Imagine a world without on-screen entertainment. Tricky, isn’t it?
Yet before black mirrors stole our leisure time, humans found plenty of inventive ways to keep boredom at bay. Cross stitching, nature painting, Mongolian throat singing - and that’s just off the top of our heads.
But, along with the inventions of booze, toothbrushes, kites and gunpowder (some of our favourite things incidentally, though inadvisable to enjoy all at once), we have Ancient China to thank for the gift of playing cards.
The Tang Dynasty invented the earliest prototype way back in AD1000, before evolving into the 52-card deck we know today. Refined through the centuries and shaped by Egyptian, and Italian hands along the way, playing card games is still an easy way to make friends abroad even when navigating language barriers.
You can play alone of course - Solitaire was developed for solo players - or learn magic tricks with a simple deck of cards.
Their ubiquitous presence meant they were the perfect way to help wartime prisoners escape their captors. In WWII, US and UK intelligence teamed up with the US Playing Card Company on a top-secret project to make special ‘map decks’ which revealed escape routes when submerged in water and the top layers peeled away. It’s thought some 316 allied soldiers attempted to escape thanks to the cards.
Despite all the gizmos, gadgets and shiny things at our disposal today, we’ll always make room for a great set of playing cards. They’re reliable for game night (especially if you’ve got Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey or Kevin Hart, known poker fans, coming over for a round), fun to play while travelling (and no need to worry about charging either) and are an easy way to strengthen ties with friends, both new and old.
We’ve rounded up the best sets below, whether you’re looking for a fun gift or want a statement look to double as a home accessory.
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Galison Liberty Maxine Playing Card Set: Liberty London
Designer of beautiful covetable prints, Liberty’s playing cards are both fun and 104 pieces of art across the double deck set. It comes in a coordinating presentation box, lifted with foil to pick out the details. If you’re looking for an elegant set of playing cards, stop the search - Liberty has it in the box.
Buy now £11.38, Amazon
PRINT WORKS Double Playing card set
You’ll find a double set of cards in this set, made with acid-free card that can be wiped clean with a dry cloth. It’s a fairly classic set with red and black suits and the reverse covered in a pastel Harlequin print that matches the presentation box.
Buy now £15.00, Selfridges
Smythson Playing Cards Twin Pack
Smythson’s cards feature the same gilt edging as you’d find across its stationery range, creating a lovely synergy across your office. The traditional-looking cards feature a chic pattern across the back using the brand’s signature Nile Blue and navy tones. They’ll come in a matching Nile Blue box, making a wonderful gift for someone special.
Buy now £95.00, Smythson
Block Design Gradient Playing Cards
Designed to bring joy to the chromatophiliac in your world, these playing cards transform a typical suit into a glorious rainbow of gradient colour. Red and black colours are replaced with sunny hues, allowing players to understand colour theory while getting into the death round of cribbage. They certainly make a game of snap much more interesting.
Buy now £15.00, NOTHS
Christian Lacroix Maison De Jeu Playing Cards
Inspired by a vintage French gambling house, this stunning deck comes from the design behemoth that is Christian Lacroix. The set of two comes in a souvenir box, equally finished in an eye-popping maximalist style. Almost too pretty to play with.
Buy now £21.46, Amazon
ACELION Cool Plastic Playing Cards
Whether you dream of playing poker in the pool or bridge on the beach, a waterproof pack of cards are the best bet. Droplets will roll off the high-grade plastic, allowing you to concentrate on the game at hand instead of worrying about smudges and stains. You can even run them under a tap if they get too grimy. The deck contains a classic 52 cards along with two Jokers.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Oliver Bonas Inspirational Women Playing Cards
Using cards as a vehicle to remind players of some of the world’s most inspirational women, this cute pack is a must for any card game lover. You’ll find illustrations of the likes of Maya Angelou, Malala Yousafzai and Maria Montessori, plus a short caption of their achievements. If you’re looking for a gift for a friend that won’t break the bank, this is a lovely idea.
Buy now £8.00, Oliver Bonas
Galison Michael Storrings Four Seasons Playing Cards, Set of 2
Travel the world while sitting still playing cards with this deck illustrated by Michael Storrings. The reverse features pretty painting of cityscapes and natural surroundings, giving your opponents something to look at instead of your inscrutable poker face.
Buy now £14.99, John Lewis
Guinness Label Playing Cards
For the Guinness lover who has all the other merch proclaiming their love for the stout, how about a smart deck of cards? Decorated with the brewery’s signature label, they’re the deck to take to the pub and challenge old pals.
Buy now £6.95, Amazon
Normann Copenhagen Manikhin Playing Cards
If you’re fed up with board games, give games night a vintage twist with a fresh deck of cards. Inspired by the art of burlesque and vintage postcards, this set is illustrated by artist Roma Manikhin and will add an erotic and slightly peculiar edge to your next poker game.
Buy now £17.50, Not Another Bill
DY.2ten 2 Decks Mini Playing Cards
When you’re trying to travel light every inch of space counts. No need to forgo cards though; just make them a miniature version. This set is available in three shrunken sizes including a version for dollhouses to help the residents enjoy their very own casino night. Aside from the size, they’re perfect versions of a traditional deck and can be tucked into a pocket for gaming fun wherever your travels happen to take you.
Buy now £5.99, Amazon
M.Y Giant Playing Cards Set
What’s better than a classic deck of cards? A supersized version! This pack offers fun for all the family, XXLing a game of snap or raising the stakes in a round of Texas hold ‘em. Once you’re all gamed out, you can try building a pyramid with them too.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
David Shrigley Playing Cards
Celebrated for his whimsical observations on the world through doodles and sketches, fans of the illustrator David Shrigley will be delighted to learn there’s a special pack of cards decked out in his signature style.
Featuring playful (occasionally sweary) twists on Kings, Queens, Princes and the rest of the pack, this is a set to keep proudly on display (ideally in a house of cards formation).
Buy now £18.00, Third Drawer Down
Hermès Set of 2 Cheval de Fete Bridge Playing Cards
Inspired by the midcentury posters of the Polish School in Warsaw and the brand’s well-known love of horses, these cards offer a luxury take on a standard deck. They’re edged with silver and remain flexible and comfortable to hold thanks to the printed card base.
Buy now £145.00, Hermès
