It’s that time of year again…
Build the excitement ahead of Christmas with a surprise gift each morning – these 12 best advent calendars of 2023 from St James's and Regent Street shops are guaranteed to get you jumping out of bed in anticipation.
1. Fortnum’s feasting advent calendar
Bring the best of Fortnum & Mason's Christmas range to your home every morning with its Feasting Advent Calendar. Open dainty drawers to discover crunchy Christmas biscuits, spicy chutneys, tantalising teas and more gourmet goodies. If you were lucky enough to be gifted one of Fortnum's advent calendars for Christmas in previous years, you can also pick up a refill pack full of seasonal treats.
2. Paxton & Whitfield’s ultimate cheese advent calendar experience
Cram your fridge full of cheese, freshly plucked from Paxton & Whitfield's maturation rooms and sent to you in three separate carbon-neutral deliveries. The specialist cheesemonger's returns with 24 delicacies, including some of its latest creations, spread across three separate deliveries – last year these calendars sold like hot cakes (or should that be hot cheese toasties?), so grab one while stocks last.
3. Disney D100: Storybook Collection Advent Calendar at Waterstone’s Piccadilly
Celebrate 100 years of Disney with the adventure-filled Storybook Collection Advent Calendar featuring many of your favourite Disney and Pixar characters, available from Waterstone's Piccadilly. Enjoy fun all day long, as you dive into 24 mini books full of classic children's stories, from 101 Dalmations to Winnie the Pooh.
4. National Trust: ‘Tis the Season Advent Calendar at Hatchards
Fill your festive season with beautiful poetry, as you reveal thoughtful words held within the National Trust’s advent calendar, available from Hatchards. Lift the flaps to discover a poem each day from the likes of Christina Rossetti and John Agard and marvel at the wintry illustrations by Richard Jones.
5. Penhaligon’s The Toy Chest advent calendar
Let your nose lead you to Penhaligon’s, where the fragrance-filled The Toy Chest advent calendar awaits. You’ll be treated to a different scent for every occasion this festive season, with eight 10ml and six 5ml samples of some of its favourite perfumes, alongside candles, soaps, and other goodies.
6. Whittard’s tea advent calendar
Christmas is for sharing special moments sofestive nights in are sorted with Whittard of Chelsea’s special Tea Advent Calendar for Two. Cosy up with a comforting cuppa made from one of the 94 teabags, ranging from fruity Mango & Bergamot to relaxing Sleepy and Warming blends.
7. Liberty’s beauty advent calendar
Keep an eye out for the golden ticket, to be found in five of Liberty’s must-have – lucky winners will have £1,000 to spend at the department store. Delve inside its recyclable box illustrated with the shop’s iconic facade, and you’ll also discover 29 cult products and new releases by brands such as 111SKIN, Aromatherapy Associates and Votary. Men are not forgotten, however, with their own calendar featuring grooming essentials.
8. Anthropologie’s Ethel wooden Christmas advent calendar
Light up the festive season with Anthropologie's . Illuminated and topped with a snowyscene, this quality advent calendar is hand painted and has 24 drawers that you can fill with trinkets and stocking fillers. Check out Anthropologie’s Regent Street shop for ideas on what to include.
9. Molton Brown’s advent calendar
The almost-too-pretty-to-open is a treasure trove of beauty essentials. Recharge over the festive season with black pepper bath and shower gel, or put some sparkle into your day with the Rhubarb & Rose Festive Bauble – just two of Molton Brown’s 24 classics packed into one luxurious box.
10. L'Occitane’s reusable advent calendar
Savour the scents of Provence in the countdown to Christmas, as natural beauty label L’Occitane brings together 24 of its favourite products in its retro-styled – including new releases such as Noble Epine Shower Cream and Barbotine Scented Soap and bestselling Shea Butter Hand Cream. Made from recycled cardboard, it’s also a sustainable choice.
11. Hotel Chocolat’s grand advent calendar
Try to resist opening more than one window at once with Hotel Chocolat’s The Grand Advent Calendar – as Christmas comes early for chocoholics. Taste festive flavours in the form of a Christmas Mess, Caramel Clementine, or Ho Ho Ho Pillow Pack, or enjoy all-time favourites such as Brownie Baton. The ethical chocolatier has options for all budgets and diets, including a vegan calendar full of fun chocolatey characters.
12. Venchi's chocolate advent calendar
Happy holidays are just around the corner, so put an even bigger smile on someone's face with Venchi's . With an assortment of 25 iconic Venchi chocolates hidden in little drawers, you will be opening up a world full of fairytales and festive magic days leading up to Christmas!
