In 1961 Richard Booth opened a second-hand bookshop in Hay-on-Wye, and soon the town’s old cinema, fire station and shops were full of books. By the 1970s Hay was known as the “town of books”, and Booth even declared it an independent kingdom on 1 April 1977. Today around two dozen bookshops, from general stores to specialists in poetry, maps or crime fiction, remain along with antiques, galleries and cafés.
Every year in late May and early June the Hay Festival brings writers, politicians and scientists to a tented site outside town. The town sits at the north-eastern corner of the Brecon Beacons, below the Black Mountains, with the River Wye flowing past for canoe trips.
Highlights
- The bookshops: browse for hours, including the outdoor honesty shelves.
- Hay Festival: one of the world’s best-known literary festivals.
- Hay Castle: a restored Norman castle and Jacobean mansion with galleries.
- The River Wye: canoe or kayak down one of Britain’s loveliest rivers.
- The Black Mountains: Hay Bluff and the Gospel Pass road.
- Llanthony Priory: romantic ruins in a hidden valley.
Quick facts
| Where | Powys, on the Wales–England border |
|---|---|
| Known for | Second-hand bookshops; Hay Festival |
| From Hereford | About 45 minutes by bus or car |
| Ideal stay | 1–2 days |
| Best for | Books, food, walking, canoeing |
| Getting around | On foot; car for the countryside |
How long to stay & where to base yourself
One or two days is perfect: one for the bookshops and castle, one for a canoe trip or a walk in the Black Mountains. During the Hay Festival, rooms in town sell out months ahead, so look at villages nearby or in Brecon.
