Welcome to the PackThePJs Awesome Advent Guide for 2026, our annual roundup of the best alternative advent calendars in the UK. Every year, we personally unbox, test, and review dozens of festive countdowns to help you find the highest-quality treats for everyone in your household—including your four-legged family members! Whether you are shopping for specialty craft beer countdowns, luxury artisan chocolates, gourmet foodie boxes, or healthy natural dog advent calendars, we have rounded up our top-rated picks for Christmas 2026 with full pricing, contents, and a sneak peek behind Door 7! Disclaimer: some calendars were gifted by brands for review and some links are affiliate links.
At a Glance: Our Top 6 Advent Calendar Picks for 2026
| Advent Calendar | Best For | Price | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobbs Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar | Luxury Artisan Chocolate | £60.00 | Hobbs Chocolates |
| Pen Store Advent Calendar 2026 | Artists & Stationery Lovers | £69.00 | Pen Store |
| Beer52 Craft Beer Advent Calendar 2026 | Craft Beer & Ale Lovers | £69.99 | Beer52 |
| Lush 12 Days Of Christmas Gift Box | 12-Day Bath & Body Countdown | £95.00 | Lush |
| Cloudberries Midnight Glow Puzzle Advent Calendar | Jigsaw & Puzzle Lovers | £55.00 | Cloudberries |
| Green & Wild’s Dog Advent Calendar | Eco-Friendly & Natural Dog Treats | £9.95 | Green & Wild’s |
Pen Store Advent Calendar
(best for artists and stationery lovers)
- Brand: Pen Store
- RRP: £69.00 (contents worth over £150)
- Contents: 24 daily bags of art and stationery supplies from top brands like Posca, Copic, Pilot, and Sharpie inside a reusable storage box
- Ideal For: Artists, illustrators, bullet journallers, and creative hobbyists who want to test a luxury mix of professional pens, paints, and art tools
I feel so privileged to be reviewing this Pen Store advent calendar. It’s a stationery advent … STATIONERY (an obsession if ever I had one!) This advent calendar sells out every year, so don’t hang around. So many creative supplies totalling over £150. It’s mouth wateringly good … trust me! I may have had a little sneak at a few of the contents – a great variety of items. You’ll love it. Each item comes in a numbered envelope inside a very sturdy box that has a useful purpose long after the festivities are over. If you like stationery, crafting, or just love being creative – this is the advent for you.
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a pair of Amsterdam acrylic paints in metallic yellow and silver: medium viscosity, using high-grade pigments and 100% acrylic emulsion
Where to buy: You can purchase the Pen Store Advent Calendar directly from their website.
Hobbs Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar
(best for handmade artisan chocoholics)
- Brand: Hobbs Chocolates
- RRP: £60.00
- Contents: 24 handmade chocolate bonbons packed inside individual daily keepsake boxes
- Ideal For: Luxury chocolate lovers and artisan foodie gifting
If you love supporting brilliant independent British businesses at Christmas, the Hobbs Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar deserves a top spot on your list this year. This gorgeous calendar is filled with 24 handmade luxury chocolate bonbons, each tucked neatly inside its own individual numbered drawer. Unlike mass-produced supermarket calendars, every single piece is crafted in small batches by a passionate artisan chocolatier, turning your daily December countdown into a genuinely special tasting experience. Because these are handmade in limited numbers, it is definitely worth ordering early before they sell out! If you’d like to meet them in person, they have a stall in Exeter Christmas Market from 13 November to 13 December, and at the Cornish Winter Fayre at the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge.
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a beautiful burgundy and gold raspberry flavoured handmade chocolate
Where to buy: You can purchase the Hobbs Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar directly from their website.
