Welcome to

Red Lion Books

Proudly independent since 1978

More than just a bookshop. We bring the best of the book world to you. From the bustling shelves of our Colchester shop to the vast collection of our online affiliated bookshop, we offer new titles, signed editions, book clubs, events, subscriptions and vouchers. Using links below you can access the UK’s most extensive online catalogue.

125 High St, Colchester CO1 1SZ
01206 578584
us@redlionbooks.co.uk

Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm
Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays

CONNECT WITH ONE OF OUR BOOKSELLERS

Click the little red button in the corner for book advice and collection in store

GIFTS, SIGNED & STAFF PICKS

Pre-orders, Signed, Vouchers

Subscriptions, Local authors

Books & Gifts

EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

Author Events, Workshops

Regular events, Soirees

Read more

BOOK CLUBS All Ages

Various Book Clubs

Silent Book Club & Death Club

Book Clubs

Gifts

For you and your bookish friends

Christmas

2026

Christmas

2026

Pre-Orders

2026: Signed, exclusive or sprayed editions

Current Signed

2026: Signed stock currently in stock

What’s Coming Up….

SEE ALL EVENTS

Featured..

  • Jolabokaflodid

    Inspired by the Icelandic tradition, Jólabókaflóðid is an annual tradition we have embraced at Red Lion Books for a number of years. It translates as Yule Book Flood. Icelanders give books to each other on Christmas Eve and then spend the night reading. We choose one book and will ONLY sell it to our customers if they abide by the following rules

    It has to be a gift to yourself (over the years people have extended this to family and friends)
    You can’t open it until Christmas Eve
    You mustn’t post about it until Christmas Day


    ​This Red Lion Books tradition has grown in popularity and we love hearing the stories of families making their own traditions. For instance, we know of 4 sisters located all over the world who open it at the same time. We love the idea of our book friends finding an hour during the daytime to read our book choice. You may have a busy family or live alone, you finish working a night shift or coming home from the pub but knowing you invested in a little gift for yourself is a lovely thing

    PURCHASE HERE

Click the red button if you need any help!

Accreditation & memberships

Experienced & Certified

What people are saying…

 
 
 
 
 Red Lion Books 
 
 
 Red Lion Books
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5 
 214 Google reviews 
 
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 Natalie Hawken  profile picture 
 
 
 Natalie Hawken  
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Lovely shop, great staff! I was in Colchester looking for Anne Rice books. Which were difficult to find.  The staff knew exactly what I was looking for and were extremely helpful. They ordered in what I needed, which were posted to my home very quickly. Will defo be back for my next fix!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Ian Coldwell  profile picture 
 
 
 Ian Coldwell  
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
A wonderful independent book shop, friendly and helpful staff and great choice of books.

This little High Street gem is a must!

Just stick your nose through the door and you'll be drawn into the engaging world of fact and fiction, fantasy and gardening, history and cricket or mythology and puzzles......

There's something for everyone.

Well worth half an hour of your time.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Michael MacLeod  profile picture 
 
 
 Michael MacLeod  
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Love this bookshop. All the staff are wonderful and it's great to see  an independent store like this on the high street in 2025.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Malcolm O'Kane  profile picture 
 
 
 Malcolm O'Kane  
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Really friendly shop. Better than the bigger High Street chains.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Rosie Jiggins  profile picture 
 
 
 Rosie Jiggins  
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Fantastically cute independent bookshop. Bought Augusts blind date with a book, theme was “smell the roses” (I think?). Bookseller said it was the complete opposite of the genres I said I typically read but my goodness the book selected by the bookseller is fantastic. I haven’t been able to put it down since starting, and it really has reminded me to stop every now and again and smell the roses because life is all okay in the grand scheme of things.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Freya  profile picture 
 
 
 Freya  
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Great independent book shop. Feel lucky to have one in Colchester.  Friendly and helpful staff. The variety of books is impressive.
I very much enjoy the Death Club, and would join one of the book clubs if I had more time.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Vee Doubleyou  profile picture 
 
 
 Vee Doubleyou  
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Gorgeous little independent, super friendly staff—Sharon and Louise in particular are little rays of sunshine. Thanks for keeping indie book culture alive :)