9 best notebooks for ideas, to-do lists and journaling

Best: For creative types

Rating: 10/10

Touted as the “perfect notebook in which to risk imperfection”, this hardback number (20 x 14cm) is designed for creative liberation. It gives permission to write whatever you like, no matter how typo-ridden, clichéd or illegible. This is the domain of bad first drafts and woolly thinking – and we are absolutely here for it because these, of course, are the seedlings of every brilliant idea.

The notebook, available in red or grey, lies flat and is therefore super comfortable when writing. There are 160 pages of acid-free ivory paper – lined or plain – and it’s a beautiful place to make brilliant mistakes.

Best: Set

Rating: 7/10

This notebook ( comes complete with a slim, silver ballpoint pen, making it a super cute set – ideal for anyone who can never seem to find a pen. As well as being personalised with an initial, there’s also the option to have a vivid-orange background for the cover. We were really impressed by the quality of the lined paper within, too – it felt absorbent without allowing ink to bleed and seemed really substantial and strong.

Best: Luxury buy

Rating: 9/10

From the moment this beauty arrives, all wrapped up in exquisite packaging complete with navy-blue bow, you’ll see it’s a premium product, with a price tag to match. Inside, you’ll find the notebook nestled within tissue paper and your life is rendered 100 per cent more chic. You can also have it embossed in gold – another little luxury that will seem essential after using this!

But putting frills aside – including the softest leather cover and the gilded paper edges – this is a great notebook, practically speaking. It’s small (14 x 9cm), so you’re not going to be writing draft essays in here, but it fits perfectly into inside pockets or handbags. The paper is feather light, yet curiously durable and is a dream to write on. We recommend dusting off your fountain pen for a truly deluxe experience.

Best: For journaling

Rating: 9/10

From Papier’s newest range, this is as bright and cheerful as you could expect from the cult stationer. We love the message on the front – always a comfort for anyone who works slowly – and, of course, that it’s personalised.

This is a sturdy, hardback tome (21.5 x 15.cm), although there is an option to choose a softback. Inside, you’ll find 96 pages of FSC-certified 85gsm paper, which is excellent quality and a joy to write on with any pen or pencil. We opted for lined paper, but plain or dot grid is also available.

This notebook is slightly wider than other options on the market, which means you get lots of words in per page – perfect for journaling!

Best: Eco-friendly buy

Rating: 9/10

As the name suggests, this really is a notebook bound by decommissioned fire hoses salvaged from British fire brigades. We love this ingenious idea by Elvis & Kresse – a company that rescues all sorts of materials from landfill before turning them into something unique, useful and long-lasting.

The handmade cover of this notebook (22 x 16.5cm) is tough, waterproof and durable. It comes with 98 plain pages which, when all used up, can be easily replaced by any A5 pad.

It might seem expensive, but when you consider that the company offers repairs for life on all of its products, no matter what happens to them, as well as donating 50 per cent of its profits to charities – you’re getting a lot of green credentials for your dosh.

This notebook really is a truly unique item – we’ve never seen anything like it before. Who’d have thought old hoses could be rendered so chic, cool and charming?

Best: Gift

Rating: 9/10

We were immediately delighted by this notepad (15.4 x 10.5cm) – bound with gorgeous scarlet leather and embossed with a cheeky greeting. This is a great gift, either for yourself as a daily aphorism or for a loved one who is nailing it (especially as it can be personalised) – and Noble Macmillan always packages its products beautifully.

Inside, there are 100 thick, unlined pages full of potential. The paper itself is a pale-cream shade and has a smooth finish, allowing any pen or pencil to glide easily across.

Best: Lie-flat design

Rating: 9/10

When it comes to stationery, Moleskine has long been synonymous with excellence, and this limited-edition notebook (21 x 13cm) is no exception. It’s also available in four different colourways, each with a Pinocchio themed embossed cover illustration. With stickers and a cute story card, this notebook comes with a heavy hit of nostalgia for bookworms.

The inside is full of ruled ivory, FSC-certified, acid-free paper of a 70 g/m² – super luxurious and eco-conscious in other words. It feels gorgeous to write on – biros, pencils and fountain pens glide smoothly across the page. Not only this, but the spine lies at a completely flat 180 degrees, so you won’t have to wrestle with the covers to write.

There are all the little details you might expect from Moleskine, including a bookmark ribbon, an elastic closure and expandable inner pocket for receipts and the like. It’s these little things that make a notepad a keeper.

Best: Budget buy

Rating: 7/10

This personalised softcover notebook (21.5 x13.5cm) is an absolute steal at under £10. It’s smart, well-made and understated, despite the silver foil-lettering. Aside from the 96 pages of 70gsm ivory ruled papers, there are lots of helpful features included, such as an elastic closure, ribbon bookmark and an expandable inner pocket. We thought this was brilliant value for money – no one would ever believe how inexpensive it is.