As digital forms of communication like texting, messenger and Zoom have become a ubiquitous part of modern life, handwriting letters has become something of a lost art. Sitting down to write a personalised letter to a loved one is an incredibly enjoyable experience, and receiving a physical thank-you note is far more meaningful than the same message via email.
To get started, you'll need to pick up a stationery set containing high-quality paper and envelopes. There are many different designs available online, from beautiful vintage-style sheets to those with cute and colourful floral patterns. We’ve rounded up the best letter writing kits available in the UK at Amazon and Argos for you to consider, including luxury gift sets for adults and cheap yet charming options that kids will love. Let's take a look!
Quick List - Top Letter Writing Sets
The Lazy Panda Card Company
An Inexpensive Option Made From Recycled Paper
ANZON MORIES
An Abundance of Brightly Coloured Multipurpose Paper for Any Occasion
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Table of Contents
Obviously, every letter writing set will contain some paper for you to write on, but the size and quality of the paper can vary dramatically between kits. The best will often have high-quality paper, and you’ll want to check the size and thickness of said sheets to ensure that this is the case.
The usual size of letter paper is A5, which is half the size of the A4 paper that's typically found in printers and larger writing pads used at school or university. Thickness is measured in gsm (grams per square metre), and you’ll want at least 120 gsm for a high-quality feel.
Textured paper will also give your letters a luxurious touch, rather than it having the smooth, almost glossy feel of printer paper. There’s no specific measurement for this factor, but if you look out for terms like matte, linen or textured then it should be clear what type of paper you’re dealing with.
Once you’ve written out your letter on some high-quality paper, you’ll need an envelope to match. Since the first thing you’ll see when receiving a handwritten letter is the envelope, you want it to have a design that'll really wow the recipient, such as a colourful image or an intricate pattern.
As you'll ideally want envelopes with a nice thickness and feel, most kits will have envelopes made from a similar quality of paper to that of the sheets. Similarly, no letter writing set worth its salt will have envelopes that are different in size from the writing paper. For reference, C5 envelopes will fit A5 paper, C4 fits A4, and so on.
However, a common quirk of writing sets is that they tend to include fewer envelopes than sheets of paper because people often write multiple pages or may make mistakes while writing. So, you might find that a set has 32 sheets of paper but only 16 envelopes. Some kits are also designed for invitations, so it's worth checking that the envelopes definitely have space on the front for an address when posting via Royal Mail.
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Notecards are sometimes included in letter writing sets — but not always! These smaller, often thicker pieces of card are perfect for thank you notes for gifts or a quick heartfelt note to a friend. While you can purchase thank you card kits separately, it's always nice to find a few included as a bonus in a themed letter writing set.
Most notecards usually have some sort of wording on the front, with some specifically saying "Thank You" and many open up like a greetings card, allowing you to write a personalised note inside. If you’re planning on picking up a letter writing set for correspondence over the Christmas holidays, for example, then we'd say it's a good idea to make sure there are thank-you notes inside.
If you’re serious about your letter writing, it may be worth investing in a set that comes with a case or folder to keep all your papers and envelopes tidy and protected. Otherwise, all of your nice, pristine letter writing materials may end up in a drawer with who knows what else and risk becoming crumpled!
Sets containing a case or folder will often be substantially more expensive than ones that just include writing materials though. This is also the case if you’re looking at sets that come in a gift box, but the packaging can make all the difference if you’re looking to give one as a present.
Letter writing sets come in all sorts of different designs, from simple floral and nature-inspired imagery to brightly coloured illustrations and even licensed kits from well-known film franchises like Harry Potter!
When choosing a design, you’ll want to pick something that you think your recipient will appreciate, rather than just something that you personally like. After all, letter writing should be an activity that both parties get enjoyment from!
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Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Generic Bumblebee Letter Writing Kit | ![]() | A Beautiful Bumblebee-Themed Set That's Full Of Extras | |
2 | The Lazy Panda Card Company Woodland Animals Writing Kit | ![]() | An Inexpensive Option Made From Recycled Paper | |
3 | Paladone Harry Potter Hogwarts Letter Writing Kit | ![]() | The Number One Choice for Harry Potter Fans | |
4 | ANZON MORIES Japanese Stationery Paper and Envelopes | ![]() | An Abundance of Brightly Coloured Multipurpose Paper for Any Occasion | |
5 | Wagtail Designs Writing Paper Gift Set With a Robin Illustration | ![]() | A Great Gift for Letter Writing Lovers | |
6 | Wagtail Designs Writing Paper Gift Set With a Daisy Illustration | ![]() | Hand-Drawn Illustrations on High-Quality Paper | |
7 | WXJ13 Vintage Letter Writing Kit | ![]() | This 126 Piece Set Is Great Value for Money | |
8 | Funcoo Kawaii Writing Kit | ![]() | Super Cute Stationery for a Low Price | |
9 | Wagtail Designs Plain Writing Paper Gift Set | ![]() | A Professional-Looking Gift Set | |
10 | Mignor Floral Letter Writing Kit | ![]() | Stunning, but Only Suitable For Hand Delivery |
Our pick for the number 1 spot is this adorable set featuring a tasteful bumblebee design that can be found on all of the different pieces of stationery. Nature lovers in particular will covet this set but it's suitable for letter writers of all ages and genders!
