Normal advent calendars are fun and all but why wake up to the same old chocolate every morning when you could crack open something way more fun?
Granted, we do have a soft spot for that cheap, slightly artificial-tasting chocolate, and anyone who says they haven’t opened the top of the box, slid out the tray and scoffed all 25 pieces in one go is lying, but the best advent calendars for 2024 hold much more interesting surprises inside. From beauty advent calendars from big hitters like Liberty and Selfridges to boozy advent calendars for adults, these are the ways you want to be counting down to the big day.

Fattoria La Vialla
Not only is this one if the most beautiful advent calendars going (just look at that packaging!), it’s filled with Italian gourmet goodies like olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cheese, chocolates, sauces and more from biodynamic Tuscan farm Fattoria La Vialla.

Tony’s Chocolonely
There’s a Tiny Tony’s bar behind each door of this advent calendar, with flavours including dark milk pretzel toffee, milk chocolate caramel sea salt, and white raspberry popping candy.

Selfridges Beauty
The Selfridges beauty advent calendar is back and is absolutely stuffed with goodies. The selection of products includes brands like Nars, REFY, Morphe, Byredo, Davines, Dr. Barbara Sturm, Fenty Beauty and more.

Diptyque
You can never go wrong with a candle for Christmas so you can never ever go wrong with a candle advent calendar. This Diptyque baby contains three spesh festive scents as well as some other treasures.

Liberty
The OG beauty calendar is still one of the best and this year, it gets you over £1200 worth of products, including 18 full-size ones from the likes of La Mer, Augustinus Bader, Sunday Riley, Byredo and Dr Sebagh for £260.

Missoma
What’s better than a piece of jewellery for Christmas? Twelve of them, and that’s exactly what you get with this Missoma calendar. It’s also got pull-out drawers and lid with a mirror so you can use it to store your jewels all year round.

MOTH
One for all the cocktail lovers out there, this MOTH calendar features 24 cans so you get to try all of MOTH’s flavours, with at least two of each inside. And for an extra Christmas treat, golden cans have been hidden inside ten of the advent calendars – find one and you’ll win a year’s supply of MOTH.

Beer52
Beer52’s craft beer advent calendar is back for 2024, with ten different beer styles from seven countries (including Turning Point, Wiper and True, and Vault City from the UK) represented across the 24 cans. There’s even a tasting glass included so you can sip in style.

Walkers
If you’re a crisps rather than choccy kinda person, this Walkers advent calendar, with ready salted, prawn cocktail, cheese & onion and salt & vinegar packets, is the one for you (as spotted by IG account @newfoodsuk spotted on sale in Iceland).

Le Cordon Bleu
If you’re wanting to become more adventurous in the kitchen, this is the advent calendar for you. There are different herb and spice blends, like white truffle salt and gingerbread mix, behind each door, which are paired with a Le Cordon Bleu recipe.

The Cheese Geek
A cheese a day is one hell of a way to countdown to Christmas and that’s exactly what you get with this calendar from The Cheese Geek. It arrives in three parts to keep the artisan cheeses as fresh as possible, with each part coming with crackers, a honey and a condiment so you can enjoy them in style.