Upcoming events
Scroll our events calendar below to see what we have coming up. The best way to keep up to date on our latest events and more is to join our mailing list.
Hot New Events!
Bejewelling Book Party
We’re celebrating the release of The Last King Of Faerie with a bool bejewelling party. The Last King of Faerie is the highly anticipated first book of The Wicked Powers, the final Shadowhunters trilogy.
If you’ve always wanted to try you hand at bejewelling a book, but never had a chance, your time has come!
How it works: All you need to do to join in on the fun is purchase a copy of the book from us at The Imaginarium and sign up to the event. The Imaginarium and the publisher, Walker Books, will provide everything else you need!
Welcome to a world of demon-hunting, betrayal, secrets and forbidden love. The highly anticipated first book of The Wicked Powers, the final Shadowhunters trilogy! #1 New York Times bestselling author Cassandra Clare brings the global phenomenon that began with The Mortal Instruments to a stunning conclusion. It’s Drusilla Blackthorn's third year at Shadowhunter Academy when a chance encounter at a nightclub turns into a kidnapping.
Dru finds herself held prisoner by Prince Ash Morgenstern in the land of Faerie, a place that proves just as dangerous as it is beautiful. Despite herself, Dru is drawn to Ash and the darkness that seems to surround him – but one false move could cost her life. Meanwhile, a shocking disappearance rocks the foundations of the Shadowhunter world.
Kit Herondale and Ty Blackthorn must set aside the bitterness that lingers between them and join forces on a perilous quest to save everything they cherish. The first installment of the long-awaited concluding trilogy to the Shadowhunter Chronicles has all the nail-biting adventure, heart-pounding romance, and trademark humour that makes Cassandra Clare the reigning queen of romantasy. Read all the sensational books in The Shadowhunter Chronicles: The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, The Bane Chronicles, Ghosts of the Shadow Market, The Dark Artifices, The Last Hours and The Shadowhunter's Codex.
Late Night Opening
To help you get started on your Christmas shopping, we will be open late on Friday 27th November.
As Lymington switches on it’s Christmas lights, and gets into the festive season, we’ll be here to offer you 10% off in store along with some wine while you browse.
We will order in a curated selection of books, with our customers and their buying needs in mind, to help you find that perfect gift for your loved one.
ACOTAR 6 Midnight Launch
Pre-Order: Book released 27th October 2026
The, as yet, untitled 6th book in the A Court Of Thorns and Roses series.
Pre-order with the Imaginarium to secure your place at our Midnight Launch Party. Join us for cake and good times and be among the first people in the UK to get their hands on the book we’ve all been waiting for!
More details to follow.
Pre-Order: Book released 27th October 2026
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781037200076
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Sci-fi & Fantasy Quiz
Gather your fellowship, locate your sword, and prepare your minds for another epic night of otherworldly trivia.
After last year's near sell-out event, we're offering another chance to prove you know your galactic empires from your noble houses and your dragons from your dark lords - and new adventurers are welcome.
Whether you’re a mage with a head for history, or a droid awaiting an update, come test your knowledge across realms, timelines, and galaxies. So, grab your comrades and crew (no more than 6 people per team), and join us for a quizzical time.
Hosted by ArtfulScribe and The Imaginarium, and held at the Vibrant Forest Brewery Taproom in Hardley, you can also enjoy exceptional beer and delicious street food. Imagination is encouraged so whether magical, fantastical or just spooky, costumes are welcome – but not required.
Questions and Quizmaster supplied by the Imaginarium, tickets available from Play on Words:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sci-fi-and-fantasy-quiz-night-2026-tickets-1991761299664
Part of the Play on Words Festival for readers, writers and lovers of words, 22-27 October 2026 across the New Forest.
Bookshop Day
Bookshop Day aims to celebrate bookshops - our contribution to our community as well as the service we provide for our customers. It aims to encourage people to “choose bookshops”, and see what they have to offer.
As a thank you to those who support us, we offer 10% off all day in store, with some tasty treats and great bookish chat to go with it.
Come along on Saturday 10th October, to help us celebrate bookshops.
The Exorcist Screening
Join us and Lymington Community Centre for an exclusive showing of the 1973 cult classic The Exorcist.
We’re combining forces to celebrate the release of a new anniversary edition of the book by having a special screening of the film. The new edition of the book features an introduction by Horror author Grady Hendrix and comes with a signed bookplate by Grady. Books can be pre-ordered here: https://www.imaginariumbooks.co.uk/shop/p/the-exorcist-special-anniversary-edition-william-peter-blatty
Tickets for the event can be bought directly from the community centre’s cinema page - please note that the Imaginarium are co-hosting and are unable to answer any queries about cinema tickets.
https://www.lymingtoncommunity.com/the-malt-cinema/the-exorcist-
An Evening with Helen McGinn
We’re pleased to partner with Mony’s Inn, Beaulieu to bring you a relaxed and entertaining evening of wine, nibbles, and conversation with the much-loved TV wine expert, Helen McGinn.
Event details
Wednesday 5th August
Arrival time: 6.30pm
Venue: Monty's Inn
Tickets: From £35 per person
Tickets include a delicious sharing platter for your table, perfectly paired with a selection of wines, from the Monty's menu, chosen by Helen herself. The evening promises great company, insightful stories, and plenty of laughs.
The Supermarket Wine Guide, and other books by Helen McGinn will be available to purchase on the night from us, your esteemed independent bookshop, The Imaginarium.
