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

Books

Our current favourites

New books to get excited about

What's Been Happening?

Latest News

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

Get involved

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.

24.05.2025
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Red Lion Books

Author talk
Upstairs at Red Lion Books
Charles Ambrose
The Grandfather Paradox
24th May 2025, 11am

27.05.2025
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Patch
24 Trinity Street
Colchester
CO1 1JN

Author event: Rebecca Watson ‘I Will Crash’
May 27th 2025, 7.30pm
At PATCH

29.05.2025
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Upstairs at Red Lion Books
125 High Street
Colchester
CO1 1SZ

Author event Rhiannon Garth Jones
All Roads Lead to Rome : Why we think about the Roman Empire daily

30.05.2025
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Cosy Crochet Club
All abilities
With Loui Mitchell
10am

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.

Lovely bookshop and very helpful staff. Excellent spot to check off some Christmas shopping.

Jen Noon Avatar Jen Noon
20/11/2021

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

Heart and soul of the town. My whole family loves Red Lion Books and the staff. They've been such an important part of our whole households love of literature. I can get my kids to go to any boring town based task if I promise a quick trip to Red Lion!! Thank you Red Lion Books for everything that you do!

Charlie Farlie Avatar Charlie Farlie
09/10/2022

A local book shop with a good selection of stock. The staff are very friendly and they were extremely helpful when I placed an order for a selection of books for my place of work. Thank you

Adam Faith Avatar Adam Faith
04/03/2023

Such a gem of a bookshop. Fantastic friendly and helpful service, will really go out of their way for you. Can't wait to go browse properly post-covid.

Mike Pertwee Avatar Mike Pertwee
14/02/2021

Love this bookshop. Helpful, friendly and knowledgeable staff and excellent books on the shelves. Ordered books are obtained in just a couple of days. Cannot fault this wonderful bookshop.

Mary McCarthy Avatar Mary McCarthy
08/12/2021
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Accreditation & memberships

Experienced & Certified

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