Introduction: The BEST advent calendars this Christmas (2025)

As founders of RISE Coffee Box, we’ve spent the last five years curating the very best specialty coffee from independent roasters across the UK. We taste test hundreds of coffees every year, handpick what makes it into our subscription boxes, and work closely with roasters and farmers to ensure quality, ethics, and sustainability at every stage.

That same passion for discovery, quality, and value is what drives us to put together this guide to the 15 Top Advent Calendars of 2025. Just like our coffee subscribers trust us to deliver something new and exciting each month, you can trust that every calendar featured here has been chosen because it genuinely offers something special. Whether that’s exceptional value, incredible flavours, a touch of luxury, or a daily experience that makes December fun and exciting.

We’ve done the digging, tried some of them ourselves, and read the reviews so you don’t have to. From beauty blockbusters to foodie favourites and of course our very own RISE Coffee Advent Calendar, this is your complete guide to the calendars that are really worth the money.

There was a time when Advent calendars meant nothing more than a flimsy cardboard box with a tiny square of chocolate tucked behind each door. Fast forward to 2025, and Advent calendars have transformed into one of the biggest Christmas gifting trends of the year. From luxury beauty collections worth over £1,000 to gourmet foodie treats, LEGO builds, and even specialty coffee journeys, today’s Advent calendars are about creating a festive daily experience.

So whether you’re hunting for the best value beauty calendar, a fun family advent calendar, or something a little more unique (like our #1 RISE Coffee Advent Calendar), you’ll find it right here in our round-up of this year’s most exciting Advent calendars.

1. RISE Coffee Advent Calendar

What’s inside: 24 x 17g pouches of pre ground specialty coffees perfect for AeroPress, French press, filter, or pour-over. Scan the QR code each day for stories on the farmers, origin and tasting notes. Alice and Ben handpicked each coffee and will have daily reveal videos for you to watch and find out more. 
Why people love it: Fresh flavours, effortless brewing, and an immersive daily coffee journey. Plus, every specialty grade coffee is handpicked by Alice and Ben and includes over 18+ different coffee origins! 
Price: £40–44
Where to buy: Sold via RISE and John Lewis. Rated 5 stars on Not On The High Street. Also available on Buy A Gift, Virgin Experience days, Amazon and in a number of farm shops.  

2. Tony’s Chocolonely Advent Calendar

What’s inside: 25 mini “Tiny Tony’s” chocolates, nougat, caramel, hazelnut but one empty door symbolises inequality in the cocoa industry. Tony’s Chocolonely’s Advent Calendar brings a delicious twist to the Christmas countdown. Behind 25 festive windows you’ll find 10 different flavours of Fairtrade milk, dark, and white chocolate perfect for sharing or even hanging on the tree. True to Tony’s mission, each bite highlights their commitment to ending exploitation in the cocoa industry. The chocolates are wrapped in aluminium and paper (not yet recyclable), but the overall product is plastic-free, making it a more sustainable choice for chocolate lovers.
Why people love it: Ethical messaging, bold design, and delicious chocolate experience.
Price: Approx £16.99 
Customer reviews: Very popular but occasionally criticised for the blank day; nonetheless, appreciated for its purpose. At RISE we applaud this move - as cocoa and coffee are industries where farmers live in poverty and often exploited. 
Where to buy: Major supermarkets like Waitrose & Sainsburys as well as Tony’s official online store.

3. Candy Kittens Vegan Advent Calendar

What’s inside: The sweetest countdown calendar of the year is Candy Kittens. With 24 doors. 24 plant-powered sweets. Flavours like Wild Strawberry and Eton Mess.

Plus behind door 24 you get to choose which charity receives a donation from our Advent Calendar sales. We are big fans of Candy Kittens and Ben recently met Jamie Lang at an event in London - he was super inspiring! 💚

Why people love it: Fun, ethical, and award-winning; ideal for vegan gifting.
Price: Approx £12. 
Customer feedback: “Very, very impressed” - Stellar, TrustPilot 
Where to buy: CandyKittens.co.uk, plus select retailers.

4. Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar

Contents: We’ve always said the Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar is the original and honestly, still one of the best. This year’s edition is worth an incredible £1,245 and, from experience, it never hangs around for long.

