Best chocolate advent calendars for Christmas 2024

Once upon a time, the only thing you’d find behind an advent calendar’s window or door (a controversial debate for another time) was a picture, which was a little anticlimactic for all involved. Then, one happy day, chocolate advent calendars were invented to turbo-charge the countdown to Christmas for children. Fast forward a few years to the year 2024, when there are more advent calendars marketed at adults than there are at children, the likes of which range from alcohol to coffee and tea, miniature beauty products, stationery and pretty much any other small item you can think of. You can even get one for your pet.

Now, we’re not sticks in the mud, and certainly aren’t saying that 24 mini bottles of gin in December could ever be a bad thing, but when it comes to the Christmas countdown, we reckon chocolate calendars still come up trumps. Let’s be honest, is there anything better when waking up on a cold morning wishing you didn’t have to leave the house, than suddenly remembering that there’s an unopened door on your choccie-packed calendar?

Now we know deep down that chocolate shouldn’t really be part of your breakfast, but that adds to the indulgence of it all, and arguably the small bite-sized squares you get in an advent calendar taste even better than a full-sized bar as a result. The issue comes when making the decision as to which one, or in our case how many, you’re going to commit to buying this year, with so many different options on offer.

For that reason, we’ve put together a few of our favourites, to help make your decision on which one to get that much easier. So go on, leave the kids to their Kinnerton abominations and treat yourself - we've rounded up the best chocolate advent calendars for 2024 so you can start planning your countdown to Christmas, from hot chocolate samplers to incredible luxury creations.

Best dark chocolate advent calendars

Dark chocolate is good for you; that’s what we’re always hearing on the foodie grapevine (which is generally considered to be 100% accurate), so by treating yourself to one of these dark chocolate calendars, you’re actually making a healthy lifestyle choice – good for you!

Hotel Chocolat Dark Chocolate Advent Calendar

What: We’ve included quite a few Hotel Chocolat advent calendars in our round-up this year, but then that is what these guys do best. Deep and smooth, with rich cacao notes, this 70% advent calendar contains 24 dark chocolate reindeer, snowmen, penguins and enchanted spruces.
How much: £13.95
Where to buy: Hotel Chocolat

Best milk chocolate advent calendars

Milk is good for you; that’s what we’re always hearing on th… Who are we kidding? You’re in this section because you like creamy milk chocolate, which is lucky as we’ve listed some of the best milk chocolate calendars in stores and online this year. From the inexpensive to the downright fancy, you’re sure to find a milk chocolate advent calendar you like the look of here.

Cadbury's Dairy Milk Advent Calendar

What: Dairy Milk is Christmas for so many of us, and December wouldn't be the same without a little morsel of Dairy Milk chocolate every morning. Windows (or doors) in a neat grid, with a little chunk of British chocolate (owned by Americans now but whatever) behind each one. There's no messing with a classic. And at just over a couple of quid, it's perfect if you want something cheap and cheerful to mark the Christmas countdown.
How much: £2.75
Where to buy: Cadbury's

Tony’s Chocolonely’s Countdown Calendar

What: Tony’s Chocolonely’s not only tastes great, but the business is also trying to make the world a better place. With Fairtrade sourcing and a mission to make 100% slave free the norm in chocolate, we think it’s safe to say these are some pretty good guys. The chocolate is chunky and addictive, and this countdown calendar offers ten different flavours of chocolate so you can sample all that they offer before settling on your favourites to buy in bulk throughout the year. Favourites of ours include the dark milk chocolate with pretzel and toffee pieces as well as the salted caramel.
How much: £13
Where to buy: Ocado

Lindt 3D Teddy Advent Calendar

What: If Lindt’s silky smooth milk chocolate gets your mouth watering, then this is the chocolate advent calendar for you. If you’re anything like us, you’ll normally have a pack of Lindt stashed away somewhere come mid-November, but there’s something extra special about plucking your very own Lindt chocolate from behind a numbered door each day throughout December. Naturally, this one is especially good for the kids, but we have no shame in buying one for ourselves.
How much: £20
Where to buy: Lindt

