Welcome to

Red Lion Books

Proudly independent since 1978

Do come and see us at our shop in Colchester, where we have carefully curated bookshelves, author events, book clubs, workshops and board games. Our website shows a selection of the books and all of our events. If you don’t find what you are looking for us please contact us here otherwise we look forward to seeing you at the bookshop.

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

Book Shop

Book Clubs

Events

About Us

Musings

Subscriptions

Let’s find you a book!

if you don’t find the book you are looking for we’ll happily order it for you

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Click here for Curated Booklists, Pre-Orders & Gift Vouchers

Our Current Favourites

Books to get excited about

Children’s Favourites

Books to make you curious

What’s Coming Up….

SEE ALL EVENTS

Featured..

Bedtime Stories: Free event

This is a free event with a FREE Bedtime Storytelling bundle to the first 50 families who register

Please email your interest HERE

A little more about the grant can be found HERE

Accreditation & memberships

Experienced & Certified

What people are saying…

      
   Red Lion Books
   214 Google reviews 
  Write a review 
  
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Natalie Hawken  
 
 
 
 Trustindex 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!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ian Coldwell  
 
 
 
 Trustindex 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.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Michael MacLeod  
 
 
 
 Trustindex 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.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Malcolm O'Kane  
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really friendly shop. Better than the bigger High Street chains.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Rosie Jiggins  
 
 
 
 Trustindex 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.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Freya  
 
 
 
 Trustindex 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.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Vee Doubleyou  
 
 
 
 Trustindex 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 :)