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.

20.04.2024
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street

Authors in Conversation
A trio of Thriller Writers
20th April 2024, 11am

20.04.2024
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street

Poetry Reading
Rory Waterman & Declan Ryan
April 20th, 2.30pm

25.04.2024
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Offsite. Please confirm location

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

27.04.2024
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Red Lion Books

Monthly Writing Club
Upstairs at Red Lion Books
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.

Cute little bookstore. On the fiction wall they did have the paperback and hardback separated which meant I had to search twice as long for the specific author I was looking for (ended up not finding them as the authors became jumbled up around G-L. It looks clean and overall well taken care of. I just think this oversight can be a hindrance instead of putting all the authors books together instead of in two separate spots.

Nicole Goff Avatar Nicole Goff
31/12/2022

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

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

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

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 Norman Avatar Matthew Norman
13/02/2023

What a lovely place! I live abroad, and when I was thinking of somewhere to shop locally to my parents, my first thought was Red Lion Books, as I visited as a child. I am so glad I emailed! From the first message, they were pleasant and so helpful with recommendations. It was very easy to choose and pay. On request, they wrapped and hand delivered the books to my parents' house, and even had a little chat with my dad, who told me that the woman who had delivered was delightful! Not just a shop, a real part of the community.

Fiona Dyas Avatar Fiona Dyas
12/12/2020
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Accreditation & memberships

Experienced & Certified

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