more, £1 from every sale will go to the Tools for Self Reliance charity who help people in third world countries learn a valuable trade and earn a proper wage.
£19.99 | Robert Dyas *On sale from £49.99
Wedgwood Christmas Advent Calendar 2021
Sweets and beauty not doing it for you? No matter, there are hundreds of other advents to choose from - including those made for the home. Heritage brand Wedgwood's elegant 2021 calendar hides porcelain treasures within each numbered drawer. All are finished with a white satin ribbon, ready for hanging on the tree. They’re designed to be used year after year, bringing festive joy to the home every Yuletide.
£650 | John Lewis SOLD OUT
Stitchfinity Advent Calendar 2021
Sure to delight crafty types, this advent calendar will have you stitching every day to wind up with a lovely piece of festive decor by the end of the countdown. A portion of the sales will go towards supporting WellChild, a national charity for sick children.
£35 | Stitchfinity SOLD OUT
The Urban Botanist Plant Advent Calendar
As a nation, we’ve welcomed more houseplants into our homes over the last two years than ever before. If you’re on the hunt for a new leafy friend to add to your collection, you’ll go wild for this advent. The world’s first plant advent calendar houses horticultural treats that will turn your mates green with envy, from potted Christmas succulents and cacti to airplant baubles and fairy lights. There’s even a gin miniature hiding somewhere in the mix. Brilliantly bonkers, totally original.
That Counts’ 24 Days of Gifting Advent Calendar
We all know that small businesses have taken an absolute walloping over the last year or two. This Christmas, use your advent purchase as a chance to give back without sacrificing tradition. Behind each day of the Calendar is a gift from a UK-based, purpose-led small business. It could be a donation certificate supporting a charity or worthy cause, or physical goodies like stationery and snacks, to self-care.
Auntie Mims Gemstone Geological Advent Calendar
For an advent calendar that really rocks (sorry), try this wholesome take which puts gemstones in the spotlight. The alternative design is packed with two dozen numbered envelopes for every day leading up to Christmas. Each contains a beautiful gemstone or fossil along with an info card so you can learn all about your new addition. A personalisation option on the box is also available, useful if you’re thinking of giving this as a gift. What better time than Christmas to make a positive impact?
£70 | NOTHS SOLD OUT
The Forest 7 Co. Personalised Family Advent Candle Set
One for the whole household to enjoy, this advent recruits 24 numbered candles to countdown to the big day. Light one every evening and enjoy the festive glow before bed. Personalisation available.
Mixpixie Personalised Christmas Playlist Advent Calendar
Yodel your way through Yuletide with this musical take on a classic advent calendar. Each door unveils a new festive track that you can scan to play on Spotify. By Dec 25, you should have built up the ultimate Christmas playlist to enjoy all day.
