Best 2025 Advent Calendars for Your Christmas Countdown
Christmas is creeping closer, and there’s something special about opening a little door each December morning to find what’s inside. If you’re after the best 2025 Advent calendars this year, you’ve come to the right spot. First time trying one or already a seasoned fan? We’ve rounded up some lovely options to help you count down to the big day.
Advent calendars have become a proper family tradition, haven’t they? They give children something to look forward to each morning and help them learn that good things are worth waiting for. The 2025 range has some brilliant variety too, from toy-filled surprises and LEGO builds to beauty bits for teens and quirky themed ones that match your kids’ favourite characters. There really is something to suit every family this year.
Top Advent Calendar Picks for Families in 2025
We’ve had a good look through what’s out there and picked out the ones worth your time. Need something fun for younger kids? A bit more grown-up for teenagers? Or maybe something based on their current obsession? This guide should help you find a Christmas countdown calendar that’ll make each December day feel a bit brighter.
The beauty of Advent calendars is how they turn ordinary mornings into mini celebrations. It’s that moment of excitement before school, a tiny pause in the rush that reminds everyone Christmas is on its way. And with so many non-edible options available now (toys, building sets, beauty products, collectibles), you can pick something that keeps the magic going all month long rather than disappearing in one bite.
So, shall we get started? Here are our favourite 2025 Advent calendars for this festive season.
BYO Marble Labyrinth Advent Calendar
Buy Now at Build Your Own Kits
This is such a clever twist on the traditional advent calendar. Instead of unwrapping a treat each day, your kids get to build something brilliant, piece by piece. Behind every door is a new step in creating a fully working marble labyrinth game that the whole family can play on Christmas Eve.
What makes this one really special is that it’s two games in one. First, there’s the classic maze challenge where you use push and pull tabs to guide your marble through traps and obstacles to the finish line. Then flip it over for Marble Frenzy mode, which amps up the excitement even more. It’s proper family fun that’ll last way beyond December.
The build itself is surprisingly satisfying. Everything slots together (no glue, no mess), and each day’s step takes about 5 to 10 minutes, so it’s not too fiddly for younger ones but still engaging enough for older kids and parents who fancy joining in. It’s made from sustainable cardboard with zero plastic, which is a nice bonus if you’re trying to be a bit more eco-friendly this Christmas.
Perfect for kids aged 8 and up who love making things, enjoy a challenge, or are into STEM activities. If you’ve got budding engineers at home (or just kids who get bored easily), this advent calendar keeps the excitement building right up to the big day. Plus, you end up with an actual game to keep rather than 24 empty cardboard doors and a sugar rush.
Majorette Vehicles Advent Calendar
If you’ve got a little one who’s mad about cars, this advent calendar is going to be a hit. Every day in December brings a new surprise, and by Christmas Eve, they’ll have collected 8 die-cast vehicles (5 of which are exclusive to this calendar), plus loads of extras to keep playtime interesting.
What’s brilliant about this one is that it’s not just about the cars. You also get 8 regular accessories, 8 Christmas-themed bits to give the vehicles a festive makeover, and 4 sheets of stickers for decorating. It’s that mix of collecting and creating that keeps kids properly engaged rather than just lining up cars on a shelf.
The calendar itself doubles as a playset once all the doors are open, so it’s not heading straight for the recycling. Your child can use it as a backdrop for their new fleet, which means the fun carries on well past December 25th. Majorette has been making quality toy vehicles since 1964, and you can tell. These aren’t flimsy little cars that’ll fall apart after a week. They’re proper die-cast models with decent paintwork, details and operational parts.
Great for kids who are at that age where they’re obsessed with anything on wheels. The Christmas accessories add a nice festive touch without being over the top, and the stickers give them a chance to personalise their collection. It’s one of those calendars where you actually end up with something worth keeping.
GraviTrax Advent Calendar
This is the one for kids who love building, experimenting, and watching things whizz about. GraviTrax is Ravensburger’s clever marble run system, and this advent calendar gives you 24 days of pieces that gradually come together to create a working track. Each door reveals something new: height tiles, curves, special action pieces like a spinner, plus three festive-coloured marbles to race through your creation.