Thorntons Personalised Santa Advent Calendar 

What: This child-friendly treat-filled calendar gives you change from a tenner while also making sure you get a proper chocolate hit. Hiding behind each door is a sweet little milk chocolate shape which will keep you guessing day to day, and you can get the Christmas Eve choc personalised with a name on it. If you've got a big brood, Thorntons often does special offers on multiple calendars, so make sure to keep an eye out in the run up to Christmas.
How much: £8
Where to buy: Thorntons

Best vegan chocolate advent calendars

With more and more of us turning to veganism and looking to reduce our dairy intake, vegan chocolate is booming, and there are some fantastic vegan chocolate offerings out there nowadays. Thankfully, going vegan doesn't mean you have to miss out on the advent calendar fun!

H!P Oat Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar

What: Made with oat milk and 100% Colombian chocolate, H!P's advent calendar is vegan-friendly, and it's plastic free so entirely recyclable when you get to Christmas Day! Plus, the calendar mixes things up with four different chocolatey flavours - plain, salted caramel, gingerbread and orange - so you're not getting the same old same old every day. 
How much: £12
Where to buy: H!P

Chococo Plant-Based Christmas Countdown Advent Selection Box

What: Chococo's much loved Christmas countdown boxes are beloved by many - and now vegan's need not miss out with this plant-based alternative. You'll get 25 different flavoured, hand-crafted chocolates (so you'll even have one to enjoy on Christmas day) made with either 72% dark chocolate or oat milk. In each box you'll find all the Chococo classics such as marzipan, tangerine and ginger, with honeycomb, chai spice, and a couple of boozier options also seeing you through to the big day.
How much: £29
Where to buy: Chococo

Best white chocolate advent calendars

Super-creamy and tooth-achingly sweet, white chocolate is, quite frankly, delicious. Dentists might not recommend it every day, but we do, which is why we’ve selected some of the best white chocolate calendars available this year for your consideration.

Hotel Chocolat White Chocolate Advent Calendar

What: If you’re one of those people who finds white chocolate too sweet, you should know that unlike most other brands, the main ingredient in Hotel Chocolat’s white chocolate is cacao butter, not sugar. Translation? It’s creamy, melty, and not too sweet. Presuming you’re sold, pick up Hotel Chocolat’s white chocolate advent calendar ASAP and get ready to count down to the big day with 24 white chocolate Santas, snowmen, penguins and enchanted spruces.
How much: £13.95
Where to buy: Hotel Chocolat

Best hot chocolate advent calendars

If you prefer to drink your chocolate as the cold nights draw in, you’ll love our hand-picked selection of hot chocolate calendars below. Each one contains individual sachets of delicious hot chocolate powder that promise to bring a bit of warmth to those frosty December days.

Yawn Hot Chocolate Advent Calendar

What: MugCocoa’s small batch craft chocolate has been designed to transform hot milk into deliciously smooth hot chocolate. These guys have included some tempting winter warmers in their hot chocolate advent calendar selection, including (but not limited to) Christmas Carrot, Banana Lama, Chilly Willy, Chocolate Orange, Cinnamon Roll and Caramel Rum Pud.
How much: £28
Where to buy: YawnBrew

Hotel Chocolat The Velvetiser Drinking Chocolate Advent Calendar

What: These hot chocolate experts have really pulled out all the stops with this year’s calendar. Whilst there’s no Velvetiser included (perhaps this is a good excuse to treat yourself to one) these sachets work just as well on the hob. Flavours for this year include everything from salted caramel, and mint to pecan cinnamon Danish, and pumpkin spice, so you can keep cosy on those cold December evenings.
How much: £50
Where to buy: Hotel Chocolat

Best luxury chocolate advent calendars

We know our readers are a discerning lot, hence this selection of luxury chocolate advent calendars. Naturally they’re a bit pricier than your standard supermarket advent calendar, but you only have to take a look at the beautifully-designed packaging to know that the chocolate within is going to be incredible.