We love the subtle yet luxurious details, such as the inside of each envelope being covered in bees. In addition to the essentials, this kit also comes with plenty of extras like A6 notecards, a writing guide and honeycomb-shaped sealing stickers. It's simply the best stationery set out there for letter writing!
We love that these minimal woodland designs are printed on recycled paper, as it really re-enforces the nature theme of this set. It also happens to be the cheapest option on our list, even though the gorgeous illustrations give it a premium feel.
As well as the paper and envelopes, you also get a handy folder that will allow you to keep everything tidy on your desk or kitchen table. There are three copies of each of the five designs, which include foxes, owls and deer, while all of the envelopes feature the illustration of a bear. A lovely, eco-friendly buy!
While we can't guarantee that an owl will be bringing your invitation to Hogwarts, you can easily recreate some of the magic of the books and films with this officially licensed letter writing set. You can opt for the writing materials only, or if you shop at Argos then you'll find that a wand-shaped is included too.
You can really let your imagination run wild when using this kit for correspondence, and you could even do a bit of role play with a friend who loves the franchise just as much as you do. Grab a pen, embrace the wizarding world and have some fun!
We think that receiving a letter on this pretty paper will really brighten a loved one's day! Featuring six different floral designs, these colourful double-sided sheets are a pleasure to write on and the border helps your handwriting stay neat and tidy.
This option is ideal for event invitations due to both the appealing design and the sheer amount of materials you get for your money. There's even a full 30-day money-back guarantee offered by the seller — not that you'll need it!
Our other pick by Wagtail Designs features an adorable robin illustration by Kate Todd, making it perfect for wintertime correspondence with friends! It even comes inside a special gift box, plus it contains a folder and line guide to keep everything tidy.
If you're looking to give a letter writing set as a present, this is a wonderful choice as the paper quality is second to none. With 18 sheets of paper and 18 envelopes, it'll provide more than a years' worth of correspondence if you're sending letters once a month — so it's brilliant value for money!
You may notice a few similarities between the next two options as they're the same style of kit but with different designs. This is the daisy variant, featuring intricate hand-drawn images by illustrator Kate Todd.
The high-quality paper and envelopes come neatly tucked into a writing folder that's beautifully wrapped in a gift box, as well as a line guide to make sure that your letters are as lovely as the paper they're written on.
If you're after a unique vintage feel for your letters, this is the set for you! The amount you get for your money — 126 pieces overall — is astonishing and will last you for a really long time, even if you write to a pen pal on a weekly basis.
As well as paper, envelopes and stickers, you get hemp ropes which you can tie around your letters if you fancy. It may seem a bit unnecessary but can really add to the old-timey feel of the stationery!
This colourful kit features guidelines on every sheet, meaning that there's no chance of your writing looking anything less than perfect! For the amount of paper you get, this bundle from Funcoo is an absolute bargain at under £10.
Due to the borders, however, the actual writing space is quite limited. Plus, the envelopes aren't self-sealing so you'll need to use the included stickers. You'll also have to fold your letter in three for it to fit inside the envelopes provided.
There are a few other offerings from Wagtail Designs later on our list, but this first set provides both quality and quantity with 36 sheets of high-quality 120gsm paper alongside matching envelopes, all presented in a classy gift box.
This kit is very plain so it may not appeal to everyone, but it's bound to be a selling point for those who prefer the minimalist aesthetic. Overall, we'd say it's more of a professional choice than a fun one.
We're starting off our list with a beautiful option that could easily be in our top 3 if it wasn't for one small flaw — you can't post the envelopes via Royal Mail without covering the floral design, as there's nowhere to write the address.
Aside from that issue, this set is simply stunning and it even comes with sealing stickers too. It's ideal for invitations or hand-delivered letters, but we unfortunately just can't rank it any higher for practical reasons!
Written and researched by David Sexton
No. 1: Generic|Bumblebee Letter Writing Kit
No. 2: The Lazy Panda Card Company|Woodland Animals Writing Kit
No. 3: Paladone|Harry Potter Hogwarts Letter Writing Kit
No. 4: ANZON MORIES|Japanese Stationery Paper and Envelopes
No. 5: Wagtail Designs|Writing Paper Gift Set With a Robin Illustration
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