The Most Beautiful Christmas Books to Buy This Festive Season
- LB
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Books remain one of the most dependable Christmas gifts - discreet, intelligent and generous. A well-produced edition signals care and good judgement, and in an age of fast everything, the tactility of print carries renewed value.
This year’s crop of luxury Christmas books is particularly strong. The Folio Society continues to refine the classics with clarity and craftsmanship, while Taschen brings architectural rigour and a global perspective to the coffee table.
Phaidon offers a sharp visual take on the season, and Kew Publishing adds a neat botanical counterpoint. Fortnum & Mason, as ever, makes a persuasive case for winter eating. For those building a fully considered festive gift selection, our guide to the best luxury Christmas candles here, also pairs neatly with this selection.
These are books built to last - handsome on a shelf, satisfying in the hand and relevant beyond December. Whether you’re buying for a collector, a design enthusiast, a reader with traditional tastes or simply someone who appreciates a well-made object, this curated list covers the most assured choices for Christmas 2025.
Beautiful Christmas Books for 2025
The Night Before Christmas - Clement C. Moore
Few poems capture the wonder of Christmas Eve like Clement C. Moore’s classic, and the Folio Society brings it to life with all the elegance it deserves. This edition feels instantly collectible: weighty, beautifully produced and exquisitely illustrated with intricate, nostalgic imagery.
It balances the charm of the original poem with design flourishes tailored for modern readers, making it an heirloom in the making. A book to bring out year after year - the start of a family tradition.
Folio Society: £44.95
The Nutcracker - Alexandre Dumas
The Folio Society’s take on The Nutcracker transforms a seasonal tale into a work of art. Bound in meticulous detail and illustrated with theatrical imagination by Taylor Dolan, it gives the 19th-century story renewed vibrancy.
Perfect for fireside reading, this edition blends high design with warm storytelling - a beautiful gift for ballet lovers, literature enthusiasts or anyone who loves a bit of Christmas enchantment.
Folio Society - £49.95
The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries - Massimo Listri
Massimo Listri’s work is a love letter to the world’s grandest and most historically significant libraries. This Taschen edition travels from remote monastic collections to soaring European reading rooms, capturing their architectural drama in sweeping, atmospheric photography.
With additional commentary by Elisabeth Sladek and Georg Ruppelt, the book becomes more than a visual record - it is a cultural pilgrimage through centuries of scholarship and design. A perfect choice for aesthetes, travellers and lovers of the printed word.
Taschen - £25.00(XXL Edition coming January 2026 - £150)
The Christmas Book: Exclusive Edition
Phaidon's exclusive Christmas edition is a visual celebration of seasonal traditions, design and storytelling from around the globe. With rich imagery and thoughtful curation, it blends nostalgia with contemporary style, making it the perfect centrepiece for a coffee table or reading nook.
Collectors will appreciate the special features and limited print run - editions like this often gain value over time - while casual readers will enjoy the book’s lavish, festive narrative. Also available as a standard edition (£25).
Phaidon / Waterstones Exclusive - £34.95
The Kew Gardens Christmas - Jenny Linford
A charming, nature-led take on Christmas, Jenny Linford’s book for Kew Gardens explores the plants, fungi and wildlife intertwined with the season’s history and folklore. Lavishly illustrated, it blends horticultural insight with festive storytelling and a delightful selection of plant-based seasonal recipes.
Ideal for gardeners, nature lovers and anyone curious about the botanical roots of Christmas traditions.
Kew Publishing - £20.00
Christmas and Other Winter Feasts - Tom Parker Bowles
Tom Parker Bowles’ festive cookbook for Fortnum & Mason is a celebration of winter’s most indulgent flavours. Rich with recipes, stories and culinary traditions, it encapsulates the brand’s long-standing devotion to seasonal feasting.
From celebratory centrepieces to comforting cold-weather dishes, this volume makes a superb gift for foodies, hosts and anyone who sees Christmas as the ultimate excuse for good eating.
Fortnum & Mason - £35.00
These beautifully crafted titles prove that the best Christmas books are more than gifts - they’re enduring objects of culture, design and memory.
Whether you’re building a home library, choosing a thoughtful present or simply elevating the festive season, this curated selection brings together craftsmanship, beauty and a sense of celebration.
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