Fortnum & Mason Advent Calendar

For the recipient who has no interest in beauty samples or building bricks, Fortnum & Mason's advent calendars are the grown-up gift-giving choice. The range typically includes tea-led, chocolate and mixed-treat editions housed behind the store's signature illustrated designs, and the presentation alone makes it feel like a considered present rather than an impulse buy. Contents lean on Fortnum's own teas, biscuits, preserves and confectionery, so quality is dependable. It is priced as a premium item, from around £75 for the entry editions up to considerably more for the large keepsake calendars, and the value-per-item calculation is less generous than the big beauty calendars, but that is not really the point. You are buying provenance, presentation and a reliably lovely daily treat. Choose the edition to match the recipient's tastes, as the tea and chocolate versions are quite different experiences.