Best advent calendars for 2023 cheapest places to buy chocolate, toy and beauty calendars
From Cadbury to Lego, we look at the top toy, chocolate, and beauty advent calendars for 2023 and reveal where to get them cheaply.
Until just a few years ago, UK advent calendars were pretty uninspiring – especially the cheap ones.
They were typically novelties aimed at kids and made from cardboard that tore a few days into December.
But things have changed as Christmas lovers can now spend hundreds of pounds on advent calendars filled with anything from the finest champagne to beauty products.
However, do you always need to sacrifice luxury to find an affordable option? We went shopping around for the best value-for-money advent calendars we could find.
Most of the options below will cost you less than £10, but we have included a few pricier options for those who fancy pushing the boat out this Christmas.
Chocolate advent calendars
Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Calendar, £1.85, Asda
If you’re a chocolate traditionalist, an advent calendar from Cadbury is likely to occupy pride of place on your mantelpiece when December comes.
You can currently get one for just £1.85 at Asda, while you will pay £2 at the likes of Sainsbury’s, Iceland, Tesco and Ocado.
If you’re a Clubcard member, then you can qualify for a cheaper price at Tesco, nabbing it for just £1.50.
Up to Snow Good Advent Calendar, £8.50, Hotel Chocolat
We certainly didn’t expect to find an option from luxury brand Hotel Chocolat on our tenner budget so were pleased to see the Up to Snow Good advent calendar.
It includes 24 penguins, Santas and snowmen in milk chocolate, including an oversized treat for Christmas Eve.
Beauty advent calendars
Rainbow Cosmetics Christmas Beauty Advent Calendar, £9.99, B&Q
B&Q is perhaps not the first retailer you’d think of if you’re looking for a cosmetics advent calendar, yet it is your cheapest option for the Rainbow Cosmetics pack.
There’s 12 days of products in there, including eyeshadow, blusher, lipliner and lipsticks. It’s only stocked online, so you won’t be able to pick it up in store.
Bath bomb advent calendar, £10, Seren Cosmetics
Alternatively, if you prefer the luxury of a warm bath then this bath bomb advent calendar may be just the ticket. It contains bath bombs, whipped soap, body scrubs and more, and will set you back exactly a tenner.
Lego and toy advent calendars
As any parent probably knows, you’re unlikely to find a Lego calendar for under £10. But we thought it was worth including the cheapest options for those hoping to treat Lego fans.
As well as the traditional Lego Friends offerings, there are also offerings of other themed calendars such as Harry Potter and Star Wars.
Retailers such as Amazon, Argos and Lego.com tend to offer the most competitive prices of typically between £20 and £25. However, as these products are often in high demand, stocks tend to sell out quickly.
Paw Patrol advent calendar, £14.99, Smyth’s Toys
If you fancy a change from Lego, there’s the Paw Patrol advent calendar. It will set you back a bit more at around £15 from Smyth’s Toys or Argos, and includes figures of the pups as well as accessories for them.
Luxury Christmas gifts for the super-rich
Fill-your-own advent calendars
Make Your Own Christmas Advent Calendar Kit, £5, The Works
If you’d prefer to give personalised treats to your kids, friends or colleagues during the festive season, this advent calendar allows you to insert your own choice of sweets, gifts, or chocolate.
That way, your recipient will receive a specially chosen surprise when they open their door every day.
Alcohol and low-alcohol calendars
Gordon’s Pink 5cl and Chocolate Advent Calendar, £6.99, B&M
While most alcohol advent calendars bust our £10 budget, this offering allows party lovers to get into the festive spirit with a 5cl bottle of pink gin and 24 milk chocolate squares.
If you prefer a different tipple, there are other versions with Baileys, and Smirnoff vodka, all priced at £6.99.
Interactive Alcohol-Free Advent Calendar, £49.99, Wise Bartender
Although this breaks our £10 budget, we wanted to include an option for those who aren’t big drinkers.
Online retailer of no and low alcohol products Wise Bartender is offering two advent calendars this year: a sweet and tasty vegan calendar and a more traditional beer version.
If you choose the sweet and tasty option, you’ll receive 24 vegan wines, ciders, and cocktails, all of which are no higher than 0.5% ABV.
And it’s available for £49.99.
Luxury advent calendars
The Grand Advent Calendar, £75, Hotel Chocolat
At the slightly more affordable end of the luxury range, Hotel Chocolat’s Grand advent calendar contains luxury truffles, chocolate slabs and batons.
You’ll also find beauty products, a sachet of hot chocolate and tipples such as cacao gin and a velvetised cream liqueur miniature.
If you do decide to shell out for a luxury option, it is always a good idea to check out cashback websites such as TopCashback or Quidco to see if you could earn a little extra on your purchase.
And, if possible, remember to pay on a cashback credit card so you can get a little extra back for your decadence.
Non-chocolate advent calendars
Twinings Superblends Advent Calendar, £7.50, Twinings
Relax ahead of the big day with a nice cup of tear, or 24 of them to be more accurate, courtesy of the Twinings Superblends Advent Calendar.
At the time of writing it’s actually discounted to £7.50 from its usual price of £9.99 and includes a host of teas designed to help you sleep, stay calm and focus.
Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar, £9, Ocado
Alternatively there’s 24 delightful cheeses in the Ilchester advent calendar, including cheddars, Red Leicesters and a double Gloucester.
We found it cheapest at Ocado, where it will set you back £9.
Alternative advent calendars
Professor Puzzle Advent Calendar Game, £10, Argos
From calendars aimed at Friends fans to some colourful options for adults, there are some extremely niche products on the advent calendar market.
One fun such calendar that we found is the Professor Puzzle Advent Calendar game. Each day you get a new 30-piece jigsaw, and you can bring them all together to make a giant festive piece. It costs £10 from Argos.
Elf Letters, £14.95, Elf for Christmas
If you’re willing to spend a little extra, your child can receive 24 numbered letters from the North Pole penned by elf pen pal, Pip McJingles.
Designed to be read in a set order, the letters reveal a glimpse into life at Santa’s workshop.
You’ll also pay shipping costs, which in our case was estimated at £4.49.
Free-from advent calendars
Free-From Choc Advent Calendar, £3, Sainsbury’s
If you have specific dietary requirements, it can be frustrating trying to find an advent calendar that you can enjoy.
As one of the most affordable free-from options, Sainsbury’s calendar offers a rice-based alternative to chocolate, which is gluten-free and milk-free.
Moo Free Advent Calendar, £3, Tesco
If you’re on a dairy-free diet, you could also consider this affordable option from Tesco. Offering 24 treats, you can choose from either milk or white chocolates.
Although this calendar is available at other retailers, we couldn’t find a cheaper option than Tesco.
Pet advent calendars
Pets at Home Christmas Advent Calendar For Dogs, £2.50, Pets at Home
You can even get your pets involved with the advent calendar fun, including this advent calendar for dogs from Pets at Home. There are 24 dog-safe carob treats in total, and they can be broken down into suitable sizes for your pet.
There’s a cat version at the same price point too.
Rosewood Luxury Deli Advent Calendar for Dogs, £5.49, PetPlanet
If you want to treat your pet to a more luxurious calendar, there are plenty of more meaty options including this one from Rosewood.
It includes duck and orange glazed bites, lamb and rosemary strips, and turkey and stuffing-style meatballs.
More ways to save money:
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