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.

21.03.2024
/
Red Lion Books

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

23.03.2024
/
Red Lion Books

Monthly Writing Club
Upstairs at Red Lion Books
10am

24.03.2024
/
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
/
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!

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.

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

One of the friendliest independent book shops I've ever been into. The staff are knowledgeable and are able to answer almost any question that you may have (on books at least, I have never challenged them on orthopedic foot care). Beware though, you'll want to buy loads of books!

Phil Hurst Avatar Phil Hurst
19/02/2018

My favourite shop in Colchester, what's not to love, it's filled with books! Lovely helpful staff, and if they haven't got a book they will order it in for you and it's quite often available the next day! A million times better than 'the website that will not be named'!

Alan R Avatar Alan R
26/02/2022

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

Excellent shop with so many books. I've never seen so many Childre 's books. There is a downstairs too! A chess board is set up so i expect you can play. Great service !

darron welch Avatar darron welch
27/10/2023

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

Andrew Faithfull Avatar Andrew Faithfull
04/03/2023
wide-divider

Accreditation & memberships

Experienced & Certified

Instagram