Best Calligraphy Pens in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update September 26, 2024
Are you either a beginner who wants to learn the beautiful art of writing in calligraphy, or are you a seasoned calligraphy expert? ...Read more
PROS

The kit includes a special ink drawing tool for convenient refilling of pens. Simply draw up your ink inside this attachment and pop it into your pen.

CONS

The pen is a little lighter than expected.

OUR VERDICT

The Kurtzy is a great set for illustrators, architects and anyone who wants to try calligraphy writing. It's delivered in a sturdy and reliable box which can serve as a gift package. 

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

6 x ink cartridges, 6 x nibs, 1 x pen with lid, 1 x ink drawing tool

Nib Grades

Broad, Medium, Fine

Ink Cartridges

Blue

Extras

Storage case (18.5 x 11 cm), Pen cap

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

This pack includes as many as 12 coloured pens. All the colours are vivid and won't fade over time. The bundle of 24 pens is also available.

CONS

Packaging could be a bit stronger.

OUR VERDICT

The Staedtler calligraphy kit will help you create numerous decorative designs. The convenient two-tip design makes it possible to practise both thin and thicker strokes.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

12 x double-ended calligraphy pens, 2 x tips

Nib Grades

Narrow (2.0 mm), Broad (3.5 mm)

Ink Cartridges

Multicoloured

Extras

Pen caps, Available in 24 colours

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

This quill has an antique bronze body which is completed with a metal maple leaf. The feather is luxurious and soft, giving you a vintage feel. 

CONS

The ink refilling process can be rather messy.

OUR VERDICT

The Quill Feather Quill Pen Set will be a great gift for any occasion. This kit will undoubtedly inspire users to perfect their skills of calligraphy or even try writing poems.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

1 x feather quill pen (with pen tip), 5 x replaceable nibs, 1 x bottle of ink

Nib Grades

Different grades

Ink Cartridges

Black

Extras

Black gift box

Warranty

100% money back guarantee

PROS

The pens are filled with non-toxic water-based inks that are completely safe for health. In addition, they are odourless and won't fade that quick.

CONS

The pens aren't good for blotting paper or absorbent paper.

OUR VERDICT

The Frienda set is a great choice for talented and creative people. The kit will help you improve your calligraphy writing skills by giving full control and great response. 

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

3 x brush pens, 2 x brush calligraphy pens, 1 x refill ink

Nib Grades

Extra-fine, Fine, Medium

Ink Cartridges

Black

Extras

Pen caps with pocket clips, Packs of 4, 7, 10 are available

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The pens are made in Chinese style with individual nib grades so that you can quickly find the right one. Each pen is completed with a handy cap and clip.

CONS

The ink dries rather quickly. 

OUR VERDICT

If you're just about starting your calligraphy experience, this kit may be right up your alley. It's quite affordable and has six different pens for basic needs.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

3 x brush pens, 3 x brush calligraphy pens

Nib Grades

Extra-fine, Fine, Medium

Ink Cartridges

Black

Extras

Pen caps with pocket clips

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

Complete Set

The calligraphy pen set by Kurtzy is a great option for both general use and presenting as a gift for creative people in your life. Despite being fairly cheap, it's nicely packaged and full of extras to bring ultimate calligraphy experience. To specify, the set includes the pen body and lid, six nibs, six ink cartridges and even a free ink drawing adaptor. All of these come packed in a cute storage case, allowing you to neatly organise all the items inside.

As just mentioned, there are seven nibs in total, and each of them features a different design so that you can apply various writing effects. The nibs gradually increase in width from small to extra large.

Also, the set includes as many as six disposable ink cartridges, which is much more than offered by other kits. They can be easily inserted into the included pen to let you start practising your calligraphy in an instant. What's more, the choice isn't limited to the included cartridges - you can use your own coloured inks thanks to the bonus ink drawing tool included. Simply draw up your ink inside this attachment and pop it into your pen.

As you see, by getting this set, you can save some money in the long run. It's surely one of the largest sets that both amateurs and professionals will appreciate.

Last updated price £13.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B0181X3FYU

Full Range of Colours

Staedtler is a well-known brand that produces decent-quality products for reasonable costs, and this set is a bright example. It's well put together with a rich range of colours which makes it unique in its price bracket. The package consists of 12 pens filled with individual colour ink and fitted with two differently-sized ends. That is to say, each pen gives you an alternative of a fine 2-mm nib and a versatile chiselled 3.5-mm nib for expressive writing.

If you've never tried the art of calligraphy before, it's better to start with a small nib. It's great for fine writing and can help you get used to the strokes. Then, you can make the transition to a bigger nib and experiment with various effects by using both ones within the same lettering. Also, we believe that the idea of one colour and two tips makes a lot of sense, giving you the maximum use of the same colour.

