Best: Overall

One of the clear standouts in the roundup, Katie Leamon’s set has everything you’ll need for peak correspondence skills; notecards (10), letter paper (10), and envelopes. The paper feels gorgeously thick and textured (the notecards are slightly thicker), and the design of both is super cute and stylish all at once. We loved the sleek envelopes too, which come with gilded golden borders. We were very impressed by this set, particularly when you consider how fair the price tag is given all you get in the set.

Best for: Cool designs

Papier has become the go-to destination for all your stationery needs, including lovely note cards and letter writing sets. They have a really wide range of designs on their site, meaning you can pick a design that suits you. Our favourite is the gingham days set, which is the perfect combination of kitsch and sophistication.

The set is made from textured Mohawk paper, which gives it a lovely, slightly rustic feel, and the envelope in particular feels luxurious and of high quality. You can personalise these with whichever information you’d like, and can buy them in sets of 20 sheets with 10 envelopes, 30 sheets with 15 envelopes, or 50 sheets with 25 envelopes.

Best for: Sustainability

There’s something extra special about the cards from The Seed Card Company; not only do they look lovely, they’re also made sustainably. As well as being made from 100 per cent recycled, biodegradable paper, they can also be planted afterwards as they contain (as the company’s name suggests) seeds. The lovely crossed keys design is our favourite, and the paper can also be personalised, giving it an extra special bespoke feel.

The only tiny downside is that writing on slightly uneven paper (caused by the seeds) takes a little practise; but if sustainability is important to you, this is sort of irrelevant! You can buy these in packs of up to 500, and can change everything from the fonts to the envelope colour.

Best: Budget buy

If you’d rather keep your letter writing more casual, opt for cute cards like these, instead of formal paper. These gorgeously thoughtful cards are perfect for a partner or close friend, and will surely be well received. As well as coming on thick 300gsm cotton card, they also come with powdery pink envelopes that can be personalised for a special twist. You can buy them singly or in packs of four, and can pick from several sweet designs.

Best: Standout set

These divine letter cards combine the simplicity of a cream background and plain pink envelope with the vibrant animation of the inner flamingo illustration. The envelopes in particular are very good quality, and will make quite the impact upon being received and opened. In a pack (which is presented in a chic branded box), you will receive 10 cards and 10 envelopes, all of which can be personalised if you get in touch with the team at Imogen Owen.

Best: Classic option

There’s nothing quite like Smythson stationery, and these simple cards are sure to delight any friend or family member; in fact, a box would work well as a present for a loved one. Coming in a classic Smythson blue box, these cards are thick and luxurious, and come with equally impressive envelopes. They come in a number of shade options, with our favourite being this red and pink combo. There are 10 to a pack, all of which are packaged in delicate tissue paper for an extra luxe feel.

Best: Unique set

The most visually impressive of the bunch, these cards are quite simply stunning. The delicate lace-inspired design has an incredible vintage feel, and one that is so unique, you’ll likely never find stationary like this. The cards themselves are rather delicate, and the envelopes could be thicker, but as long as you’re careful, you shouldn’t have any problems. These are best kept for shorter letters or notes given their dinky size, but will certainly impress anyone who receives one.

Best for: Personalisation

These playful letter sheets are designed with beautiful watercolour illustrations of autumnal leaves, berries and mushrooms. While they are ideal for the colder months, we can picture sending these any time of year thanks to their quality and visual appeal. You can personalise pretty much everything about this purchase; from the names, addresses or signatures on them to the paper they’re printed on. Prices start at £15 for 10, which compared to others on the list is impressive and will help you save some pennies.