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
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
A double bill. 2 Author events at Red Lion Books
Clear the diary for 2 author events 11am: Book Launch of ‘SELF-OBSESSION’ with author Dr Tom Davies who gently invites you to consider the ...
Expiry
10/05/2025
Event
Alan Johnson in conversation with Pam Cox 'Harold Wilson'
Alan Johnson will be in conversation with Colchester MP Pam Cox talking about his book Harold Wilson : Twentieth Century Man: The Prime Mini...
Expiry
20/05/2025
Event
Author Event: Rebecca Watson discussing I WILL CRASH
‘A one-of-a-kind storyteller.’ Observer From the acclaimed author of little scratch, I WILL CRASH is a moving, powerfully honest novel about...
Expiry
27/05/2025
Event
Homer's Odyssey: 4-week course at Red Lion Books
HOMER’S ODYSSEY: 4-week course £65.00 This year (April 2025) there is a new Odyssey film called The Return with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette ...
Expiry
24/06/2025
Event
Homer's Odyssey: 4-week course at Red Lion Books
HOMER’S ODYSSEY: 4-week course £65.00 This year (April 2025) there is a new Odyssey film called The Return with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette ...
Expiry
24/06/2025
