Animals on the Underground will be arriving in August and we've been really lucky to have a sneak preview of this delightful new range of stationery.

The iconic tube map which dates from the 1930s, when Harry Beck designed it in his spare time while working as a draftsman for London Transport, has been the inspiration for this charming set of animal drawings.

Desk Jotter

The desk jotter features the Elephant and Castle, which was the first animal that Paul Middlewick discovered while staring at the tube map during his daily commute to work. That was back in 1988 and since then many other animals have been identifed.

The jotter was my favourite piece of stationery as not only is the elephant very cute but it is also very practical. It is about the same size as a mouse mat and with 50 tear off sheets there is plenty of space to write things down. I found it useful to write my list of things to do on the lined left hand column of the sheet while I used the blank reversed side for scribbling down more detailed notes.

Notebooks

The notebooks are sold in a set of three with each one featuring a different animal, Barking is depicted by a dog, Angel with an angel fish and Elephant and Castle features again. The notebooks would make a nice gift and the packet could also be divided up so the books could be given out individually.

 Notebook

What has really impressed me about the entire range is its good quality and thoughtful designed. They didn't just put something cute on the cover, they paid attention to detail so it doesn't just look good but it's also very functional as well. Take the notebooks each one has an attractive, brightly coloured, glossy cover featuring the different tube lines on it's back cover. I also liked it how the books are bound by the pages being sewn together rather than glued.

 Notebook

Inside are 48 lined pages with a colourful centrefold of the underground map so you can try to discover some more animals. The books are in a handy A5 size so they easily fit into a bag and I found them ideal for taking notes when I attend talks.

 Postcard Book

The postcard book contains 20 cards featuring different animals. Printed on thick good quality card they'd make a fun keep sake. However if you decide to use them they have an easy tear design which means that you are not left with an ugly perforated edge down one side. Once again I love the creativity of the animals chosen. Canada Water is depicted very appropriately by a Canada Goose.

  Postcard Book

Richmond is a majestic deer with huge antlers. The connection is less obvious as it is not due to word association, such has having an ox for Oxford Circus, instead it requires a bit of local knowledge to appriciate the pun. In this instance deer have lived in Richmond Park since 1529 when Henry VIII established a royal hunting ground on the site. 

  Postcard Book

Tower Hill is depicted by a raven, the guardians of the nearby Tower of London. The legend says that if the ravens ever leave the tower the kingdom will fall.

  Postcard Book

Highgate is a bat, a reference to the local legend of the Highgate Vampire.

There are another 14 animals depicted on the remaining postcards which are too many to share on a blog post but I hope you've enjoyed meeting some of my favourites.

Prices and How to Purchase

The stationery can be purchased from Frances Lincoln Publishers

It can be pre-ordered now and will be available from 7th August 2014

The Postcard Book costs £6.99

The Desk Jotter costs £8.99

The set of 3 A5 Notebooks cost £9.99

Disclaimer: Although I received complementary samples of the above products to review all views expressed here are my own honest opinion.

The author of this blog is a qualified City of London and City of Westminster Tour Guide who leads guided walks combining world famous landmarks with hidden treasures often missed by the crowds

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