Welcome to Red Lion Books. Proudly independent since 1978
Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm. Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays
Our website shows a sample of books available to order. We also have a curated selection at our shop in Colchester. For current information please email us@redlionbooks.co.uk

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

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.

11.07.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Crochet Workshop
Make your own Bookmark
With Loui Mitchell
11th July 2025
10am

16.07.2025
/
Red Lion Books

Linocut Workshop with Holly:
Wednesday, July 16th 2025
10am-Noon

17.07.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 1SZ

Author Event
Kate Sawyer
Talking about novel Getting Away
17th July, 2025
6pm

25.07.2025
/
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!

wide-divider

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

wide-divider

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.

Every time I am in Red Lion Books the staff are always lovely and helpful, always willing to give suggestions and help me find books and sometimes just up for a chat about how much we love certain books. I have been going here since I was a young child and throughout College, they were perfect for my English Literature exam books, I even used a voucher I won at primary school to buy my College books 😂. I will forever shop here and also I love your TikTok. Such a great place!

Grace leahmae Avatar Grace leahmae
05/10/2023

Love this bookshop, always manage to get what i want, and even sometimes what I didn't know I wanted. Lovely shop. Helpful staff, would definitely recommend you pop in for a few minutes and then stay a lot longer.

Penny Christmas Avatar Penny Christmas
21/12/2020

Nice independent book shop on Colchester High St. Worth finding. Good selection. Enthusiastic staff. Go there

A King Avatar A King
11/11/2022

Excellent book shop. Always has awesome stock. Very friendly staff and owners.

Robert Jago Avatar Robert Jago
27/11/2021

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

Lovely shop, came in with my wife, it was our first time in the shop after it being recommended. My wife left happy with lots of new books.

Dan Mcnally Avatar Dan Mcnally
11/03/2023
wide-divider

Accreditation & memberships

Experienced & Certified

Instagram