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

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.

27.05.2025
/
Patch
24 Trinity Street
Colchester
CO1 1JN

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

29.05.2025
/
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
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Cosy Crochet Club
All abilities
With Loui Mitchell
10am

03.06.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 1SZ

HOMER’S ODYSSEY: 4-week course
Tuesday mornings during June 2025
10am-11.30am
£65 including book

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.

Red lion is such a wonderful little bookshop! All the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. There's plenty of sections to choose from, and there's a basement floor with everything more goodies! You can order in and reserve books too, so you don't have to buy online. Cannot recommend enough ☺️

Loui Mitchell Avatar Loui Mitchell
21/07/2024

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

Very helpful staff. Every time I have requested a book, they have got it for me and really quickly. Reasonably priced too

Andrew Poole Avatar Andrew Poole
28/07/2023

Had been meaning to buy two books online for ages, but thought I'd check with Red Lion on the off chance they may have them as I always try to support my local high street. Was very shocked when they came back to say that they had both, as neither were new/popular books, and one pretty obscure translated fiction! They kindly put them aside and I was incredibly happy to pick them up the next day 🙂

Hannah Avatar Hannah
01/09/2023

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

A fabulous book shop. Their events are the best, from meet the author to their monthly book club for children.

Nicole S Avatar Nicole S
14/12/2022
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Accreditation & memberships

Experienced & Certified

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