What makes GraviTrax really engaging is that it’s not just about following instructions. Once you’ve built the basic run, kids can take it apart and redesign it however they like. It’s proper hands-on problem-solving that gets them thinking about gravity, momentum, and how to make their marble travel further or faster. The STEM learning happens naturally while they’re having fun, which is always a win.
The quality is spot-on, as you’d expect from Ravensburger. The pieces are sturdy, they click together satisfyingly, and everything works as it should. No wobbly bits or parts that don’t quite fit. If your child gets hooked (and they probably will), the whole GraviTrax system is expandable. You can add starter sets and expansion packs later, so this advent calendar becomes the beginning of something bigger rather than a one-and-done December activity.
Perfect for kids aged 8 and up who enjoy construction toys, marble runs, or anything that involves a bit of trial and error. It keeps them busy without screens, and there’s something really satisfying about watching your marble successfully navigate the course you’ve designed. Great for repeat play long after Christmas is over.
Pokemon Battle Figures Holiday Advent Calendar
If your house is all about Pokémon right now, this advent calendar is going to cause serious excitement every morning. Over 24 days, you get 16 battle figures and 8 accessories, all with a festive twist. Each Pokémon has a special finish that makes them a bit more collectible than your standard figures, and they’re properly detailed too.
What’s lovely about this one is how joyful it feels. The holiday theming isn’t just slapped on as an afterthought. The figures and accessories have that Christmas spirit while still being true to the Pokémon your kids know and love. They’re durable little things as well, so they’ll survive being played with, swapped between siblings, or taken to school for show and tell without falling to bits.
The beauty of getting one figure or accessory each day is that kids can start playing immediately. No waiting until Christmas Eve to use everything. By the end of December, they’ll have a whole festive Pokémon collection to display or battle with. It’s officially licensed by Jazwares, so you’re getting quality figures rather than dodgy knock-offs.
Perfect for Pokémon fans aged 4 and up (though let’s be honest, older kids who are still into it will love this too). It ticks all the boxes: collectible, playable, and themed around something they’re already obsessed with. The kind of advent calendar that genuinely gets used rather than gathering dust in the toy box.
Capabara advent Calendar
This one is absolutely adorable. If your kids are into capybaras (and let’s face it, who isn’t right now?), they’re going to lose their minds over this calendar. Behind each door is a tiny capybara ornament, and they’re surprisingly detailed for their size. Each little figure has its own character and festive charm.
What makes this calendar special is how cute and collectible it feels. The capybaras aren’t just generic shapes. They’ve got personality, different poses, and that round, cuddly look that’s made capybaras such a hit with kids lately. They’re made from sturdy ABS plastic, so they’re not going to break the first time they’re dropped or played with. Proper little keepsakes rather than flimsy throwaways.
Once you’ve opened all 24 doors, you end up with a whole family of festive capybaras that can be displayed on a shelf, used as decorations, or just played with. Some kids love lining them up, creating little scenes, or even giving them names. It’s one of those calendars that sparks imaginative play rather than just collecting dust after December.
Perfect for younger kids who are obsessed with cute animals, or older ones who are into collectibles and kawaii-style figures. The calendar itself can hang on the wall and becomes part of your Christmas decorations while you count down. It’s sweet, well-made, and taps into something kids are genuinely excited about right now. A lovely pick if you want something a bit different from the usual advent offerings.
Emotional Support Advent Calendar
This is a really sweet take on the advent calendar idea, especially if your child is into those crochet-style emotional support characters that are everywhere at the moment. Behind each door is a tiny acrylic figure with its own personality and positive vibe, like the Emotional Support Pickle or Positive Orange. They’re pocket-sized and perfect for kids who like carrying little trinkets with them.
What’s lovely about this one is that it taps into something kids are genuinely connecting with right now. These little characters have become a bit of a comfort thing for lots of children, giving them something tactile to hold when they’re feeling wobbly or just need a bit of reassurance. Each figure is made from quality acrylic, so they’re durable enough to be carried around in pockets, pencil cases, or bags without scratching or fading.