Green & Wild’s Dog Advent Calendar
(best for eco-friendly and natural treats)
- Brand: Green & Wild’s
- RRP: £9.95
- Contents: 24 doors of 100% natural meat and fish dog treats
- Ideal For: Dogs and puppies aged 3 months and over
My dog Jack loves Christmas. He loves the carols, the Christmas specials on TV and the sitting by the fire with crackers and a cheese board. Oh, I forgot – he also loves leftovers … Christmas dinner turkey, pork and stuffing, and roast potatoes. On the run up to the big day we have this special treat advent calendar from Green & Wild’s. The advent is 100% plastic free and has 24 doors that each reveal a tasty, daily treat. It could include a goose & cranberry sausage, duck & cranberry sausage, Cornish fishcakes with turmeric, fish deli cubes, salmon bakes, and Yakity Yak puff nuggets. Jack will definitely enjoy his countdown to Christmas 🐶
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a fish deli cube. A rather large (could barely get it through the door) chunk of naturally nutritious fish skins
Where to buy: You can purchase the Green & Wild’s Dog Advent Calendar directly from their website.
Beer52 Craft Beer Advent Calendar
(best for craft beer lovers)
- Brand: Beer52
- RRP: £69.99 (includes free UK delivery)
- Contents: 24 exclusive craft beers across 12 styles and 10 countries (including six 440ml tallboys), plus a Beer52 tasting glass
- Ideal For: Craft beer fans and adults aged 18 and over
More beer, beer, beer! It’s Christmas, and some people really do want the proper stuff. This advent calendar is chock-full of lagers, ales, IPAs, and stouts, ensuring you have a completely different tipple to enjoy every single day of December. You also get your very own Beer52 tasting glass alongside a rich array of brews from the world’s best independent microbreweries. The calendar itself boasts a very attractive snow globe design—though let’s be honest, the best part is simply that it contains BEER. Get yours today: it’s a deal, it’s a steal, it’s the sale of the century!
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is Granda Alternative, Peach IPA (ABV. 6.7%). Brewed on a working farm in Italy, this is a festive IPA bursting with juicy peach aroma. Ripe peach, vibrant hops and clean bitterness come together in this distinctive Italian craft beer. A refreshing twist on your Christmas celebration.
Where to buy: You can purchase the Beer52 Craft Beer Advent Calendar directly from their website (includes free UK delivery).
Degusta Box Foodie Advent Calendar
(best for full-size snacks and family sharing)
- Brand: Degusta Box
- RRP: £39.99 (currently £33.99, worth over £60)
- Contents: 24 full-size foodie surprises, including sweet treats, savoury snacks, drinks, and cooking ingredients inside a 58cm XXL box
- Ideal For: Foodies, snack lovers, and families who want a mix of sweet and savoury treats to share
A foodie advent calendar—what a brilliant idea! This box by Degusta is just right for the food lover in your life at Christmas time. Filled with useful cooking ingredients, full-size products, and tasty festive treats, it definitely won’t disappoint. Behind the 24 doors, you will find full-size goodies from top-quality, well-known brands—including chocolate, biscuits, snacks, and drinks—to keep you going through the dark days of December. Just make sure you clear plenty of space for it, as it stands an impressive 58cm tall and is genuinely XXL! Every single day brings a brand-new, full-size surprise for your delight and delectation.
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a miniature glass bottle of Tito’s Handmade Vodka. An award-winning American vodka, from Austin, Texas, that is crafted in an old fashioned pot still
Where to buy: You can purchase the Degusta Box Foodie Advent Calendar directly from their website (with home delivery).
LUSH 12 Days of Christmas
(best 12-day bath and body countdown)
- Brand: LUSH Cosmetics
- RRP: £95.00
- Contents: 12 festive bath, shower, and body treats packed in a reusable keepsake box
- Ideal For: Bath lovers, pamper fans, and those seeking a 12-day festive countdown
The LUSH ‘12 Days of Christmas’ gift box has THE most amazing signature scent—instantly reminding you of stepping inside a LUSH store! Right now, my entire home smells of delicious bath bombs, and I am loving it. Behind its 12 doors, you will discover an indulgent mix of festive bath bombs, body scrubs, shower gels, bubble bars, lip scrub, and soap. Packed inside a gorgeous reusable keepsake box, these Christmas-themed treats are the ultimate way to pamper yourself and get ready for the festivities. It’s simply, err, lush!
