Besley
serif · Designed by Owen Earl
Instant CSS & Tailwind Generator
Snippet updates automatically to match whichever weight you select above.
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Besley is a serif typeface with a sturdy, ink-trap construction rooted in Victorian-era Clarendon influences. It carries visible slab-like bracketed serifs and a moderate x-height that give it a confident, editorial presence without feeling overly decorative. The letterforms have enough contrast between thick and thin strokes to feel formal, but the ink traps and slightly condensed proportions give it a contemporary edge that keeps it grounded and functional. It reads well at display sizes and holds up reasonably at smaller text sizes, making it versatile across weight options.
Besley works well as a headline typeface for independent magazines or online editorial platforms where a classic newspaper feel is wanted without looking dated. It is a solid choice for law firms, consultancies, or heritage brands that need a serif identity with authority and legibility. It also fits naturally into book covers or literary publication branding where a British, print-influenced aesthetic is part of the identity. Its boldest weights work especially well for pull quotes or section headers in long-form content layouts.
Best suited for: Editorial layouts, heritage branding, legal and professional identities, book covers, and magazine mastheads where authoritative serif presence with contemporary functionality is valued.
Design considerations: Besley's 12 weight and italic variants support flexible typographic hierarchies across editorial and display contexts. The moderate x-height and bracketed slab serifs balance formality with approachability, making it adaptable for both headline-driven and text-heavy layouts.
Pairing guidance: Pair Besley with Playfair Display for contrasting serif personalities in luxury or literary contexts, Source Serif 4 for cohesive serif-on-serif hierarchies with tonal variation, or DM Mono to introduce technical or code-focused content with structured contrast.
Pairs well with
Besley at a glance
Owen Earl
SIL Open Font License 1.1
January 2021
September 2025
12 (6 weights + italics)
Yes: weight 400–900
Serif
2
Google Fonts
All 12 Besley styles
| Weight | Name | Upright | Italic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | Regular | Aa Bb Gg 123 | Aa Bb Gg 123 |
| 500 | Medium | Aa Bb Gg 123 | Aa Bb Gg 123 |
| 600 | SemiBold | Aa Bb Gg 123 | Aa Bb Gg 123 |
| 700 | Bold | Aa Bb Gg 123 | Aa Bb Gg 123 |
| 800 | ExtraBold | Aa Bb Gg 123 | Aa Bb Gg 123 |
| 900 | Black | Aa Bb Gg 123 | Aa Bb Gg 123 |
Besley character map
Which languages does Besley support?
Besley includes 2 character sets:
- Latin: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and other Western European languages
- Latin Extended: Central and Eastern European languages such as Polish, Czech, Turkish, Romanian and Hungarian
It does not include Cyrillic or Greek characters, so it can't set Russian, Ukrainian or Greek text.
Can I use Besley commercially?
Yes, it's free for personal and commercial use. Besley is released under the SIL Open Font License 1.1. You can use it in logos, websites, apps, videos, printed products and merchandise without paying or asking permission. The one thing you can't do is sell the font file on its own.