Inside you’ll find 30 luxury products, including 20 full-size treats, all handpicked from Liberty’s iconic beauty hall. Think cult skincare from La Mer and Augustinus Bader, makeup must-haves from Trinny London and Jones Road, and fragrances from Matiere Premiere and Ex Nihilo. It’s beautifully curated, totally indulgent, and one of those calendars that really does feel magical. If you’re looking to spoil a beauty lover (or yourself), this is the one.

Why people love it: Luxury brands and value make it a festive must-have.
Price: £275. 
Where to buy: Liberty London website, waitlist available.

5. Fortnum & Mason Beauty Advent Calendar

What’s inside: The Fortnum & Mason Beauty Advent Calendar is a true showstopper, featuring 26 luxury items (23 full-size) across skincare, fragrance, bath, body, and wellness, worth over £1,149. Behind its elegant drawers you’ll find indulgent treats from Jo Malone London, Sol de Janeiro, Aromatherapy Associates, Clive Christian, Bamford, Cult51, Baobab Collection, and more. From nourishing creams and oils to fine fragrance and candles, it’s a calendar designed to pamper and delight. Beautifully presented and fully recyclable, it’s a luxurious Christmas countdown you’ll want to reuse year after year.

Why people love it: Elegant packaging, high-quality content, and true indulgence.
Price: £265 (est. value £1,149). 
Where to buy: Fortnum & Mason stores and online.

6. Space NK Beauty Advent Calendar

What’s inside: We’ve seen a lot of beauty advent calendars, but Space NK’s 2025 edition is seriously next-level. With 35 beauty treats (26 full-size!) it’s basically like getting a luxury haul from some of the most hyped brands out there. We’re talking Tatcha, Summer Fridays, Rare Beauty, Refy, La Mer, Charlotte Tilbury, Glossier… the list goes on.

It’s the kind of calendar where every door feels like a mini Christmas morning—whether it’s cult skincare, trending makeup, or even a surprise Dyson hair serum. No wonder people are predicting this one will sell out fast. If you want your December to feel like a beauty influencer unboxing, this is the calendar to go for.

Why people love it: Influence-driven hype; huge waitlists.
Price: £260 (value ~£1,150). 
Where to buy: Space NK website (pre-order waitlist).

7. M&S Beauty Advent Calendar

What’s inside: M&S have nailed the balance of value and beauty again this year. Their 2025 calendar comes in a gorgeous Bella Freud illustrated box and is packed with 25 beauty essentials, including 8 full-size products from the likes of Clinique, Estée Lauder, Benefit, and Nuxe. It’s worth over £330, but retails at just £60 when you spend £30 in store or online from 9 October. For us, it’s the high street’s best-kept beauty secret—reliable brands, brilliant value, and packaging you’ll actually want to keep.

Price: £60 (worth £330 with purchase). Launches Oct 9. 
Where to buy: M&S stores and online.

8. Boots Premium Beauty Calendars

Details: Boots have really gone all out with their 2025 Premium Beauty Advent Calendar—it’s circus-themed, reusable, and packed with an incredible 25 products (17 full-size!) worth over £600, all for just £150. Inside you’ll uncover icons from Elemis, Estée Lauder, MAC, NARS, Sol de Janeiro, Laneige, Fenty Beauty, Fresh, Origins and so many more. It’s one of the most generous high street calendars we’ve seen, mixing cult classics with exciting new launches. With its bold, luxe packaging and show-stopping contents, this is one of those calendars that will sell out fast. For beauty lovers looking for serious value without sacrificing luxury, it’s an absolute winner.

Why people love them: Accessibility, value, and early press buzz.
Where to buy: Boots stores and online; widely featured in media. 

9. LEGO City & Star Wars Calendars

What’s inside: The LEGO Advent Calendars are a true family favourite, bringing creativity and play into the festive countdown. Each calendar offers 24 days of buildable mini-figures, accessories, and surprise components from some of LEGO’s most popular lines, including LEGO City, LEGO Friends, Harry Potter, and Star Wars.

Why people love them? Unlike traditional chocolate calendars, these keep kids (and grown-ups!) engaged every day in December, with mini builds that come together into a fun festive scene by Christmas Eve. Parents especially love them because they encourage imaginative play and screen-free fun and kids get that daily excitement of discovering a new piece to add to their collection.

