The 10 Best advent calendars

The most delicious chocolate treats to help make waiting for Christmas so much more enjoyable for children and adults alike

1. Lindt

Everyone loves Lindt and this calendar includes 24 of its most iconic festive novelties, including mini Santas, mini reindeers and those melt-in-the-mouth Lindor balls.

£5.29, lindt-shop.co.uk

2. Windel

If you’re after a more traditional advent calendar for children that doesn’t cost the earth, this has a picture of Santa and his entourage dashing through the snow with a daily chocolate treat to keep them going until the big day.

£1.99, lakeland.co.uk

3. Drinks By The Dram: The Ginvent Calendar

At first glance, it’s hard to imagine how a mere advent calendar could possibly justify this price tag. But behind each window lies a sample of astonishingly good gin. From market leaders to artisanal treats and from new brands to hard-to-find gems, it’s a gin-lover’s dream and there’s a whisky version, too.

£110, selfridges.com

4. Marks & Spencer Percy Pig

It’s not the first time Percy Pig has appeared on an M&S advent calendar, but this year’s marks the little guy’s 21st birthday. The fun-themed calendar is filled with Percy white chocolates, flavoured with dried raspberries.

£2.50, marksandspencer.com

(available in store only)

5. Carluccio’s

This is the first year Carluccio’s has produced an advent calendar and it was worth the wait. Besides the beautiful packaging, inspired by the colours of Bologna in Italy, each window reveals high-quality, foil-wrapped chocolate in the shape of fruit, animal or something Christmassy. At 250g, there’s no skimping, either.

£10.95, carluccios.com

6. Leupoldt Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen is the German word for gingerbread and the traditional family company Leupoldt has been at the forefront of Lebkuchen manufacture in Germany since 1905. Its advent offering this year comes in the form of an attractive Christmas tree with pull-out drawers.

£29.95, harrods.com (in store only)

7. Godiva

This Belgian chocolatier sells its premium gourmet chocolates worldwide and its advent offering for this year, filled with both signature and seasonal chocolates to please every palate, doesn’t disappoint.

£22, godiva-online-store.eu

8. Hotel Chocolat Truffles for Two

If you’ve got a couple of chocoholic adults in your household, this is well worth forking out for. There are two delectable baby truffles behind each window, with flavours ranging from mulled wine to sticky gingerbread and pecan pudding.

£26, hotelchocolat.com

9. Montezuma’s

New this year, this creative offering has 24 handmade chocolates that are inspired by the company’s popular British pudding bars. Flavours include Eton mess, treacle tart, summer pudding and lemon meringue.

£9.99, montezumas.co.uk

10. John Lewis Iced Gingerbread

There can be few tastes more festive than gingerbread, which makes this calendar – with beautifully decorated and scrumptious gingerbread treats – a particularly worthwhile purchase. The calendar comes nicely wrapped, too.

£12, johnlewis.com