Advent calendars have come a very long way from a cardboard nativity scene and a choccie that tasted vaguely of cupboard. These days, they’re miniature December survival tools – small daily joys to keep the whole household from dissolving into festive chaos.

This year, we’ve looked at some of the most popular Advent calendars for families and young builders, taking into account quality, creativity, value for money, and that all-important fun factor. Prices are included so parents can judge whether the contents match the cost (we know budgets matter).

Here are our top picks for 2025 – opened, inspected and judged with the utmost scientific mum-rigour.

Legami “Dreamy Express” Advent Calendar – £45.99

Best for: Stationery obsessives, creative kids, and that one parent who loves a good pen more than is strictly normal.

Legami’s Dreamy Express is basically a stationery party disguised as an Advent calendar. Inside you get 24 little surprises, including a limited-edition erasable pen(which in our house disappears long before Christmas thanks to homework negotiations).

What we loved:

• The gifts are useful, not throwaway plastic. Pens, stickers, mini notebooks – things that actually get used.
• The design is beautiful, proper foil-and-glitter Christmas magic.
• The calendar is reusable, which is a big bonus in an increasingly eco-aware world.

What to know:

• At nearly £46, it’s on the pricier side, so it’s worth considering if the child is truly a stationery lover rather than someone who’d rather disassemble crayons for fun.
• No sweets, no toys – this is pure stationery bliss.

Verdict: A gorgeous, imaginative calendar for crafty kids (and adults who pretend to buy it for their kids but absolutely don’t).

LEGO® Star Wars™ Advent Calendar 2025 – £29.99

Best for: Mini Jedi builders aged 6+ and any grown-up who knows the correct light-sabre sound effect.

LEGO Star Wars calendars have a cult following for good reason, and the 2025 edition is basically a daily dose of brick-built joy. Expect BB-8 as a snowman, a holiday-themed Jawa, and eight buildable droids — because nothing says Christmas like assembling a Buzz Droid before breakfast.

What we loved:

• Excellent value for £29.99 considering LEGO prices these days.
• Lots of playability — kids can build an entire mini droid workshop through December.
• Comes with 263 pieces, which is quite a lot of entertainment in tiny daily bites.

What to know:

• LEGO pieces will end up on your floor, in your bed, and possibly in your hoover.
• Builds are small, so best suited for kids who like daily, short creative tasks rather than big, time-consuming builds.

Verdict: Affordable for a licensed LEGO set and packed with variety. This one will be a hit in most households — even if you’re more into mince pies than Mandalorians.

LEGO® City Advent Calendar 2025 – £19.99

Best for: Younger builders, ages 5+

The LEGO City Advent Calendar is the friendliest entry-level option, full of small characters and festive builds. Expect Santa, Mrs Claus, and at least one mini-figure in a polar bear outfit (no scientific justification – we just like it).

What we loved:

• £19.99 is excellent value for 24 LEGO surprises.
• Comes with a fold-out festive playmat, turning the whole thing into a little Christmas scene.
• Easy builds for younger kids – instructions are printed behind each door so no one ends up frustrated.

What to know:

• The builds are simple and quick, so kids used to bigger LEGO sets might want something more elaborate.
• As always, tiny parts have a magnetic attraction to sofa crevices.

Verdict: Brilliant for little hands and early builders. A cheerful, affordable way to bring LEGO into the festive run-up without blowing the Christmas budget.

Which one is the winner?

It totally depends on your household:

• Best value: LEGO City
• Best creativity: Legami Dreamy Express
• Best “parents will steal it when the kids aren’t looking”: LEGO Star Wars

Whichever you choose, Advent calendars in 2025 are all about tiny moments of joy – and frankly, with school concerts, gift wrapping, and trying to remember where you hid the stocking fillers, we’ll take all the tiny joys we can get.