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Best entertainment advent calendars 2016: yes, it's that time already
It's time to get excited about Christmas. Yes, yes, we know, it's still a month away, but it's not the big day itself we're really excited about. It's the 24 days preceding it.
Picking which advent calendar will be sitting on your sideboard for the next month is a big deal. Do you go Star Wars (again) or something different? Chocolate or something even more exciting? Whatever you do, don't buy one without looking through this lot first, the best advent calendars 2016.
LEGO Star Wars
Price: £24.99 | Check it out here
A double whammy of awesome, this Lego Star Wars advent calendar combines two of the best things the world – or the galaxy – has ever seen. Behind each of the 24 windows sits a festive, Star Wars-themed Lego delight. From minifigures such as Storm Troopers and Battle Droids to build-your-own Star Wars vehicles, this really is the only reason you'll need to get up through winter mornings.
Light Up BB-8
Price: £5.00 | Check it out here
R2-D-who? C3-P-oh-I-forgot-about-him. The only droid you're looking for this Christmas is everyone's favourite rolling Rebel Alliance helper, BB-8. Not only does this BB-8 advent calendar come with 24 festive milk chocolates within (M&S milk chocolates no less) but there's some electronics in there. No, not to let you build your own robot, but to cause the one on the front to light up, beep, beep, boop.
Haynes Retro Radio
Price: £20.00 | Check it out here
You can take your stale-tasting chocolate and stick it. This advent calendar shuns the sweet stuff to let you build a working FM radio in 24 simple steps. Sure, it's bound to get as frustrating as untangling those sodding Christmas tree lights, but when the big day's past what would you rather have - your own mini wireless or tooth decay? Yeah, we thought so.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mega Bloks
Price: £19.95 | Check it out here
Prefer Mega Bloks to Lego? Still like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles despite the last couple of films? Then do we have the advent calendar for you. There's no chocolate here, but those 24 windows hide everything you've come to associate with the heroes in a half shell – skateboards, samurai swords and, of course, pizza. There's even a turtle you can dress up in any one of the four iconic bandana colours.
Pokémon Metallic Effect Calendar
Price: £6.24 | Check it out here
No mini Pokémon toys or talking, fighting Pikachu action, just 25 pieces of individually housed chocolate. But with Pokémon GO having been arguably the trend of the year, who doesn't want to take that Pokémon-chasing excitement into Christmas? It's not all basic bitch either. A metallic finish gives this calendar a cool look, while the final five chocolates are bigger than the rest to really get you feeling festive.
Lego City
Price: £19.99 | Check it out here
Star Wars not your thing? Don't worry, everything really is awesome because you can still enjoy a Lego-themed treat every morning. Each of the 24 windows hides a Christmasy Lego treat that although entertaining on their own, can be pooled together on Christmas morning to create a cool Lego City adventure scene. Right, who wants to build their own Santa's sleigh?
Revell RC Remote Control Car
Price: £33.99 | Check it out here
24 days. 24 parts. One remote control car to build and plenty of effin' and jeffin' to be had we're sure. If you favour action of daily sweet treats, this build-your-own remote control car advent calendar is sure to tick the boxes. Featuring a small but powerful lektromotor, the compact RC creation will provide fun well past the holiday season. There is a downside though. Like any exciting toy, batteries are not included.
Avengers Mystery Gift Advent Calendar
Price: £10.99 | Check out out here
Everyone loves superheroes, and if you can't decide which is your favourite, the Avengers are an easy copout. As well as giving you your Marvel-themed fix of action, this traditional 25-chocolate advent calendar gives you a bonus Christmas week treat of five enlarged choccies. Want more? You got it. This calendar comes with a mystery Avengers-themed present too, ooh the excitement.
Minions Mega Bloks
Price: £14.75 | Check it out here
What's Christmas about if it's not teaching your wee ones that helping an evil villain towards their goal of world domination is OK? If your kids are aspiring to be their favourite little yellow fellas, then this Minions Mega Bloks calendar is a must. 24 days of Minions-themed toys await. Fortunately Gru's nowhere to be seen.
Photo Advent Calendar
Price: £6.99 | Check it out here
You don't have to wait until Christmas day to show someone that you care, you can start now and keep going all the way through December thanks to this memory reigniting photo calendar. As well as choosing a favourite snap to cover its A4 form, you can fill all 24 windows with memorable snaps with you and bae. That will make up for forgetting their birthday, right?
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