Advent calendars are a far cry from chocolate with shoppers now able to celebrate the December countdown with everything from stationery to candles
Long gone are the days when opening the door to an advent calendar meant being met with just chocolate, now shoppers have all kinds of alternative advent calendars to choose from. In fact, some of the best advent calendars for 2025 aren’t edible at all and we’ve picked out a few of the most popular options to browse.
From aesthetically pleasing stationery to matcha tea, candles and pampering pick-me-ups, there are a whole host of festive advent calendars to dive into. These unique advent calendars start from £19.99, but some are filled with contents worth more than £200.
Shopping early is a great way to start saving on the festive to-buy list with all the calendars in this edit retailing for less than the products valued inside. As some of the advent calendars below have sold out in previous years, it’s well worth snapping them up now to avoid any disappointment. After all, those that miss out will have to wait a whole year before more are available.
Best alternative advent calendars for 2025
LEGO City Advent Calendar
From kids to teens and adults, the LEGO advent calendars can keep the whole family happy – and there’s something to suit all tastes. Shoppers can choose from the classic city advent calendar for £19.99, or there are Minecraft, Harry Potter, Friends, Disney Frozen and Star Wars, too.
Available to shop now via the LEGO website, or at Amazon, the calendars are filled with a number of different LEGO pieces varying from 186 to 300. Each day on the lead up to the 25th, shoppers will discover festive characters, seasonal mini builds and fun accessories.
The LEGO advent calendars are a popular pick every year for a reason – they’re a great way to keep the recipient entertained and around the £20-£30 mark, some of the more affordable alternative advent calendars on the market.
Shoppers that have reviewed the Harry Potter calendar have said they ‘have great fun building them’ and ‘the builds ae so cute and displayable’. There could be some improvements, with a note highlighting that ‘some of the builds didn’t have a great photo reference’.
ASOS Face + Body Advent Calendar
When in need of an outfit, ASOS is a one-stop-shop for many, providing the goods with next day delivery. The online retailer also display a number of beauty products from top brands and shoppers can stock up on these for less with the ASOS Face + Body Advent Calendar 2025.
One of this year’s best value for money options, worth over four times the amount it retails for at under £100, it’s predicted to be a popular pick. It is filled with 26 items, 15 of which are full size and this covers skincare, makeup, body care and hair care.
Shoppers need only buy four of the products included individually to cover the cost of the calendar, essentially nabbing 22 beauty items for free. The calendar costs £98 and includes treats from Charlotte Tilbury, MAC, Rituals, Caudalie and more.
Papier 24 Days of Desk Delights
Stationery lovers, listen up. Desks, offices, noticeboards and more are about to get an upgrade – all thanks to the Papier 24 Days of Desk Delights advent calendar. Saving shoppers £60 off Papier products, the calendar is priced at £140 but worth over £200.
The advent calendar which has previously sold-out, comes filled with mini bestsellers and new stationery surprises, all homed in a beautiful box. Each drawer can be kept and re-used, for example as a jewellery box or keepsake box.
From sticker sets to washi tape, bookmarks, thank you cards and stamps, it’s ideal as a gift in the countdown to the 25th – if they can wait until then, that is.
Boots Macmillan 24 Doors of Joy Beauty Advent Calendar
Not only is the Boots Macmillan 24 Days of Joy Beauty Advent Calendar full of pampering and beautifying treats, but it also gives back. This year, £2 from every calendar sold goes to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Inside the calendar there are a number of top brands to dive into, including Soap & Glory, Liz Earle, No7 and Champneys. Priced at £44, the calendar saves shoppers £46 as it is typically £90.
Bird & Blend Matcha Tea Advent Calendar
Anyone who is mad for matcha might want to check out Bird & Blend’s Matcha Tea Advent Calendar. With 48 cups of matcha in 24 unique flavours, a cold and frosty December morning just got a whole lot tastier.
Included are limited edition flavours that shoppers won’t find anywhere else and while it’s worth £80, it can be snapped up for £55. Bird & Blend have revealed the exact flavours inside on their website, but to avoid spoilers we’ll just give a taste – Carrot Cake, Toasted Marshmallow and Butterscotch.
The flavours might not be for everyone and it is important to note that some of the blends contain traces of peanut.
Speaking on the advent calendar last year, one person said: “This is probably the most amazing advent calendar I’ve ever gotten! I am very picky with my matcha and here I have no complaints at all, everything is just so good!”
Yankee Candle Advent Wreath Set
When it’s cold outside on a winter’s evening, getting cosy and lighting a candle is heaven for some. Ensuring there’s a candle to cater for everyday, the Yankee Candle Advent Wreath Set (£22.95, Boots) includes 24 tea lights in some of the brand’s most popular fragrances.
From Christmas Cookie to Cinnamon Stick and Winter Night Stars, the welcoming aroma is bound to have any home smelling like a relaxing sanctuary. Customers say that they ‘do wish there was a little more scent variety’ but the candles ‘smell divine’ and the calendar is ‘beautifully presented’.