Booking and more information can be found on The Montagu Arms website Please note that we are not hosting this event. Any queries should be directed to The Montagu Arms
the Imaginarium Christmas colouring-in competition
Join in with the Imaginarium’s Christmas Colouring-In Competition!
Let’s see your designs for this illustration of the Imaginarium at Christmas, featuring Willow and Lola by the shop’s own Amy Leonard.
Open to children only, (sorry mum and dad!) simply print off at home or collect a copy from the shop and get creative! Drop your completed art into the shop by close of business on the 31st of December and we will announce a winner on or before Monday the 5th of January 2026. The winner will receive a £25 voucher to spend in the Imaginarium!
Make sure you write your name, age and a way to contact mum and dad on the back of your entry!
Good luck, have fun, and we cannot wait to see all your lovely designs!
You can download the sheet here
Story Time With Santa
Following the success of previous years, we're inviting Santa back into the Imaginarium to read a Christmas themed book. An event perfect for those who still believe in the magic of Christmas.
Our cosy little bookshop is the perfect backdrop to have a magical time, and we ensure that the groups are small so the children get to spend some quality time with Santa. The children will have the opportunity to hear Santa read them a story and then meet with him. There will be plenty of photo opportunities with Santa and his elves so you can keep the memories alive all year round. Each child will receive a gift from Santa too.
Please note, the Imaginarium is a small shop and we can only accommodate one grown up per child.
Tickets will be ready for collection / delivery end of October.
Festive Gift Fair - Chewton Glen
The Imaginarium have been invited back to Chewton Glen for their spectacular Festive Gift Fair.
Join us, and lots of other businesses, to kick start your Christmas shopping. From well known brands to local businesses, the event will be a great way to beat the crowds and get the bulk of your shopping done in one go.
We will be there with specially curated selection of books and bookish items that will be perfect to give as gifts this year.
Enjoy a complimentary glass of festive fizz and a mince pie on arrival as you browse in a joyful, seasonal atmosphere.
Tickets must be purchased through Chewton Glen - Purchase here Adults £6, children free.
Late Night Opening
As Lymington celebrates the joy of Christmas with the Christmas Light Switch on, we’ll be opening late.
Join us for a class of wine, a mince pie and 10% off everything in store!
This will be our fourth time opening late, and we love spreading some Christmas cheer, and helping you get your Christmas shopping underway.
With our expert booksellers, we’ll help you find the perfect gift for your friends and family.
Sci-fi and Fantasy Quiz
Gather your fellowship, locate your sword, and prepare your minds for an epic night of otherworldly trivia.
This is your chance to prove you know your middle-earth from your disc-world, your Narnia from your restaurant at the end of the universe.
Whether you’re a mage with a head for history, or a droid awaiting an update, come test your knowledge across realms, timelines, and galaxies.
Hosted by Artful Scribe and The Imaginarium, and held at the Vibrant Forest Brewery Taproom in Hardley, you can also enjoy exceptional beer and delicious food. It’s the night before Halloween, so whether magical, fantastical or just spooky, costumes are welcome – but not required.
Purchase tickets through Eventbrite here
Play On Words
Play on Words returns to the New Forest this autumn from the 22 October - 3 November 2025, to celebrate everything to do with the spoken and written word. Join us for poetry & jazz, ghost stories, spoken word, creative walks, a sci-fi fantasy quiz night, comic creating, writer development and much, much more in New Milton, Lymington and across the Forest. Events and activities are starting to go live; check back here soon for more updates!
Play on Words is the passion project of two friends that started in 2018 and has since grown to include Artful Scribe, local businesses and has recived funding from the Arts Council.
The Imaginarium is the offical bookshop of the event, and works in conjunction with Arful Scribe to bring a wide range of events to residents of the New Forest and wider.
For more information on the events being hosted this year, please see the offical Play On Words website
For more information on Arful Scribe, please see here
Bookshop Day
Bookshop Day celebrates bookshops on our high streets. It aims to remind customers of the value of their local bookshop, and that they are the perfect places to kick start their Christmas gift-buying.
We’re very proud of our little bookshop here in Lymington and would love to see you here on Bookshop day to help us celebrate.
The Imaginarium Turns 3!
The shop has been open for three years! Can you believe it? Neither can we!
On Saturday 13th September, we’ll be celebrating with 10% off in store all day (10-5pm), we’ll also be hosting giveaways and will have cake!
It’s a great way for us to thank you for all your support over the last three years, and to celebrate together as a community.
World Book Day 2025
Grab your WORLD BOOK DAY book in store!
World Book Day is a charity that champion’s the fun of reading, because it seriously improves lives. Reading for fun is the single biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful life – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational backgrounds or their income.
But here’s the challenge, it’s at an all-time low, with only 1 in 3 children now saying they enjoy reading. We believe children are more likely to read if they enjoy it, so we’re on a mission to encourage them to see reading as an entertaining, social and fun thing to do. We want more children to grow up with a life-long, life-changing habit of reading for fun, and all the benefits this brings.
World Book Day are a charity that operates in the UK and Ireland and will next be celebrating World Book Day on 6 March 2025.
Your littles ones will receive a voucher from their school if they’re in educational settings, or if they are home educated, you can register for vouchers here
We will be accepting vouchers until Sunday 23rd March. Alternatively, you can purchase the World Book Day books for £1 each.
Onyx Storm Release Party
Join us to celebrate the release of Onyx Storm, the third installment of the fantasy sensation by Rebecca Yarros.