Best alternative advent calendars 2022, from luxury tea to sex toys
Christmas is now less than 50 days away and while you may wait until Black Friday to start your Christmas gift shopping, one thing worth adding to your basket ASAP is an advent calendar.
Numerous beauty and alcohol calendar options have already sold out. But, if you're looking for something a little more unique, we've searched high and low for the best alternative advent calendars on the high street.
From hot chocolate and mini mince pies to luxurious Fortnum & Mason tea bags, there are plenty of foodie options that will trump chocolate.
Meanwhile, the more adult options include Lovehoney's sex toy advent calendar and John Lewis' first ever cocktail countdown.
Best alternative advent calendars 2022
Hot Chocolate Advent Calendar | £22.50 from John Lewis
This advent calendar is full of luxury Italian flavoured hot chocolate drinks from white hot chocolate to coconut hot chocolate. There are plenty of delicious drinks associated with Christmas, from mulled wine to Bucks Fizz, but nothing feels cosier than a nice hot chocolate.
Cocktail Advent Calendar | £125 from John Lewis
This calendar is the perfect opportunity to brush up your mixology palette without the laborious task of buying all the ingredients separately. Treat yourself or a loved one to a selection of iconic cocktails and boozy festive beverages. From rum-based blends, classic G&Ts and exclusive Christmas flavours, it's every cocktail lover's dream.
Festive Mini Mince Pie Advent Calendar | £39.99 from Selfridges
Mince pie lovers will have a wonderful lead-up to Christmas with the festive mini mince pie advent calendar. You can enjoy traditional, citrus, almond and chocolate flavoured mince pies as well as a special iced Christmas cake.
Flower Seeds Christmas Advent Calendar 2022 | £19.99 from Amazon
This Flower Seeds Christmas Advent Calendar is such a lovely treat for keen gardeners – or anybody who is looking to get into gardening in 2023. It's available in two colours; one is a flowers advent calendar and the other is a vegetables and seeds one.
Yankee Candle Advent Calendar | £22.50 from Boots
Filled to the brim with winter-inspired candles like the Amber & Sandalwood Tea Light Candles, your home will be bursting with the delicious smell of Christmas with this advent calendar. Is there anything more festive?
Cute Stationery 24 Day Advent Calendar | £49.99 from Not On The High Street
This is a very cute Stationery 24 Day Advent Calendar from Coral & Ink, filled with everything from pens and pencils to sticky notes. As well as items that can be used at any point in the year, there are a few Christmas-inspired bits in there as well.
Gourmet Marshmallow Advent Calendar | £23.95 from Not On The High Street
The world’s first Gourmet Marshmallow Advent Calendar is back!
Toasting marshmallows on an open fire feels like one of the most festive images you can conjure, which is why we're all here for 25 deliciously gooey pieces of handmade, gourmet marshmallow in a selection of sumptuous flavours.
Think: Vanilla Bean, Salted Caramel, Strawberry Cream, Candy Floss, S'mores, Cookies & Cream and more.
Lovehoney X Womanizer Couple’s Sex Toy Advent Calendar | £140 (Was £374.99) from Lovehoney
Christmas is the season for giving – and, in the case of the Lovehoney Advent Calendar, receiving. Behind each mystery door is a carefully selected toy, gift, game or bondage item, for him, her or both of you, that will last you well beyond the festive season. Plus, it's now reduced by 63% to only £140.
The Snaffling Pig Pork Advent Calendar | £22.50 from Not On The High Street
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Forget stuffing, it's all about the scratchings this year, with the best-selling Snaffling Pig Pork Crackling advent calendar. With flavours including Pigs in Blankets, Marvellous Maple and Perfectly Salted, a treat-sized bag of scratchings can be found behind each of the 24 windows.
Christmas Tea Lovers Advent Calendar | £25 from Fortnum & Mason
We think £25 is pretty good going for an advent calendar from London's most iconic (and expensive) department store. Filled with a collection of their best and brightest brews in silky bags, this calendar is ideal for any tea-lovers.
Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn Vegan Advent Calendar | £20 from Boots
We don't just love this because it's accessible to vegans, we love this popcorn advent calendar because it will revolutionise the way you think about the popping corn snack.
Behind each of the 24 drawers are snack sized packets of artisan popcorn, including flavours such as Salted Caramel, Toffee Apple & Cinnamon, Coconut & Cacao Popcorn and Olive Oil, Black Pepper and Sea Salt.
The Bearded Man Beard Oil Calendar | £30 from MenKind
This calendar is exactly what it says on the tin: it’s an advent calendar full of beard oils – 24 to be precise, and each is 100% natural and ideal for anyone whose beard rivals Santa’s.
Yawn Brew Coffee Advent Calendar | £39.99 from Not On The High Street
Each door of this Yawn Brew Coffee Advent Calendar contains an 18g sachet of freshly roasted coffee. Including coffees from the amazing Daterra collection with notes of Caramel, Chocolate and Christmas fruits, your morning coffee just got a glow-up.
United Oddsocks Advent Calendar | £30 from MenKind
Giving socks as a gift at Christmas has become something of a joke, but this collection of crazy socks gives the present idea a new lease of life.
Christmas Playlist Advent Calendar | £12.50 from Not On The High Street
The advent calendar of the future, this calendar invites the lucky recipient to open a door each day and hold their phone or tablet up to the calendar to hear the Christmas hit for that day. At the end of it, they'll have a complete festive playlist to listen to over and over again.
Swizzels Sweet Shop Advent Calendar | £5 from Wilko
We all know somebody who absolutely loves sweet, or perhaps you're the one who can't get enough? From Refreshers to Love Hearts, the Swizzels Sweet Shop Advent Calendar is full to the brim with our favourites.
Bird & Blend Tea Advent Calendar | £38 from Bird & Blend Tea Co.
Each box in this Bird & Blend Tea Advent Calendar comes with two tea bags, making it the perfect gift for you and another tea lover to share. Update your tasting notes and decide between you which tea bag is your favourite of the festive season.