LEGO Advent calendar review — I got hands on with this year’s Harry Potter and Star Wars calendars
I LOVE Advent calendars and the excitement of opening a different gift each day.
However, I must confess that every year I cheat — I never wait until December before I open them up.
I always rush to order an Advent calendar in October before they go out of stock, and as a result, I go through my calendars in November instead, using them to brighten me up when the days are shorter and work is at its busiest.
Speaking of work; as you’re probably aware, whenever you start a new job, they always want to know a fun fact about you.
My fun fact is always about how obsessed I am with LEGO sets. My uncle has the biggest LEGO collection I have ever seen and I aspire to surpass his collection one day (an unlikely feat, but here’s to hoping).
LEGO has been releasing Advent calendars for years — a quick Google reveals that the company started back in 1998.
I had the opportunity to review both the Star Wars and Harry Potter Advent calendars. With a price tag of £29.00, they’re one of the cheapest non-chocolate Advent calendars around, and they’re very fun to build, too.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Rare pieces (e.g. the Star Wars one has the 1999 X-wing)
- Extremely fun!
Cons
- Mostly targeted at children — it’d be great if there were more adult versions
- No 25th-anniversary figurine
Rating: 5/5
LEGO Advent Calendar review: quick summary
If you have friends or family members who love building LEGO sets, then this is honestly the best Advent calendar you can get them.
If you have friends or family members who love building LEGO sets, then this is honestly the best Advent calendar you can get them.
The calendars consist of 24 gifts and each took approximately an hour and a half to complete.
It was very easy to set up all the mini-builds and figurines, with clear instructions both on the website and behind each door.
Impressively, the contents of the Harry Potter Advent calendar are also compatible with the Hogwarts Castle Great Hall set (number 76435).
LEGO is also celebrating 25 years of the LEGO Star Wars sets and I had my fingers crossed for a 25th anniversary figurine inside but unfortunately, there wasn’t one.
However, there are some satisfying festive touches — my favourite part was seeing Luke Skywalker’s and Princess Leia’s mini figures with Christmas jumpers!
LEGO has also included the original models of the TIE fighter and 1999 X-wing which was very cool to see (I know, don’t worry, it’s not cool for everyone).
LEGO Advent Calendar review: full review
First impressions
The Harry Potter LEGO Advent Calendar’s box showcases an image of the Hogwarts Great Hall decorated with Christmas trees and ornaments.
The image gives you a snippet of what to expect from the Advent calendar, showing the mini figurines of Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Susan Bones, Cho Chang, Professor Flitwick and Dumbledore.
The Star Wars Advent Calendar also has a festive theme, showing a Christmas tree in the snow which makes me think it’s based on planet Hoth.
Similarly to the Harry Potter one, it shows what mini builds you can expect including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, a 501st Legion Clone Trooper, Ahsoka Tano, and a Praetorian Guard.
What’s inside the LEGO Advent calendar?
Inside the Harry Potter Advent Calendar, you will find 16 mini-builds, eight figurines and two collectable portraits, totalling 301 pieces.
It’s Worth noting that of the two calendars I tested, the Harry Potter one is by far the most festive.
The builds included in the Advent calendar are:
- Harry Potter and Gryffindor Crest
- Gargoyles for all four Hogwarts houses
- Two Christmas trees
- Five dining tables with decorative items
- Draco Malfoy and Slytherin crest
- Christmas crackers
- Susan Bones and Hufflepuff Crest
- Hedwig and presents
- Cho Chang and Ravenclaw Crest
- A choir ghost
- The Hogwarts Express
- Professor Flitwick
- A fireplace
- A turkey
- Dumbledore (which is opened on the 24th day, and is, in my opinion, the best figurine)
The Star Wars Advent Calendar has 368 pieces to create six minifigures and 18 mini-builds.
The mini-builds included are:
- The 1999 X-wing
- AT-AT
- Jabba’s Sail Barge
- The Millennium Falcon
- A TIE Fighter
- A Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser
- Emperor’s Shuttle
- A U-wing
- The T-6 Jedi Shuttle
The only thing that made this Advent calendar remotely festive were the Christmas jumpers on Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker (though admittedly it’s probably easier to make Harry Potter festive than Star Wars).
The other figurines included are a 501st Legion Clone Trooper, Ahsoka Tano, and a Praetorian Guard.
Both Advent calendars have 24 doors and each door has clear building instructions and a packet full of bricks. The bricks in each packet are to create a mini build or a figurine.
I found that the Star Wars builds were a little more complicated to set up, so I had to use the instructions on the website so that I could zoom in — it was much easier than looking behind each door.
Each calendar took approximately 1.5 hours to complete, so if you’re like me and impatient when it comes to Advent calendars, you can complete both in one night!
How much is the Lego Advent Calendar?
Each calendar is priced at £29.99, making it one of the more affordable non-chocolate Advent calendars out there.
Not only are they affordable, but the Star Wars one includes iconic starships from 1999 to 2024.
Where to buy the LEGO Advent calendar
The LEGO Advent calendars can be bought directly from LEGO for £29.99.
If you were to order both you’d reach LEGO’s £50 free delivery threshold — otherwise, you can pay £3.95 for delivery.
The LEGO Advent calendars are also available on Amazon. Both the Star Wars Advent calendar and The Harry Potter Advent calendar are currently 17% off.
Very is also selling the LEGO sets for £24.99. you can buy the Star Wars one here and the Harry Potter one here.
A few other retailers selling the Advent calendars include Sports Direct, John Lewis and Boots.
LEGO Advent Calendar review: the verdict
Overall, LEGO’s Advent calendars are worth the money — they are fun to build with your family or on your own.
They’re also value for money — each toy built costs you only £1.25, making it very cost-effective.
A huge benefit of the Harry Potter Advent calendar is that it is compatible with the Hogwarts Castle: Great Hall set.
Meanwhile, the Star Wars Advent calendar celebrates the 25th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars and contains some rare pieces that will excite fans.
My only negative is that I wish that LEGO did adult versions of its Advent calendars — I’d happily spend more money and be able to do bigger builds, rather than individual miniature versions.
I did have the best time completing each build (I do have a social life I promise) and I’m now tempted to buy the LEGO Ideas Home Alone set for Christmas!