Accepts Gift Cards
Accepts Paper Vouchers
Accepts E-Gift Vouchers
Book clubs / reading groups
Web: Bookshop Description
Red Lion Books is the sole surviving independent bookshop in Colchester. (There were once 6). Situated on the High Street in the town centre it is still owned by Peter and Sarah Donaldson who founded the shop back in 1978. We are strongly embedded in the cultural life of our town and beyond. We have strong relationships with schools, taking books into Colchester schools, supporting author visits and providing book fairs particularly around World Book Day. We host in-store author events as well as monthly book clubs for adults and children. Through our involvement with the Essex Book Festival we travel around the county to provide books for literary events We support literary excellence enthusiastically in both adults & children's sections and do this by filling our shop with a large range of new titles each week, thoughtfully selected and attractively displayed, combined with a carefully curated stock holding.
We have recently started to deliver books nationally which includes a monthly subscription. We look forward to seeing you.
Opening hours
Mon-Sat 9am-5.00pm
Specialisms
Children's
We have a wonderful selection of greetings cards from independent smaller scale suppliers featuring specialist ranges and in particular designs from regional artists. We also have a gallery area downstairs featuring regularly changing exhibitions of work by local artists
What's on at Red Lion Books Ltd
Event
From Murasaki to Murakami: A Millennium of Japanese Literature – a talk from Storme Winfield - 23rd Jan 2025, 6pm, £10
For the 3rd time running! An event that sold out last time Bookings on the day of any event need to be made via the bookshop. Japan is of...
Expiry
23/01/2025
Event
Daytime Bookclub Event in association with Appetite Book Club £14.99
Our Book Club meet to discuss a book over coffee & a biscuit. 11.30am, last Thursday of the month in a venue offsite. It is always an venue...
Expiry
30/01/2025
Event
Linocut Workshop with Holly: Feb 12th 2025 10am
Come and spend 2 hours with Holly who will guide you through carving and printing Soft Cut Lino upstairs at Red Lion Books. Holly will brin...
Expiry
12/02/2025
Event
ELLY GRIFFITHS discusses her new Crime Thriller Series -14th Feb 2025, 6:30pm. £27, OFFSITE EVENT
Book & Ticket event at a wheelchair accessible venue external to Red Lion Books Please let us know if you are a wheelchair user when you mak...
Expiry
14/02/2025
Event
AUTHOR TALK: Stephen May talking about Green Ink
David Lloyd George is at Chequers for the weekend with his mistress Frances Stevenson, fretting about the fact that his involvement in selli...
Expiry
19/03/2025
Event
RENATURING: Author Talk with James Canton (author of The Oak Papers)
20 years ago, James Canton moved from London to the countryside. Behind his farm labourer’s cottage was a small field with a ‘for sale’ sign...
Expiry
22/03/2025
Event
Book Launch: Sarah Hornsley talks about her novel BAD BLOOD
Book Launch: Sarah Hornsley talks about her novel BAD BLOOD on publication day 27th March 2025 11.30am £5.00 BAD BLOOD by Sarah Hornsley w...
Expiry
27/03/2025
Event
Book Launch: Sarah Hornsley talks about her novel BAD BLOOD
BAD BLOOD by Sarah Hornsley will publish on 27th March 2025 and will join the Red Lion Books / Appetite Book Club to talk about it Join us ...
Expiry
27/03/2025
Event
Book Launch: Ben Aitken - Adios Paris! Hello Essex A celebration of unsung cities in the UK
Celebration of Unsung Cities. Not everything that glitters is gold, which is why Aitken spent a year visiting the twelve least popular spots...
Expiry
10/05/2025
Event
RENATURING: Author Talk with James Canton (author of The Oak Papers)
20 years ago, James Canton moved from London to the countryside. Behind his farm labourer’s cottage was a small field with a ‘for sale’ sign...
Expiry
Ongoing