The calendar itself comes in a really cute gift box with a festive design that’s nice enough to keep on display through December. By Christmas, your child will have collected 24 little companions, each one different and full of character. Some kids love lining them up, swapping them with friends, or choosing which one to take with them each day depending on how they’re feeling.
Perfect for tweens and teens who are into the whole emotional support character trend, or younger kids who just love collecting tiny things. It’s a bit more meaningful than your standard toy-filled calendar, and the figures are genuinely useful beyond December. They’re pocket-sized comfort that travels with them, which is a lovely thing to give a child during what can be quite an overwhelming time of year.
Yankee Advent Calendar
This is one for the candle lovers in your house, or for treating yourself while the kids open theirs. Behind each door is a scented tea light in proper Yankee Candle quality, so you get 24 days of lovely festive fragrances filling your home. The set includes winter favourites like Christmas Cookie, Cinnamon Stick, and Christmas Eve, plus a few surprises like Wild Orchid and Amber & Sandalwood to keep things interesting.
What’s really nice is that you get three of each scent, so if you find one you absolutely love, you can burn it a few times rather than it being a one-and-done situation. The calendar also includes a glass tea light holder, which is a proper bonus. It’s sturdy and looks good on a windowsill or mantlepiece, so you’re not scrambling to find something to put your candle in each evening.
The scents are brilliant. They’re strong enough to actually fill a room without being overpowering, and they linger in the air long after you’ve blown the candle out. It’s that cosy, festive smell that makes your home feel properly Christmassy without needing to bake mince pies every day. The tea lights burn evenly and cleanly, as you’d expect from Yankee.
Perfect if you’re after an advent calendar for yourself, or for older teens who are into self-care and making their space feel special. It’s a lovely way to wind down each evening in December, and you end up with a glass holder you can use again and again. A bit of affordable luxury that makes the countdown feel calm and cosy rather than chaotic.
Harry Potter LEGO Advent Calendar
If your child is a Harry Potter fan, this advent calendar is going to be the highlight of their December mornings. LEGO’s 2025 Harry Potter calendar is packed with 24 magical surprises, including 8 minifigures (all wearing adorable Hogwarts Christmas jumpers), 6 creature figures, and 10 mini builds of iconic wizarding items. It’s proper quality stuff that’ll keep them busy building and playing right through the festive season.
What makes LEGO advent calendars so brilliant is that each door comes with its own set of instructions for that day’s build. No confusion, no hunting for pieces, just open, build, and play. The minifigures include favourites like Harry, Luna Lovegood, Draco Malfoy, and Cho Chang, plus a few others, all with their wands and festive jumpers. The creatures are fantastic too: Buckbeak with posable wings, Aragog with moving legs, and a beautiful Stag Patronus that looks brilliant on display.
The mini builds add so much play value. You get iconic items like a Hogwarts acceptance letter, chocolate frog, Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans, the Sorting Hat, various potions, and The Monster Book of Monsters. By Christmas Eve, your child will have a whole collection of wizarding world pieces to create their own Hogwarts stories. And because it’s LEGO, everything is compatible with any other Harry Potter sets they might already have.
Perfect for kids aged 7 and up who are still firmly under Harry Potter’s spell. LEGO never fails to deliver quality and creativity with these calendars, and this year’s is no exception. It’s the kind of advent calendar that actually gets played with long after December, and those minifigures will definitely become treasured additions to their LEGO collection.
Bity Pop Stitch Advent Calendar
If Stitch is still a huge favourite in your house, this advent calendar is going to be a massive hit. Over 24 days, you get 10 tiny Bitty Pop! figures of everyone’s favourite blue alien in different poses and outfits, plus 7 stackable display pieces, 3 holiday accessories, and cases to turn your figures into keychains or pins. It’s proper collectible stuff that Funko Pop fans will absolutely love.