The LEGO Star Wars calendar is always a bestseller, packed with exclusive mini-figures and tiny starships, while the LEGO City edition is perfect for younger builders, often featuring Santa, snowmen, and mini vehicles.

Retailing at around £20–£30, these calendars are accessible, widely available (LEGO.com, John Lewis, Smyths, and most toy retailers), and often featured in gift guides thanks to their broad appeal. Year after year, they’re one of the most anticipated and talked-about advent calendars because they deliver on fun, family bonding, and lasting value well beyond December.

Why people love them: Playable, collectible, and perfect for families.
Where to buy: LEGO.com, major toy stores; ubiquitous in gift guides.

10. Charlotte Tilbury Advent Calendar

What’s inside: Charlotte Tilbury has done it again with her 2025 beauty advent calendar, the Beauty Treasure Chest—a keepsake, heart-shaped box filled with 12 festive favourites. Inside you’ll find 5 full-size icons (including cult classics like the Pillow Talk Lip Cheat and Beauty Light Wand) alongside 7 travel-size minis of Charlotte’s best-loved skincare and makeup. From glow-boosting serums and Magic Cream to iconic lipsticks, liners, and her Exagger-Eyes mascara, it’s everything you need to create party-ready looks all December long.

Beautifully adorned with celestial constellations, the Treasure Chest doubles as a trinket box, making it a gift that lasts well beyond Christmas. At around £175, it’s a luxe indulgence that fans know sells out every year so if Charlotte’s on your wish list, don’t wait too long to snap this one up.

Why people love it: Iconic branding and dramatic packaging.
Price: Approximately £175. 
Where to buy: Charlotte Tilbury website and select beauty retailers.

11. Whittard Tea Advent Calendar

What’s inside: 

Ok, we know… we’re a coffee company raving about a tea advent calendar. But honestly? The Whittard Tea Advent Calendar is that good. Behind its 24 doors are 23 different loose-leaf teas from around the world—think Jasmine Dragon Pearls from China, 1st Flush Darjeeling from India, Silver Needle white tea, and Whittard’s signature English Breakfast. Each pouch makes multiple cups, so it’s perfect for sharing (or keeping all to yourself).

With classics, fragrant greens, rich oolongs, and warming chai blends, this calendar is a tea lover’s dream and a brilliant way to cosy up December mornings. Even as coffee people, we have to admit we’d happily sip our way through this one. At around £60, it’s beautiful, generous, and guaranteed to please anyone who prefers a teacup to a coffee mug.

Why people love it: Thoughtful tea journey for enthusiasts.
Price: Typically £40–60.
Where to buy: Whittard stores and online.

12. Hotel Chocolat Advent Calendar

What’s inside: There’s just something magical about a chocolate advent calendar, and Hotel Chocolat takes it to another level with their Grand Advent Calendar. Behind 24 elegant doors you’ll find a mix of generous chocolate slabs, tipples like Velvetised Cream, festive cracker decorations, and classic Hotel Chocolat characters (yes, the penguins are back!). From salted caramel snowflakes to mulled wine-inspired recipes, every day delivers a surprise worth savouring.

It’s not your average chocolate countdown this one feels genuinely indulgent and makes an amazing gift for anyone who loves cacao in all its forms. With drinking chocolate sachets tucked in too, it’s a proper festive treat for cosy December nights. At around £70, it’s a show stopping gift that makes Christmas feel like it starts the moment you open the first door.

Why people love it: Stylish design, gourmet taste.
Where to buy: Hotel Chocolat stores and website.

13. Bonne Maman Advent Calendar

What’s inside: The Bonne Maman Advent Calendar is a classic for a reason behind 24 doors you’ll find 23 mini jars of festive conserves, chocolate, and caramel spreads, plus a special decorative gift on Christmas Eve. Each jar is a limited-edition flavour you won’t usually find in the UK, like Blueberry & Lychee with Rose, Cherry with Pink Berries, Fig with Cardamom, and Damson Plum & Pear with Star Anise.

This year’s design is especially charming, with cheerful festive characters and woodland animals that make opening each window even more magical. And if you order online, you’ll also get a complimentary festive Hazelnut Chocolate Spread jar and the option to add a personalised message making it a perfect gift. At around £30–£35, it’s a joyful way to bring a little sweetness to every December morning.

