Variety of gifts: They look at the range of gifts included. The best advent calendars have different products every day and are exciting in the run-up to Christmas. The worst are boring with lots of repeated gifts. If you’re like us, the best Advent calendars include something you can savor every morning—or night. And on chilly winter days, nothing warms the soul better than a classic cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top. Enjoy 24 days of drinking chocolate as you count the days until Christmas with this decadent Yawn Brew hot chocolate Advent calendar. In my testing, I was pleasantly surprised by the range of holiday scents and vessel sizes and types. Though I usually prefer massive candles to serve as a centerpiece on the counter or coffee table, I look for something different in a candle Advent calendar. I don’t necessarily want larger-than-life Christmas candles otherwise it takes well until February to enjoy them all. That’s why I appreciate the variety of 2.5-ounce candles mixed with reed diffusers and a few 5-ounce candles. The smaller size is what makes this a true countdown: enjoy your scent of the day and move on to the next. My partner and I seriously look forward to discovering a new surprise coffee each morning, and the holiday sachets are ideal for sharing between two drinkers. Because whole-bean coffee is always fresher, we grind our beans and brew them in our French press. I love learning about the independent roasters behind each blend. Every step, from learning about the beans on each sachet, to brewing and tasting offers a delightful experience.

Whiskey lovers and adventurous drinkers alike are in for a real treat thanks to the Flaviar Whiskey Christmas countdown. Inside The Lost Art of Distillation: The Amber Kingdom, discover award-winning whiskeys from distillers across Ireland, Australia, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Japan and more. We tried Flaviar’s whiskey Advent calendar, and we can confirm it’s a stellar deal considering you score 24 curated 1.7-ounce samples among other goodies.While our testers enjoyed sampling the selection of New World wines from Chile, Moldova and California and more, they weren't wowed by the quality. Our testers were very impressed with the offering of products and brands in this year’s M&S beauty advent calendar. Half our panel said they’d happily gift it to a loved one. That's why we've voted it our best beauty advent calendar of 2023 of those we tested. Aesthetics: They rate each advent calendar on how visually appealing it would look displayed in your home and how easy it is to get at the gifts without running the look of the advent calendar. Have yourself a merry little Sithmas! With 320 pieces inside this LEGO Star Wars countdown, your favorite Jedi won’t be disappointed. You get 24 LEGO characters and mini-builds in this Star Wars Advent calendar. Each new day reveals a mix of classic and festive-themed Star Wars icons, including Luke Skywalker, R2-D2 and Darth Vader. As well as the stylish little wax-covered bottles inside this advent calendar, our testers were impressed with the spectacular variety of gins behind each of the 24 doors. Half our testers voted it as one of their favourite advent calendars to gift to a loved one.

As a crafter and budding crocheter, I love The Woobles,” shares Senior Shopping Editor Katie Bandurski. “This social media-famous brand makes a new hobby accessible to everyone with simple instructions and high-quality yarn. The Woobles Advent calendar isn’t quite as beginner-friendly—you need to know some crochet basics—but it’s a great way to practice and conquer small projects.” Quality of products: Our testers taste chocolate, dab make-up, sip wine and build toys to rate the quality of what's inside each advent calendar in its entirety. From skincare sets to makeup kits and more, there are tons of beauty finds to consider during the holidays. And even as an editor who writes gift guides for a living, it can be challenging for me to come up with new ideas to surprise my friends and family members. But thankfully, the best luxury Advent calendars provide an all-inclusive way to give thoughtful gifts that build excitement for the holiday season.But there are so many more than these: From toddlers to tweens, there's sure to be one that satisfies their craving to open up something before Christmas morning. The box that houses all the wines is heavy and bulky, so you'll need plenty of space at home to store it too. Delivery is on a selected date, you can choose a delivery day of your choice, up to 10 days in advance (Excluding next day delivery. Postcode restrictions apply)