What’s really impressive is how detailed these tiny figures are. Each Bitty Pop! Stitch is only about 0.9 inches tall, but they’ve still managed to capture all his character and charm. The figures come in hard acrylic cases with detachable bases, so they’re protected and display beautifully right out of the box. Kids can line them up on a shelf, attach them to keychains for their school bag, or turn them into pins to wear. It’s that versatility that makes this calendar feel extra special.
The stackable display pieces are a nice touch too. By the end of December, your child will have created a whole Stitch collection that looks brilliant all arranged together. The quality is spot-on, as you’d expect from official Funko products. These aren’t flimsy; they’re proper collectibles that’ll last.
Perfect for kids (and let’s be honest, adults too) who are into Funko Pops and still obsessed with Stitch. Just worth noting the small parts warning: these aren’t suitable for under-threes. But for older kids who love collecting, displaying, and customising their favourite characters, this advent calendar is absolutely darn cute and seriously impressive. A real winner if Stitch holds a special place in your family’s heart.
Christmas Pudding Scented Advent Candle
Buy Now at Not on the High Street
This is a lovely alternative if you fancy something a bit different from the traditional door-opening advent calendars. Instead of unwrapping 24 separate things, you light this beautiful white candle each day and let it burn down to the next number. It’s a calming, cosy way to mark the countdown to Christmas, and the vanilla scent is gorgeous without being overpowering.
What makes this candle really nice is its simplicity. The design is classy and understated, so it looks good on a mantlepiece or dining table without being too fussy. The wick is decent quality too, which means it relights easily each day without any faff or frustration. You just light it, let it burn for a bit (don’t go over four hours at a time), then blow it out when you’ve reached that day’s mark.
With a total burn time of 70 hours, you get plenty of use out of it throughout December. The scent lingers beautifully in the room while it’s lit and for a while afterwards, giving your home that proper festive feeling without needing plug-in air fresheners or sprays. It’s one of those little rituals that makes the countdown feel special and intentional rather than rushed.
Perfect if you’re after an advent calendar for yourself, or for older teens who appreciate something a bit more grown-up and mindful. It’s also a nice option for families who want to gather together each evening and mark the day as a shared moment. Simple, classy, and it smells lovely. What’s not to like?
Technic Make-up Advent Calendar
This is a brilliant pick for makeup-loving teens who want to try new products without spending a fortune. Behind each door is a mini beauty essential from Technic, and by Christmas you’ll have collected 24 makeup bits to experiment with. There’s a really good variety in here: eyeshadows, lip glosses, mascaras, blushers, lipsticks, brow gel, eyeliner, and even skincare treats like a lip scrub and sleep lip mask.
What makes this calendar such good value is the quality you get for the price. These aren’t tiny sample sachets that’ll be gone in one use. They’re proper mini products that’ll last a while and give your teen a chance to build up their makeup collection. The lip scrub is absolutely fab (honestly, it’s a standout), and the cream blushers and peptide lip glosses are lovely too. There’s enough variety to try different looks without it all being the same type of product over and over.
The Hot Foil cream pigment palette is a nice surprise, and having both black and brown mascaras means they can choose what suits them best. The bronzing drops and smoothing primer are great for teens who are getting more confident with makeup and want to try something beyond the basics. Everything comes in cute packaging that feels a bit special when you open it each morning.
Perfect for teens aged 12 and up who are into makeup and beauty. It’s also a good starter calendar if they’re just beginning to experiment with cosmetics and want to figure out what they like without committing to full-sized products. Loads of variety, decent quality, and that lip scrub alone makes it worth it.
Needoh Advent Calendar
If your kids are into fidget toys, this advent calendar is going to be absolute gold. Behind each of the 24 doors is a mini NeeDoh squishy toy, and if you’ve ever had one in your house, you’ll know they’re up there with the best fidget toys going. They’re brilliantly satisfying to squeeze, stretch, and squish, and they always bounce back to their original shape no matter how much your kids bash them about.