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a pot of Hot Chocolate Orange lip scrub. It contains Jojoba oil, which is nutrient-rich and moisturising / Cocoa powder, which helps lips look full and vibrant / Cocoa butter that helps lock in moisture
Where to buy: You can purchase the LUSH 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar directly from their website (includes free standard UK delivery).
Lily’s Kitchen Cat and Dog Advent Calendars
(best for multi-pet households)
- Brand: Lily’s Kitchen
- RRP: £10.50 (dogs), £8.50 (cats)
- Contents: 24 doors of natural baked biscuits for dogs (peanut butter & banana or chamomile & passion flower) or grain-free turkey and chicken liver bites for cats
- Ideal For: Dogs aged 4 months+, cats aged 6 months+, and multi-pet homes
The family canines and felines mustn’t be left out over Christmas—they deserve a few little treats too! These Lily’s Kitchen advent calendars—one for dogs and one for cats—are guaranteed to drive Jack, Betty, and Percy delirious with excitement in the run-up to the festivities. The dog version features two types of natural baked biscuits: breaktime biscuits with peanut butter and banana, and soothing bedtime biscuits with a sprinkling of chamomile and passion flower. Meanwhile, the cats get crunchy grain-free pillow treats in theirs, bursting with delicious chicken liver and turkey flavours. It is the ultimate way to give your furry family members a wholesome treat every single day until Christmas!
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind doors number 7 in the dog advent are two ‘bedtime biscuits’ that contain a little chamomile and passion flower. In the cat advent calendar, door 7 reveals three little bites, pillows filled with turkey that have a soft centre and a crunchy shell
Where to buy: You can purchase the Lily’s Kitchen Dog Advent Calendar and Lily’s Kitchen Cat Advent Calendar directly from their website.
Signature Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar
(best for gourmet popcorn lovers)
- Brand: Popcorn Shed
- RRP: £27.99 (Advent Calendar) / £12.99 (Christmas Cracker) / £4.75 (Christmas Pudding Shed)
- Contents: 24 bags of vegetarian gourmet popcorn across 12 flavours in the calendar, plus vegan and gluten-free festive caramel popcorn crackers and Christmas pudding flavoured popcorn sheds
- Ideal For: Popcorn fans, families, movie night, and stocking fillers (with vegan and gluten-free gifting options)
Popcorn is my favourite snack, especially when watching a good festive film. I don’t make my own as I prefer the expertly made Popcorn Shed popcorn. They produce a lovely crunchy, perfectly cooked product in a range of wonderful flavours. This vegetarian Advent Calendar gives a daily taste of their range of flavours, including Salted Caramel, Berry-licious, Peanut Butter, Pop N Choc, Pecan Pie, Strawberries & Cream, Cinnamon Roll, Pumpkin Spice, Birthday Cake, Classic Caramel, Red Velvet and White Chocolate.
For Christmas there’s also their Caramel Popcorn Christmas Cracker and their Christmas Pudding popcorn shed! Popcorn Shed – it’s where you need to shop for popcorn gifts this Christmas 🍿
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a snack-sized bag of birthday cake flavoured popcorn. This is vanilla cake caramel popcorn with white chocolate and birthday cake sprinkles
Where to buy: You can purchase the Signature Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar, Caramel Popcorn Christmas Cracker, and Christmas Pudding Popcorn Shed directly from their website.
