Our guide to the best buys out there from chocolate to booze...

So Advent calendar time is fast approaching (which also means a lot of these are on sale which is a certified bonus!) and this year, there are endless ways to count down those final days to Christmas. Chocolate may be the classic that never disappoints but there are other food and drink treats you can celebrate the month with, too.
From luxury chocolate truffles to mini bottles of booze, advent calendars have got seriously posh this year, and we’ve rounded-up all the best advent calendars for 2016, as well as the best beauty advent calendars available this year. You’re welcome.
Those with a sweet tooth and a chocolate-loving housemate/partner will want to check out Hotel Chocolat, where their luxury sharing version includes baby chocolate truffles which won’t have you fighting over who opens the door. Well, that’s a surefire way to start your day on the right foot during the run up to Christmas.
If you’re looking for something that’s going to last, try PAUL for their charming wooden calendar option, or Villeroy Boch for a porcelain calendar, that you can re-use by filling in with your own treats for years to come, whether that’s gifts, notes or sweets. And, if you want to buy a calendar for the pup or kitten in your life (because, frankly, why not?) we’ve got that covered, too, thanks to Lily’s Kitchen, because Christmas isn’t just about treating yourself, is it? Oh, and there’s even now an option if you’re on a The Paleo diet and if you consider yourself a linguist, Divine chocolate’s calendar boasts a wrapper with the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ in 24 different languages.
And as if Christmas couldn’t get any more decadent and indulgent, we also hunted down the best calendars to get the party started, too. Think wine, beer, whisky and gin-filled treats. The wine advent calendar even includes a bottle of mulled wine which is suitably festive and exciting.

Best of British Beer 12 Beers of Christmas Advent Tree, £44
12 craft beers from independent British breweries? Perfect for any beer connoisseurs, we say.

Pierre Hermé’s advent calendar, £59
This round box conceals 24 drawers with delicious confectionary treats, including chocolate covered fruit which basically counts as 1 of your 5-a-day, right?

Villeroy Boch’s Advent Calendar, £269
This lush Christmas present-shaped calendar has a porcelain box for every day that you can fill with whatever treat you so wish.

Divine Chocolate Advent Calendar, £4

Eleanor Stuart’s Ginger Bread House Advent Calendar, £74.95
This ginger bread house, complete with 3D candy canes, icing and a miniature ginger bread man, makes for an ideal Christmas table centrepiece.

Hotel Chocolat Advent for Two, £26
With 48 baby truffles inside, you won’t have to fight for who gets to eat the chocolate.

Kaemingk Christmas Tree Advent Calendar
This Christmas tree shape boasts 24 doors to fill with your favourite treats.

Lily O’Brien’s Chocolate Advent House, £25
This Irish chocolatier’s calendar contains flavours including sticky toffee, chocolate truffle and zesty orange.

Newby’s 2016 Advent Calendar, £48
Nothing feels homelier than a cuppa so sample some green tea, black teas and herbal tisanes every day this season.

Lily’s Kitchen Advent Calendar For Dogs, £9.95
There’s no reason to not indulge your pets this festive season, either, so buy an advent calendar filled with treats like organic cheese and apple treats. Who’s a good boy?

The Primal Pantry Advent Calendar, £34.99
For conscientious eaters, the first ever paleo advent calendar has launched complete with bars including coconut & macadamia and cocoa orange flavours.

Paul Advent Calendar, £19.95
For an authentically French Calendrier de l’Avent, this decorative calendar has individual drawers that reveal a chocolate bonbon inside and can be refilled for years to come.

Drinks by the Dram Whisky advent calendar, £150
Each door contains a dram of rare vintage wax sealed whiskey for scotch lovers to explore.

Wine Advent Calendar, £69.95
Wine down this Christmas (see what we did there?) with a post-5PM friendly calendar sampling different grapes, including some mulled wine, of course.

Drinks By The Dam Ginvent Calendar
Forget chocolate, this one’s just for adults. Behind every door lies a different sample of gin, complete with bespoke illustrations.

Montezuma organic chocolate advent calendar, £9.99
This small family business based in Sussex has already won awards and after tasting their chocolate, it’s easy to see why.

Lakrids Liquorice Advent Calendar, £34.95
Get your hygge on with some liquorice straight from Denmark.