What makes this calendar extra special is that it’s full of different designs, so there are no duplicates. If you grabbed last year’s NeeDoh advent calendar (which was a massive hit), you’ll be pleased to know this year’s is completely different. Your kids can keep growing their collection without ending up with the same ones over and over. The quality is fantastic too. These aren’t cheap fidget toys that’ll split or go sticky after a week. They’re proper NeeDoh fidgets that last.
Each mini NeeDoh is filled with a stretchy, dough-like material that’s non-toxic and safe for kids. They’re brilliant for keeping little hands busy during car journeys, helping kids focus while doing homework, or just giving them something calming to fiddle with when they’re feeling a bit wound up. By Christmas Day, they’ll have a whole new set of 24 squishy friends (including some special glittery ones) to add to their stash.
Perfect for kids aged 3 and up who love sensory toys and can’t keep their hands still. If fidget toys are already a big thing in your house, this advent calendar is a no-brainer. Quality, variety, and proper satisfaction guaranteed.
Squishmallow Advent Calendar
Right, let’s address the elephant (or should we say gingerbread) in the room first: this calendar only has 12 doors, not the usual 24. But honestly? Those 12 days absolutely deliver on cuteness and quality. Behind each door is a tiny Micromallow in the most adorable holiday designs, like Jordan the Gingerbread and Tom the Christmas Tree. They’re so soft, squishy, and ridiculously cute that you’ll be getting oohs and awws every single morning.
What makes these special is that Micromallows are the smallest, most collectible version of Squishmallows yet. They’re teeny tiny but still have all that signature softness and squishiness that’s made Squishmallows such a hit with kids. Each one is a festive character that’s perfect for adding to an existing Squishmallow collection, or starting a new holiday-themed squad. The quality is spot-on, as you’d expect from the original Squishmallows brand.
Yes, it’s only 12 days rather than a full countdown to Christmas, so you might want to use it for the final fortnight of December or pair it with another smaller calendar. But the joy on your child’s face when they open each door and find these miniature cuties? Absolutely worth it. They’re brilliant for collecting, displaying on a shelf, or just carrying around in pockets because they’re so tactile and comforting.
Perfect for Squishmallow fans aged 4 and up (note the choking hazard for littler ones). If your child is already obsessed with collecting these soft toys, this advent calendar is going to be a huge hit. Love, love, love the characters, and they’re absolutely the cutest mini Squishmallows you’ll find this Christmas.
Minecraft Advent Calendar
This one’s a bit different because it’s an empty calendar that you fill yourself, but hear us out, because it’s actually brilliant. After the Minecraft movie release earlier this year, the game is more popular than ever, and this fabric wall hanging gives you total freedom to create your own countdown experience. You get 24 pockets with proper Minecraft design and a Creeper day marker, then you decide what goes inside.
What makes this calendar so clever is the flexibility and the cost-saving element. Fill it with whatever suits your child and your budget: mini Minecraft figures, sweets, chocolate coins, stickers, seasonal jokes written on little cards, or even practical bits like Minecraft-themed stationery. You can mix it up each year, tailoring it to what they’re into at the time. And because it’s reusable, you’re not buying a new calendar every December. Buy once, use for years. It’s a proper investment.
The quality is really good for the price. The canvas is sturdy and well-made, with vivid, detailed Minecraft graphics that fans will love. It comes with a hanging loop so you can pop it on their bedroom wall, door, or anywhere visible. The pockets are a decent size too, so you’re not limited to tiny treats. Each day, your child moves the Creeper marker along and discovers what you’ve hidden for them.
Perfect for Minecraft fans of any age who’d appreciate a more personalised advent experience. It takes a bit more effort from you to fill it, but the payoff is huge: a calendar that’s exactly right for your child and one you can use again and again. Smart, cost-effective, and totally on trend this year.
That’s our look at this year’s Advent calendars sorted. Hopefully you’ve found something that’ll work for your family’s countdown. The right 2025 Advent calendar can turn December into something really special, one little surprise at a time. If you’re after more ideas for the festive season, pop over to our Family Life at Christmas section. You’ll find loads on things to do together, tips for choosing your tree, more gift suggestions, and ways to make your own family traditions. Here’s to a December full of small surprises and happy mornings.