There's one Advent calendar which we're fairly sure you'd never be without: the Country Life Christmas issue Advent calendar, which this year is out on Wednesday, 27th November.
But we're big fans of multiple Advent calendars per house — if only to avoid having to remember which of the children opened yesterday's window — and here are the most beautiful we've seen in 2024.
The advent calendar with Nature at its heart
For a secular slant that won’t scare the horses (or, indeed, visiting great-aunts), the free-standing, three-dimensional calendars from Angela Harding, brimming with images of British wildlife, are hard to beat. £12.50 from www.angelaharding.co.uk
The Advent calendar that's the original (and still the best?)
Die kleine Stadt, or ‘Little Town’, the very first Advent calendar made after the Second World War by Richard Sellmer, is still a bestseller today. Sweetly nostalgic, with glittering rooftops, it is the perfect width to sit atop a chest of drawers or a kitchen dresser. £11 from www.sellmer-adventskalender.com
The Advent calendar that's sophisticated, beautiful and still has mini-chocolates inside
This delightful stand-up calendar with its Margaret Tarrant Nativity scene might hit the sweet spot, placating the older generation, as well as satiating a child’s sweet tooth. Each window tells the Christmas story in pictures and lines from scripture, with a milk-chocolate treat hidden inside. £8.99 from www.traditionaladventcalendars.co.uk
The Advent calendar that doubles as a train set
Choo choo! Coppenrath is a German manufacturer of beautiful traditional Advent calendars. This one takes the child on a railway journey through an Alpine village scene. £15.99 from www.adventcalendarshop.co.uk and www.theporchfairies.co.uk
The Advent calendar that's an entire banquet in disguise
What’s even more festively fabulous than finding a Fortnum’s hamper under the tree? Why, having one of its scrumptious calendars all to yourself. It would be nice to share the Cognac butter, marmalade vodka and spiced chocolate biscuits — but perfectly acceptable to scoff the lot yourself. £200 from www.fortnumandmason.com
Credit: Carolyn Jenkins / Alamy
Curious Questions: Why do we have Advent calendars?
This week's Country Life Christmas special is an annual treat, with our special Advent calendar cover. But how did the
No Time to Buy: A James Bond themed advent calendar for the spy who loves you
Whether it's a man with a golden gun, or diamonds are forever, James Bond has always been associated with luxury.
-
The Country Life guide to Somerset: What to do, where to stay and how to eatSomerset is rich in natural beauty and history, but it is its wealth of small-scale food and drink producers, farmers and makers that really set it apart from the competition. Find out how to make the most of it all with our indispensable guide.
-
How to make a gloomy city garden into a haven of colour and natureTiffany Daneff discovers how to transform a typically dark London back garden into a light-filled green haven that is always in use. Photographs by Clive Nichols.
-
Christmas gift ideas for childrenFrom adorable booties and cardigans to toys that will keep tiny tots entertained for hours.
-
Seven perfect Christmas gifts for people who just love beautiful, functional thingsWilliam Morris famously said to have nothing in your house that you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. These things do their best to hit both targets.
-
Christmas gift ideas for ladiesFrom mothers and sisters to wives and girlfriends, these gifts are sure to bring a smile to the face of the special lady in your life.
-
Christmas gift ideas for menFrom fathers to brothers to lovers, we run through some smart ideas for Christmas presents for the men in your life.
-
When England cancelled ChristmasNo feasting. No drinking. No celebrations. Ian Morton explores what the festive period was like when Oliver Cromwell’s Christmas clampdown gripped the nation.
-
11 ways to do Christmas in right royal style, by A-list party planner Johnny RoxburghJohnny Roxburgh, one of Britain's top party planners, shares his tips on the best things to have at your own seasonal celebrations.
-
The traditional British toy makers still crafting wooden tops, rocking-horses and teddy bearsFrom automata to wooden dogs with jointed legs, members of the British Toymakers Guild have crafted a cornucopia of intriguing playthings that are not only for children, says Claire Jackson.
-
Christmas gifts for children that don't need screens or take batteriesDon't just pick up the latest plastic toys with lights and noises – take a look at these gifts which kids will love just as much as you do.