Having said that, you can also try combining colour effects on the same lettering by using different pens. The pack in question offers 12 colours, however, you can get an extended bundle with 24 colours for just £6 more. What is great, all the colours are vivid and won't fade over time.

In all, we can highly recommend these pens for creating all types of decorative artworks. Owing to their stub-type nibs, the pens are much more convenient than dip- or fountain-style ones. Plus, there's no need to change ink or clean them from one colour to another. You simply need to pick another pen from the pack.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £9.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B077MQC3CR

For Harry Potter Fans

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Or, probably, you look for something unique and antique to give your teen friends as a present? If so, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more exquisite kit than this one offered by the Kurtzy company. The perk of this pack is obviously its antique brass feather quill pen. This quill boasts a vintage bronze body that is completed with a metal maple leaf. The feather is high-quality and soft, giving the pen a luxurious look and feel. For sure, it's the thing you'd like to display on your desk rather than hide inside a shelf. However, do note that the set doesn't come with a stand for it, so you'll need to purchase it additionally.

Besides the brass feather quill pen, the set includes 5 extra nibs for it and a bottle of black ink. The bottle also has a vintage look and can become a perfect decoration for your home office. It's easy to open and dip your nib into.

Speaking about the nibs, each of them is made from durable stainless steel and seems to last for a good while. The nimbs are easy to replace and range from fine to quite broad to handle all your calligraphy needs.

To round things up, the Kurtzy Quill Feather Quill Pen Set is perfect for practising letter writing in an old school manner with the authentic, rustic fountain pen. Coming in a nice box, it's also a good gift idea for any Harry Potter fan.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00LZI49KI

Easy to Use

The Frienda Refill Brush Calligraphy Pen Set is a high-quality set that is versatile enough for calligraphy practise, drawings, illustration, hand lettering, design, and more. It includes 5 black pens and a bonus refill ink.

All the pens are fude-styled, meaning they have flexible nibs allowing for variation in line width. That also means you'll be able to write Chinese style characters and try some of the modern calligraphy styles. In the set, you'll find an extra-fine brush pen, fine brush pen, medium brush pen, and two standard brush calligraphy pens. All of them are well made - the ink flows smoothly and evenly. That being said, it's still better to use good quality paper with bleed-proof properties. By doing so, you'll get a good grip on the paper and better control when writing accordingly.

As a nice touch, the set also comes with a spare ink bottle with an ingenious method of refilling. The cap of the bottle serves as a key to open the pen and feed ink from the included dropper. Of course, as it's often the case with all pens of this type, the nibs here will eventually wear out. Still, it's nice to know that you'll be able to keep them refilling to the last.

All things considered, if you'd like to master the art of hand lettering or try other hobbies involving calligraphy, this set is a decent choice. The Frienda pens will respond to your every movement and provide as detailed results as possible.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07FZYNWWM

Great for Basic Needs

Although the folks behind Reastar claim that these are great value pens for artists of any skill level, we believe it's a perfect set for novice users that would like to practise before graduating to something more expensive. For less than £8, you can get 6pcs set with three large tip pens, a medium tip, small tip and extra-fine tip. This is a quite good variation of pens for beginners. The fine brush pens can be used to create flourishes on the end of words, while broad tips are helpful for constructing larger strokes on italic letters.

Despite being moderately-priced, these are really robust pens with well-engineered nibs that deliver a reliable and smooth ink flow. The brush tips are neat, they don't leak or have stray hairs. As a nice touch, the lids are all marked so that you can easily find the right size at a glance.

Also, the Reastar pens are quite safe. They come filled with non-toxic and water-based, pigmented black ink. Plus, all the pens have a reusable and refillable design, meaning you can use your own ink when they run low. This way, you can save much money in the long run.

To recap, the Reastar 6 Pcs set is a very budget-friendly model for basic use and a stellar offering for those who'd like to try themselves in calligraphy writing, art drawings, illustration, hand lettering, and signature.

Last updated price £4.39
Stock In stock
ASIN B0814PW9WS

What Is a Caligraphy Pen?

Calligraphy has been an important part of many written languages for thousands of years, and continues today as a very decorative and sophisticated form of writing. As such, there are many people who have been interested in practising the art of calligraphy, whether they are wanting to create their own decorative pieces or just for fun. Regardless of the reason, calligraphy continues in the modern era as a significant form of art.

Writing in calligraphy is not something that can typically be done with a standard ballpoint pen, though. Since calligraphy often requires the use of a broad writing point, practising this art often requires the use of a special pen, often called a calligraphy pen. These pens will usually have a pointed tip with a broad blade on each side of the tip, which allows for writing in both narrow and broad strokes, with ink applied either through a cartridge inside the pen, or by dipping the tip of the pen in an inkwell. While most modern calligraphy tools utilise ink cartridges, more sophisticated calligraphy sets will require the use of an inkwell.

If you are wanting to practise calligraphy in a serious manner, then you might be interested in taking a look at our reviews of the best drawing tablets.

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