Every year, around December time, the British public spends an embarrassingly large amount of time talking about Christmas adverts. While this may seem bizarre to visitors to the UK, like complaining about the weather, this national pastime is deeply ingrained into the British psyche. Nothing stirs up a conversation at the office water cooler like a good debate about Christmas TV adverts.
However, the truth is that TV ads are really good at this time of year. Retailers pull out all the stops to get their brand noticed, and the result is a slew of spots that run more like 60-second works of art than advertisements. The great thing about these ads is that they bring everyone together. They’re pretty hard to miss, and many go viral within a few days of being released.
So, without further ado, we bring you the very best of Britain’s Christmas TV adverts. These are our favourites that bring back fond memories of family, friends, and chestnuts by the fire. Have a watch and warm the cockles of your heart.
Coca-Cola (1995-present)
Coca-Cola is the king of Christmas ads. Every year, they strike an emotional chord – we all know the famous festive ads starring polar bears. But there are many to remember! For instance, the iconic red trucks shining Coca-Cola brand greatly influenced what Father Christmas looks like. Take a look at the latest 2024 ad featuring AI.
Waitrose (2016)
It’s a story that spans the length and breadth of the UK and taps into the most fundamental element of what Christmas is all about – simply being together. Plus, it features cute animals, so you can’t really go wrong.
John Lewis
Year after year, John Lewis creates impacting and family-friendly spots using animation, filming and more. We picked the most beautiful ones from the past decade.
The Bear and the Hare (2013)
This beautifully hand-drawn animation combined with CGI tells the story of a bear who hibernates every winter but is woken up by his friend, the hare, to experience Christmas for the first time. This ad is famous for its stunning visuals and the powerful message about friendship and Christmas togetherness.
Monty The Penguin (2014)
This is the story of a young boy and his animated penguin friend, Monty, who longs for love. The famous Christmas ad features a soundtrack of “Real Love” performed by Tom Odell. It ends with an emotional twist when it’s revealed that Monty is the boy’s stuffed toy, brought to life through his imagination.
The Man on the Moon (2015)
This powerful ad relates the story of a lonely man living on the moon, spotted by a young girl who sends him a Christmas present with the help of a balloon. With a strong message raising awareness for loneliness during the holidays, this advert supported the charity Age UK to look out for elderly people at this important time of the year.
Buster the Boxer (2016)
This ad is about a dog named Buster who watches foxes, hedgehogs, and other animals bouncing on a trampoline and later joins in. Famous for its touch of humour and feel-good energy, this John Lewis short ad marks the cheering festive season spirit.
Edgar the Excitable Dragon (2019)
Edgar, an adorable dragon, accidentally burns everything with his fiery breath despite his best efforts to join in the holiday fun. We love the sweet and funny ending where Edgar finds his perfect role – lighting the Christmas pudding. Every kid’s favourite!
Sainsbury’s
British food giant Sainsbury’s has been varying its Christmas adverts for years and some were particularly impactful – we picked a couple below:
1914 Truce (2014)
There was a spout of controversy when this advert was first released in 2014. It was 100 years since the First World War and Sainsbury’s thought this ad would be a great way to commemorate the events. Some people thought it was off-colour to use the memory of such a tragic national event to sell products. However, the story of the Christmas Armistice really did happen, and we think this is a lovely way to keep the memory alive.
Mog’s Christmas Calamity (2015)
This special advert is based on Judith Kerr’s beloved children’s book character, Mog the Cat, who accidentally causes a chain reaction of Christmas disasters. You’ll agree that this is all charming chaos and comedy, especially the ending with the family and neighbours coming together to save Christmas. Plus, it’s narrated by Emma Thompson, adding a cute storytelling element to the advert.
M&S, Paddington & the Christmas Visitor (2017)
In this famous M&S ad, our beloved character, Paddington Bear, mistakes a burglar for Santa and helps him “deliver” stolen gifts. This charming clip and Paddington’s innocent perspective on the world became an instant hit with children.
Aldi, Kevin the Carrot (2016 – present)
Kevin the Carrot has become Aldi’s beloved Christmas mascot, which parodies other Christmas films like The Greatest Showman and Home Alone. Every year, Kevin appears in new storylines, creating a sense of anticipation, much like the John Lewis ads. The success of Kevin the Carrot is undeniable — he’s even been turned into toys, and fans rush to Aldi stores to buy them every Christmas.
Yellow Pages (1992)
This ad sleeps deep in the memories of my childhood and brings warm feelings of nostalgia whenever it resurfaces. It’s cute, cuddly, and reminds us of Christmases gone by. The fact that it’s an advert for a product that was rendered obsolete by the advent of the internet makes it feel that much more ancient.
Heathrow Airport
This beautiful story takes on Paddington Bear and, at the same time, the first scene of Love Actually – not a bad start! But that’s what Christmas adverts are all about; reminding us of the things that are so close to our hearts. The themes in this one – love, family, and memory – are things we can all connect to.
That’s certainly not all the ads we know and love, but it’s our top picks. If you need a helping hand to get into the Christmas Spirit, make sure you check out our Christmas & Boxing Day tours. They’re a great way to explore the magical Christmas landscape of London.
