FREE SHIPING FOR ORDERS OVER $50

Red Lion BookS A place to find your next favourite read Welcome to Colchester's independent family bookshop Love reading? Escape with a new story Explore the shelves for our carefully curated stock and the pick of new titles arriving each week

What's Been Happening?

Latest News

The latest news and views from between the shelves at Red Lion Books

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Our Events

Our events programme moved online for the last eighteen months but once again we are now preparing to welcome you back to physical events at the shop. Events will be posted below as they are announced.

21.03.2024
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Red Lion Books

Linocut Workshop with Holly:
March 21st, 2024
10am

23.03.2024
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Red Lion Books

Monthly Writing Club
Upstairs at Red Lion Books
10am

24.03.2024
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 1SZ

Death Club
…because it’s good to find time to talk
Sunday, 24th March, 10.30am
Red Lion Books

28.03.2024
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Offsite. Please confirm location

Monthly event – Daytime Book Club:
APPETITE BOOK CLUB (Age 18+)
11.30am at various venues

Contact Us

Need Advice? We're Experts At Pointing You In The Right Direction To Continue Reading Books You Love!

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Book Clubs

are a place to share your enthusiasm for books and reading. We host a range of book clubs for adults and children.

Are You A Local Author?

We work with local authors in many ways and enjoy supporting the vibrant writing and author community in and around Colchester

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Reviews

What Our Customers Say

At Red Lion Books every customer counts and we will always do our very best to help you find the book that is perfect for you. Here are some reflections from our customers.

Amazing staff - who go the extra mile. Brilliant customer care. Always willing to help and very knowledgeable. If you need a book go to an independent book seller such as red lion bookshop.

Amanda Armstrong Avatar Amanda Armstrong
02/01/2023

An excellent independent book shop with knowledgeable about friendly staff. There are specialist reading sections over 2 floors in the shop and a lovely selection of greetings cards in a dedicated area by the entrance of the shop.

Wendy Buck Avatar Wendy Buck
21/03/2023

Went in for the first time and bought a beautiful hardback that I hadn’t seen before. lovely staff & very reasonably priced!

Elouise Goodchild Avatar Elouise Goodchild
10/04/2022

An excellent independent bookshop. It has a rare feature which most indie bookshops don't - it is both immaculately curated and stocks a very wide range of titles. I visited around a dozen indie bookshops across four cities and towns in June, and Red Lion was the only place which stocked most of the recently published fiction by indie presses which I wanted to buy. However, the bookshop really serves the community as a whole, not just literary readers with niche tastes - the A Level core texts are helpfully placed on a separate self and the shop has a wide selection of YA and children's books, as well. A model indie bookshop.

Nailya Shamgunova Avatar Nailya Shamgunova
10/07/2023

What a lovely little book shop! Crams in far more than you'd expect, gives you a personal experience as opposed to chain bookstores and there's an amazing children's section. Accessibility to a basement level will be difficult for those with physical disabilities (it's a little old building) so staff are very happy to browse and collect for you.

Matthew N Avatar Matthew N
13/02/2023

Really lovely staff, so friendly, chatty and kind. A huge range of beautiful books, new, old and collectible!

Jess March Avatar Jess March
27/07/2022
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Accreditation & memberships

Experienced & Certified

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