Notting Hill Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar
(best for luxury handmade chocolates)
- Brand: Melt Chocolates
- RRP: £79.99
- Contents: 25 doors of fresh handmade chocolates crafted in London
- Ideal For: Luxury chocolate connoisseurs and eco-conscious foodie gifting
Oh I’m not alone in confessing to loving a really good chocolate. I’m not a major fan of white, but quality milk and dark and I’m all over it! Of course, this time of the year the shops start to fill their shelves with advent calendars. Many are chocolate-filled, and these are great. But they are not very luxurious. Not very exciting. An advent calendar is a daily treat throughout December. A sneaky indulgence … so you want quality and luxury – and nowhere is this more on display than the Melt London Notting Hill advent calendar. It is so amazing!
Before even mentioning the chocolates, the design is fantastic. Fully plastic-free it is a Notting Hill styled terrace of houses that opens up to reveal 24 mini-houses inside. Every little house is different and has a hanging string – so could be reused as tree decorations. Inside the mini houses is a decadent handmade chocolate – 24 different ones, along with an inspirational daily quote, with a Christmas Day treat behind the window at the top of the terrace.
Melt Chocolate is a family-owned independent British brand – based in, you guessed it, Notting Hill in London. All their chocolates are handmade on the premises using chocolate from independent niche cocoa farmers. They host cocoa experiences – where do I sign up?!
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind house number 7, representing Ledbury Road, is a Yuzu Citrus Explosion chocolate
Where to buy: You can purchase the Notting Hill Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar directly from the Melt London website.
Midnight Glow Jigsaw Puzzle Advent Calendar
(best for jigsaw and puzzle lovers)
- Brand: Cloudberries
- RRP: £55.00 (includes free UK delivery)
- Contents: 24 daily boxes forming one 1000-piece glow-in-the-dark mystery puzzle, plus hidden riddles and a reference poster
- Ideal For: Puzzle fans, adults, and families seeking a reusable, screen-free Christmas activity
The Cloudberries Midnight Glow Jigsaw Puzzle Advent Calendar is a brilliant addition to Christmas, giving you a relaxing, screen-free activity to focus on throughout the festive season. Designed to bring a little extra magic to December, this glow-in-the-dark countdown offers 24 days of puzzling that gradually build into one mystery 1,000-piece design. Illustrator Arty Nicharee’s spirited artwork makes the finished scene truly enchanting, packed with loads of miniature festive details to spot—plus glowing surprises that appear once the lights go out. If the suspense gets too much, there is even a secret envelope tucked inside containing a reference poster of the completed puzzle. It is a thoughtful, reusable gift for puzzle-a-holics!
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a collection of puzzle pieces that, once assembled with all the other 23 days, will be part of the final 75 x 52cm puzzle. What is the design? No idea! You build it blind (unless you sneak a look)!
Where to buy: You can purchase the Midnight Glow Jigsaw Puzzle Advent Calendar directly from their website (includes free UK delivery).
The ArtChocolat Luxury Advent Calendar
(best for hand-painted artisan bonbons)
- Brand: ArtChocolat
- RRP: £40.00 (includes free standard UK delivery)
- Contents: 24 doors of colourful, award-winning handmade chocolate bonbons across 23 unique flavours, plus an illustrated menu card
- Ideal For: Adventurous chocolate lovers and foodies who enjoy creative, gourmet flavour combinations
Well, what can I say about chocolates at Christmas? They will never go out of fashion! These ones, however, are extra special, bringing a level of creativity all of their own. The ArtChocolat Luxury Advent Calendar is packed with award-winning treats, greeting you each morning with a shiny, colourful bonbon bursting with gorgeous flavours. Handcrafted in small batches, these artisan chocolates will delight you every single day until Christmas. Across its 24 doors, you will discover 23 different flavours—including Tiramisu, Ginger & Miso, Yuzu Dark Chocolate, 5-Spice Caramel, Caramel Latte, Strawberry, Lime & Mint, Mandarin, Hazelnut Cookie, Salted Caramel, Raspberry & Black Sesame, and Pecan & Molasses, to name just a few of the delights awaiting you. It is a truly gorgeous advent calendar with so much to offer!
