Best Lego advent calendars 2022: Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy and more
Build your way to Christmas Day with the best Lego advent calendars.
- Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2022
- Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2022
- Guardians of the Galaxy Advent Calendar 2022
- Guardians of the Galaxy Advent Calendar 2022
- Lego City Advent Calendar 2022
- Lego City Advent Calendar 2022
- Lego Friends Advent Calendar 2022
- Lego Friends Advent Calendar 2022
- Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar
- Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2022
The best Lego advent calendars are becoming a Christmas tradition almost as important as mince pies and mulled wine. Now, we know Christmas is a while off yet, but these kits sell out well in advance of December, so now is the time to buy.
With a different build to complete behind each door, they offer 24 days of Lego surprises, a block-by-block build up to Christmas Day. Tapping into famous film franchises as well as classic Lego favorites, the best Lego advent calendars pack in vehicles, unique minifigs, accessories and more to give your personal Legoland a smattering of Christmas spirit and wintry wonder.
As ever, Lego’s put together a whole festive range for this year’s 2022 advent calendars to appeal to Lego fans of all creeds. As sci-fi fans here at Space.com we can’t wait to get our hands on the next instalment of the legendary Lego Star Wars advent calendar — this year with a super-cool Empire Strikes Back theme — as well as the kaleidoscopic kookiness of the wildest space adventurers in the Marvel universe, the Guardians of the Galaxy, making their Lego advent calendar debut.
But for something a bit more traditionally Christmassy there’s the return of the classic Lego City advent calendar, the ever-magical Harry Potter set, and a cozy Friends set.
Note that, as with everything this year, the price of these calendars has crept up a bit since last Christmas. But if you’re interested in picking one up, do act fast though — the calendars are hugely popular and sell out quickly, as each is an annual exclusive with pieces and figures you’ll never be able to buy again. Like the last snow of winter, once gone, they’re gone! So pull the trigger if you’re looking to get building.
For more great Lego coverage, check out our guides to the best Lego Star Wars sets (opens in new tab) and the best Lego space sets too.
Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2022
Lego Star Wars advent calendar 2022 (Image credit: Lego)
Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2022
This is the advent calendar you’re looking for.
Specifications
Price: $44.99 / £29.99Age: 6+Pieces: 329Lego set number: 75340
Reasons to buy
+It’s Hoth themed!+We’ll say that again… it’s Christmas on Hoth!
Reasons to avoid
-No wampa snow monster?
Finally! The Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar is going to its natural home for this year’s outing, the ice planet of Hoth for a snowy showdown between Luke and Vader. With five minifigures, including snow troopers and R2-D2 in a Christmas jumper, it’s great to see the Star Wars calendar embrace its most wintry of settings with a perfectly themed set.
As ever, there’s a great selection of mini-ships to build, from Snowspeeders to Tie-Fighters, as well as a mini version of the creepy cave that Luke finds himself hanging from when captured by the Empire Strikes Back’s wampa snow creature. It’s a shame there’s no wampa build included here – but we’re sure a smart builder can recreate the creature with the included pieces here. A return to form after last year’s lackluster Mandalorian-themed set.
Buy the Lego City Advent Calendar 2021 at Lego (opens in new tab)Buy the Lego City Advent Calendar 2021 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Guardians of the Galaxy Advent Calendar 2022
(Image credit: Lego)
Guardians of the Galaxy Advent Calendar 2022
Groot-themed Christmas tree is *chef’s kiss*
Specifications
Price: $44.99 / £29.99Age: 6+Pieces: 268Lego set number: 76231
Reasons to buy
+6 superb minifigs+Christmas tree Groot is inspired
Reasons to avoid
-The fewest pieces of all the advent calendar sets
While Christmas and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy may not instantly feel like obvious bedfellows, that’ll all change come December — Disney has a big-budget Guardians Holiday Special episode lined up for its Disney Plus streaming service. You won’t be able to get away from (or enough of) the ragtag gang of space heroes by the end of the year!
Making their Lego advent calendar debut, the Guardians of the Galaxy make a good first impression thanks to the quality of the sets six (six!) minifigures, including fan favorites Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot, Mantis, Nebula and Drax. There’s a lot of humor in this set too, like seeing Groot dressed up as a Christmas tree and Rocket’s turkey-cooking flamethrower. It is however the leanest of the sets here — with just 268 pieces behind its doors, there are fewer rebuilding opportunities with the pieces tucked behind the doors here.
Buy the Lego Friends Advent Calendar 2021 at Lego (opens in new tab)Buy the Lego Friends Advent Calendar 2021 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Lego City Advent Calendar 2022
Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2021 (Image credit: Lego)
Lego City Advent Calendar 2022
The classic Lego advent calendar returns.
Specifications
Price: $34.99 / £21.99Age: 5+Pieces: 287Lego set number: 60352
Reasons to buy
+The most Christmassy set+A great Lego entry point
Reasons to avoid
-Less flashy than the themed sets
For the Lego traditionalist, this year’s Lego City advent calendar has all you need to turn your miniature Legoland into Tinseltown for the season. Santa? Check. Snowman? Check. Christmas tree? Check. Candle-lit carol organ? Check, check, check. Taking its cues from the the Lego City TV show, characters Billy, Maddy, Mr. Produce, Tippy and Raze are all featured, with props and animals to make a delightful Christmas scene.
It’s probably the most obviously festive of all this year’s sets, so a great option for someone not a particular fan of the themed sets surrounding it, or even Lego generally. It’s a great entry point for the Lego newcomer.
Buy the Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2021 at Lego (opens in new tab)Buy the Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2021 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Lego Friends Advent Calendar 2022
Lego Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar 2021 (Image credit: Lego)
Lego Friends Advent Calendar 2022
Celebrate Christmas with your (Lego) friends.
Specifications
Price: $34.99 / £21.99Age: 6+Pieces: 312Lego set number: 41706
Reasons to buy
+Four minifigs plus a reindeer+Great “Santa’s Workshop” vibe
Reasons to avoid
-Slimline Santa looks weird
The ridiculously popular Lego Friends range returns with a cute and cosy calendar that feels somewhere between Santa’s workshop and an Instagram shoot. Popping with color and toys for your Friends figures, it’s a mini celebration behind each door.
That said, Santa is looking suspiciously slim here in the Lego Friends world, and could do with a bit of feeding up before next year’s calendar. And it’s not just Santa who’s been slimming, but the set as a whole, which features significantly fewer pieces than last year.
Buy the Lego Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar 2021 at Lego (opens in new tab)Buy the Lego Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar 2021 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar
Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2021 (Image credit: Lego)
Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2022
Get some of that Christmas magic.
Specifications
Price: $44.99 / £29.99Age: 7+Pieces: 334Lego set number: 76404
Reasons to buy
+Includes seven superb wizarding minifigs — including Voldemort!+Box becomes a Hogwarts hall
Reasons to avoid
-No love for the Fantastic Beasts franchise
After a disappointing set last year, this year’s Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar might be the pick of the bunch from this year’s list, Star Wars notwithstanding. It’s designed so that every three days you get enough figures and builds to create an iconic scene from each of the books and films, with clever miniature realizations of iconic sets from the franchise.
There’s still no sign of the Fantastic Beasts characters, which is a shame for fans, but this might be the best Harry Potter calendar Lego has made so far. A real treat for wannabe wizards.
Buy the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2021 at Lego (opens in new tab)Buy the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2021 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
