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

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Get involved

Events

Some events may not show on this page.

Please use this link: more events for

Book clubs, craft clubs, writing groups, silent book club, death club

We love people as much as we love books and book-related events bring these loves together.  Amongst other events we host  4 bookshop parties a year. Check here for updates or subscribe to our mailing list: Subscribe Here

Not all our events are accessible to wheelchair users but we taking some of our events offsite to accommodate this.

What's On?

19.04.2025
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street
Colchester
CO1 1SZ

A free craft session
Contributing to the Coat of Hopes
April 19th 2025, 1pm
downstairs at Red Lion Books

10.05.2025
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Book Launch
Ben Aitken
10th May, 2025, 2pm

10.05.2025
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Non-Fiction Book Launch
‘Self Obsession’
Author talk with Dr Tom Davies
10th May, 2025, 11am

11.05.2025
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street
Colchester
CO1 1SZ

An Author event for children
May 11th 2025, 11am
for children
an event so exciting, that we are opening the shop on a Sunday
detailstbc

12.05.2025
/
Red Lion Books

Monthly Silent Book Club
…because we all need to schedule in reading time
Monthly
Bring your own book & a blanket!
12th May 2025, 5pm

16.05.2025
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Crochet Workshop
Make your own Bookmark
With Loui Mitchell
16th May 2025
10am

16.05.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Cosy Crochet Club
All abilities
With Loui Mitchell
25th April 2025
10am

18.05.2025
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 1SZ

Death Club
…because it’s good to find time to talk
Sunday, 18th May 2025, 9.30am
Red Lion Books

20.05.2025
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The Headgate Theatre
14 Chapel St N
Colchester
CO2 7AT

Alan Johnson in conversation with Pam Cox
20th May, 2025, 6.30pm

21.05.2025
/
Red Lion Books

Linocut Workshop with Holly:
May 21, 2025
10am-Noon

24.05.2025
/
Red Lion Books

Author talk
Upstairs at Red Lion Books
Charles Ambrose
The Grandfather Paradox
24th May 2025, 11am

27.05.2025
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Patch
24 Trinity Street
Colchester
CO1 1JN

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

03.06.2025
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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

06.06.2025
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Crochet Workshop
Make your own Bookmark
With Loui Mitchell
6th June 2025
10am

26.06.2025
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Offsite. Colchester Arts Centre.
Wheelchair accessible

Daytime Book Club
Monthly event
Collaboration with
Appetite Book Club & Essex Book Festival
At The Colchester Arts Centre
Thursday 26th June, 2025 11am
Author Talk with Keiran Goddard

11.07.2025
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Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

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

17.07.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 1SZ

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

08.08.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Crochet Workshop
Make your own Bookmark
With Loui Mitchell
8th August 2025
10am

12.09.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Crochet Workshop
Make your own Bookmark
With Loui Mitchell
12th September 2025
10am

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Past Events

12.04.2025
/
Red Lion Books

Monthly Writing Club
Upstairs at Red Lion Books
12th April 2025, 10am

11.04.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

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

07.04.2025
/
Red Lion Books

Monthly Silent Book Club
…because we all need to schedule in reading time
Monthly
Bring your own book & a blanket!
7th April 2025, 5pm

27.03.2025
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Offsite. Location tbc.
Wheelchair accessible

Book launch
At our monthly book club event
In collaboration with Appetite Book Club
Thursday 27th March, 2025, 11.30am
Author Sarah Hornsley launches Bad Blood

27.03.2025
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Offsite. Location tbc.
Wheelchair accessible

Daytime Book Club, 11.30am
Monthly event
Collaboration with Appetite Book Club
Thursday 27th March, 2025
Discussing HARD BY A GREAT FOREST
With special guest author Sarah Hornsley
Publishing date of BAD BLOOD

23.03.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 1SZ

Death Club
…because it’s good to find time to talk
Sunday 23rd March, 2025, 9.30am
Red Lion Books

22.03.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Author Talk
James Canton talking about Renaturing
22nd March, 2025, 2pm

20.03.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 1SZ

SPRING SOIREE 2025
Bookshop Party
3 Fabulous Author Hosts
20th March 2025, 6pm
Red Lion Books

19.03.2025
/
Red Lion Book
125 High Street, CO1 1SZ

Book Launch
Stephen May talking about Green Ink
19th March, 2025, 6pm

14.03.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Crochet Workshop
Make your own Bookmark
With Loui Mitchell
14th March, 2025
10am

03.03.2025
/
Red Lion Books

Monthly Silent Book Club
…because we all need to schedule in reading time
Monthly
Bring your own book & a blanket!
3rd March 2025, 5pm

28.02.2025
/
Red Lion Books
125 High Street
CO1 12Z

Crochet Workshop
Make your own Bookmark
With Loui Mitchell
28th February, 2025
10am

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Our Events

Why Come Along?

Robin-Ince

Meet Authors

Listen to authors talk about their books and the craft of writing.

CANTO99609

Get a book signed

Buy a book with a personal dedication from a visiting author.

SARAH PERRY

Ask Questions

Our ‘meet the author’ events always finish with the opportunity for you to ask your own question.

Oyn

Get writing tips

Find out how published authors get their inspiration and then structure their writing.

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Loved the Robin Ince event - more please!

Good at events

You are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...they have put on numerous events online in what are difficult times.

It's the best book shop in Colchester by a country mile! They always have a huge selection of books in stock and this makes it a great place for discovering new titles, as well as discovering new topics. The staff have always been extremely friendly and helpful; during this year I believe they have put on numerous events online in what are difficult times. I cannot recommend this book shop enough!

Luke Rogers

they often have book launch deals and author meet events......

Red Lion Books is an indie shop with a great selection of books for the public. They're curated section is equally fantastic, and they often have book launch deals and author meet events that are worth looking out for too. If you're looking for book recommendations, this is the place. You get the impression here that they actually read the books.

Jessica Brown

Loved the Robin Ince event - more please!

Good at events

You are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...they have put on numerous events online in what are difficult times.

It's the best book shop in Colchester by a country mile! They always have a huge selection of books in stock and this makes it a great place for discovering new titles, as well as discovering new topics. The staff have always been extremely friendly and helpful; during this year I believe they have put on numerous events online in what are difficult times. I cannot recommend this book shop enough!

Luke Rogers

they often have book launch deals and author meet events......

Red Lion Books is an indie shop with a great selection of books for the public. They're curated section is equally fantastic, and they often have book launch deals and author meet events that are worth looking out for too. If you're looking for book recommendations, this is the place. You get the impression here that they actually read the books.

Jessica Brown