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a mandarin flavoured, ivory coloured handmade chocolate sprinkled with deep red and shiny gold
Where to buy: You can purchase the ArtChocolat Luxury Advent Calendar directly from their website (includes free standard UK delivery and an optional personalised gift card).
Beerhunter Alcohol-Free Craft Beer Advent Calendar
(best for alcohol-free beer lovers)
- Brand: Beerhunter
- RRP: £99.95 (£89.96 for Loyalty Club Plus members)
- Contents: 24 full-sized alcohol-free craft beers, including lagers, pale ales, and IPAs
- Ideal For: Beer enthusiasts, mindful drinkers, and anyone avoiding alcohol over Christmas
Many of us are taking our health a little more seriously these days, so cutting down on alcohol at Christmas is a very sensible move. Thankfully, there is now a brilliant advent calendar from Beerhunter that provides 24 full-sized cans of alcohol-free craft beer to whet your appetite on the days leading up to Christmas Day. A lovely festive aperitif is just what we need—and while it could easily have been chocolate, it is a welcome change that it is beer! Behind the doors sit 24 different alcohol-free lagers, IPAs, and pale ales in generous 330ml cans, making them just the right size to whet your whistle without the morning hangover.
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a bottle of Krombacher 0.0% classic German pilsner. It is the most popular non-alcoholic pils in Germany
Where to buy: You can purchase the Alcohol-Free Craft Beer Advent Calendar directly from the Beerhunter website.
Swizzels Christmas Advent Calendar
(best budget-friendly retro sweet countdown)
- Brand: Swizzels (Swizzels Matlow)
- RRP: £5.49
- Contents: 24 doors of classic British retro sweets, including Love Hearts, Squashies, Refreshers, Drumsticks, and Parma Violets
- Ideal For: Kids, retro sweet lovers, and budget-friendly stocking fillers
Swizzels are the preeminent sweet treat maker at Christmas time. Everyone loves an advent with a new Swizzels treat behind every door. You will enjoy Love Hearts, Refreshers, Drumsticks, Parma Violets, and Squashies. Imagine your kids (or even you) getting a new sweet treat every morning on the run up to 25th December. Release your inner Christmas elf by getting a sugar hit every morning. I have!
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a Snap and Crackle chew. A retro fruit-flavoured chew bar with a fizzy sherbet filling
Where to buy: You can purchase the Swizzels Christmas Advent Calendar directly from their website. Also available in major UK supermarkets while stocks last.
Cupid & Comet Pet Advent Calendars
(best for dogs, cats and small animals)
- Brand: Rosewood (Cupid & Comet)
- RRP: £5.49 (cat), £6.00 (dog), £7.00 (small animals)
- Contents: 24 daily festive treats tailored for dogs (real meat & veg deli snacks), cats (yoghurt & catnip treats), or small animals (low-fat timothy hay, fruit & veggie shapes)
- Ideal For: Dogs, cats (aged 4 months+), and small pets including rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters
Pets love advent calendars, particularly when they contain treats or toys—washing or grooming stuff, not so much, though hey ho, they might be smelly as well as hungry! The Rosewood Cupid & Comet range features 24 healthy festive treats tailored specifically for dogs, cats, or small animals, and your furry friends are guaranteed to love them. In fact, you might even come down one morning to find a door has already been broken into—scratched, bitten, or chewed open! When delicious real meat, yoghurt, and catnip flavours are hiding inside, they really are a powerful motivator.
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 in the Advent Calendar for Dogs is a duck and vegetable reindeer. In the Cats Advent Calendar is a bag of small treat cubes containing catnip and yoghurt. In the Small Animals Advent calendar there is a Timothy hay Christmas tree chew
Where to buy: You can purchase the Cupid & Comet Advent Calendar for Dogs, Cupid & Comet Advent Calendar for Cats, and Cupid & Comet Advent Calendar for Small Animals from Amazon.
Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff Chocolate Advent Calendar
(best for Biscoff and milk chocolate lovers)
- Brand: Cadbury
- RRP: £7.50
- Contents: 24 doors of classic Cadbury Dairy Milk chunks alongside Dairy Milk chunks filled with Lotus Biscoff pieces and smooth spread
- Ideal For: Biscoff fans, families, and affordable stocking fillers
The ultimate flavour match made in chocolatey heaven is back for Christmas! Bringing together smooth, velvety Cadbury milk chocolate with a rich, crunchy Biscoff spread filling, this year’s new Cadbury Biscoff lineup delivers the perfect blend of festive warmth and decadent indulgence across two exciting new formats. The Biscoff advent calendar is the perfect gift for the chocoholics in the family. Cadbury Biscoff Filled Centres are perfect for a moment of festive self-indulgence in the period leading to the big day.
And don’t forget the smash baubles; delicious chocolate balls filled with different treats. Just right for kids of all ages.
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a treat-sized Cadbury Dairy Milk chunk with Lotus Biscoff pieces and smooth Biscoff spread
Where to buy: You can purchase the Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff Chocolate Advent Calendar directly from the Cadbury website or find it in major UK supermarkets.
Degusta Box Cook & Bake Advent Calendar
(best for home bakers and keen cooks)
- Brand: Degusta Box
- RRP: £49.99 (currently £41.99, worth over £100)
- Contents: 24 full-size cooking and baking products—including chocolate, marmalade, and sauces—plus a matching recipe booklet inside a 58cm XXL box
- Ideal For: Keen home cooks, festive bakers, and foodies who love trying new kitchen ingredients
The Degusta Box 2026 Cook & Bake Advent Calendar is a real showstopper—quite literally! For anyone with a love of baking and cooking, this supersize XXL box is packed with 24 full-size products worth over £100, giving you fantastic value for money. Behind every door sits a brand-new ingredient or kitchen treat for each day of December, accompanied by a handy recipe booklet featuring a daily recipe to match the item you open. It is the ultimate countdown for indulging in festive cooking, baking, and creating a happy Christmas around the table. Only a limited number are available, so grab yours before they sell out—I’ve already got mine!
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a bottle of Nescafe Espresso Concentrated, for easy iced coffee. Decaf … makes a mean Espresso Martini too
Where to buy: You can purchase the Degusta Box Cook & Bake Advent Calendar directly from their website (includes free home delivery).
Plus-Plus Santa’s Northern Lights Adventure Advent Calendar
(best for creative kids and STEM play)
- Brand: Plus-Plus
- RRP: £29.99
- Contents: 25 doors containing 600+ colourful interlocking building pieces, one baseplate, five wheels, and step-by-step instructions to build a festive winter scene
- Ideal For: Creative kids aged 5+ and families looking for a screen-free, reusable building toy
If you are looking for a brilliant, screen-free alternative to standard chocolate calendars this December, the Plus-Plus Santa’s Northern Lights Adventure Advent Calendar is an absolute winner for creative kids. Behind each of the 25 doors, children discover a fresh set of colourful interlocking Danish building blocks along with easy-to-follow instructions to create a new festive character or winter scene every morning. By the time Christmas Day arrives, all 600+ pieces, wheels, and the baseplate come together to form a magical Northern Lights display—and even better, the whole set can be taken apart and rebuilt into their own imaginative creations all year round. It is the kind of thoughtful, hands-on countdown that keeps little hands busy on chilly December mornings without adding to the festive sugar rush.
🎁 Click to reveal what’s behind Door 7!
Behind door number 7 is a Plus-Plus puzzle with instructions. This puzzle is for a sleigh
Where to buy: You can purchase the Plus-Plus Santa’s Northern Lights Adventure Advent Calendar from Amazon.
Want to see what made our list last year? Take a look back at our Awesome Advent Guide 2025 for even more festive inspiration!