Why people love it: Classic, sweet, breakfast-ready tradition.
Where to buy: Supermarkets and online food retailers or online here

14. Biscuiteers Advent Calendar

What’s inside: The Biscuiteers Advent Luxe Biscuit Tin is a Christmas countdown that’s almost too pretty to eat. Behind 24 windows you’ll discover hand-iced vanilla biscuits, each shaped like something straight out of Santa’s workshop—think toy trains, teddy bears, stockings, and sweets. Every biscuit is baked and decorated by hand in Biscuiteers’ London bakery, using the finest ingredients for that perfect home-baked taste.

Presented in their signature square edged keepsake tin, this calendar is as much a work of art as it is a festive treat. At around £60, it’s a luxurious (and delicious) way to bring a little North Pole magic into your December. Best enjoyed with a mug of hot cocoa, ideally by the tree.

Why people love it: Prestige gifting and exclusive status.
Price: Around £65
Where to buy: Biscuiteers online store

15. John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar

What’s inside: The John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar is always one of the most anticipated of the season, and this year’s is their most luxurious yet. Inside you’ll find 36 products (23 full-size) spanning skincare, makeup, and fragrance, with a mix of cult favourites and exciting new launches. Expect icons from Charlotte Tilbury, Estée Lauder, Clinique, and Le Labo, plus trending names like Trinny London, Chantecaille, Laneige, and Fenty Beauty.

Worth over £1,000 but retailing at just £235, it’s John Lewis’s highest-value calendar to date. Last year’s sold out in just six weeks, and My John Lewis members get first access on 30 September so if you’re not already signed up, now’s the time. For beauty lovers, this one is pure festive indulgence.

Why people love it: Range, value and holiday buzz.
Price: ~£235 (worth £1,000+).
Where to buy: John Lewis stores and online.

FAQs

❓ Advent Calendar FAQs 2025

When do 2025 Advent calendars launch?
Most calendars release between mid-September and early October. Beauty calendars (like M&S, Space NK, Liberty, and John Lewis) often open waitlists weeks in advance, so signing up early is the best way to secure one before they sell out.

Which calendar gives the best daily experience?

• Best for stories & coffee lovers: RISE Coffee Advent Calendar (QR codes, videos, and farmer stories).

• Best for families & playful mornings: LEGO Advent Calendars.

• Best for indulgence: Liberty or Fortnum & Mason Beauty Calendars.

• Best high street value: M&S Beauty (£60 for £330 worth of products).

Which are the most ethical?

• RISE Coffee: 1% to the Friendly Coffee Fund + full B Corp certification.

• Tony’s Chocolonely: Bold equity-focused messaging around cocoa supply.

• Candy Kittens: 100% vegan, eco-conscious packaging, and also B Corp certified.

Any concerns or criticisms?

• Tony’s Chocolonely: One intentionally blank window sparked debate among customers, but we loved it

• M&S Dinosaur Calendar (previous years): Parents were frustrated when chocolate didn’t match the theme.

• Some beauty calendars: Get called out for including too many minis versus full-size products.

Which calendar sells out the fastest?
Beauty calendars from Liberty, Space NK, and John Lewis regularly sell out within weeks. In 2024, Liberty’s calendar sold out online in under a month. RISE Coffee’s Advent Calendar also sold out last year both online and in John Lewis.

Are Advent calendars worth the money?
It depends! Beauty calendars often offer the best savings, with values 4–6x higher than the retail price. Food & drink calendars (like RISE Coffee, Hotel Chocolat, or Bonne Maman) tend to focus on experience and discovery rather than pure monetary value.

What’s new for 2025?

• RISE Coffee: More origins than ever before (18+) and interactive videos for every day.

• Boots: A circus-themed Premium Beauty Calendar.

• Charlotte Tilbury: A new “Beauty Treasure Chest” design with more full-size products.

• LEGO: Expanded ranges across City, Friends, Star Wars, and Harry Potter.

Final Takeaway

Whether you’re gifting daily coffee moments, sweet vegan treats, or the beauty connoisseur in your life 2025’s Advent lineup offers unique, exciting options.

And if you’re a coffee lover looking for immersive flavour and storytelling? The RISE Coffee Advent Calendar isn’t just a festive countdown it’s your morning ritual reimagined.