Chococo Christmas Countdown Advent Selection Box

What: We love Chococo’s advent calendars and selection boxes - to get 25 unique, individually handcrafted chocolates for this money is impressive, and Chococo recently scooped a Gold Great Taste Award in 2024. This year's calendar showcases a number of new flavours including toffee apple caramel and chilli con choc. Plus, it's completely plastic free - so you can chomp away guilt free!
How much: £29
Where to buy: Chococo

Love Cocoa Luxury Chocolate Truffle Advent Calendar

What: Love Cocoa’s chocolate truffle calendar is sustainability-focused, 100% free from plastic, and free from palm oil. Love Cocoa founder James Cadbury knows a thing or two about good chocolate too, being the great-great-great grandson of the master chocolatier who crafted Britain's most cherished chocolate. Behind each of its 24 doors you'll find a truffle, with four different flavours to mix it up - giant hazelnut rochers, hazelnut praline, spiced gingerbread, and salted caramel - plus, a festive salted caramel chocolate bar for Christmas eve!
How much: £30
Where to buy: Love Cocoa

Hotel Chocolat The Everything Advent Calendar

What: These guys know what they’re doing. A Hotel Chocolat calendar guarantees a little bit of luxury every day, the challenge is not to eat them all at once! Whether you’re a dark, milk, or white chocolate fan there is something here for you. It’s packed full of Hotel Chocolat’s most indulgent treats, including Champagne truffles, chocolate praline and chocolate fudge sundae. Who knows? You might just find your new favourite.
How much: £29.95
Where to buy: Hotel Chocolat

Fortnum's Chocolate Truffle Selection Advent Calendar

What: Self-restraint is the key to enjoying an advent calendar properly, but when it comes to Fortnum’s truffle selection advent calendar, it’s definitely going to be tested. Opening this plum-coloured slim-line box reveals a Christmas tree decked with baubles, behind which 24 festive truffles are concealed. Marc de Champagne, Christmas pudding, sea salted caramel, dark chocolate orange and pecan and maple syrup, all of which sound as festive as can be.
How much: £38
Where to buy: Fortnum & Mason

Pierre Marcolini ‘Gentleman of the Snow’ Advent Calendar

What: A typically beautiful advent box from Brussels-based chocolatier Pierre Marcolini. Inside this intricately decorated ‘Gentleman of the Snow’ box, you’ll find the full spectrum of Marcolini creations, each showcasing the same attention to detail. Tuck into nougat praline, pistachio hearts and caramel pralines wrapped up like little presents.
How much: £54
Where to buy: Pierre Marcolini

Bettys Advent Calendar

What: It's hard not to like the look of a fabric advent calendar - they just have a touch of class to them and feel a little more homely than a standard cardboard number. However, the issue that usually comes with fabric advent calendars is that you need to buy the chocolate separately to put in each pocket, which rather ruins the surprise. However, Bettys has come to the rescue with its luxury fabric advent calendar which comes with 24 novelty chocolates inside the pockets already. Now that really is the best of both worlds.
How much: £60
Where to buy: Bettys

Wickedly Welsh Chocolate Advent Calendar 

What: This little chocolate factory in Wales makes all their bougie chocolates by hand, and at a very reasonable price too. These advent chocs with a difference include flavours like raspberry cream in dark chocolate, spiced milk praline, christmas pudding, and lemon sherbet in white chocolate. 'Nadolig Llawen' (merry Christmas) indeed!
How much: £19.99
Where to buy: Wickedly Welsh

If you're on the hunt for Christmas gifts and you want something a little more impressive than an advent calendar, this list of 2024's best Christmas hampers is for you.