Methods to Go to Hay-on-Wye, the Magical Ebook City in Wales

Ebook lovers and bookworms of the world, rejoice! As a result of there exists the cutest little city on the England-Wales border that’s completely overflowing with books.

The city is Hay-on-Wye, a city of lower than 2000 those who has dubbed itself “The World’s First Ebook City.” This little city solely has a pair principal streets to talk of, however it has 15+ impartial bookshops – actually one on nearly each nook.

Hay-on-Wye makes a superb day journey from Cardiff, or an excellent cease on an extended Wales highway journey. Simply make sure you avoid wasting room in your suitcase for all of the books you are going to be tempted to purchase.

Hay-on-Wye as a guide city

It began again in 1962, when a person referred to as Richard Sales space opened a secondhand bookshop in Hay-On-Wye at 44 Lion Avenue. Hay-On-Wye was a bit market city again then, however Sales space thought it might be one thing extra. He thought the city may use books – tons and many books – to attract extra vacationers.

Sales space started increasing his personal bookshop into different small storefronts, and inspired others to open up guide shops, too. He declared Hay-On-Wye a “City of Books” – and by that time, he wasn’t unsuitable.

Richard Sales space was an eccentric man, and knew get consideration. In 1977, he proclaimed Hay an impartial kingdom, declaring himself King – and naming his horse Prime Minister. The stunt bought a variety of worldwide consideration, additional placing Hay-On-Wye on the map.

In 1988, the city launched the Hay Pageant of Literature & Arts (now often simply referred to as the Hay Festival), which to this present day nonetheless attracts tens of 1000’s of tourists every year.

As of 2025, even after years of post-pandemic struggles within the tourism and small enterprise worlds, Hay-On-Wye nonetheless has greater than 15 impartial guide shops working across the city.

Prime issues to do in Hay-on-Wye

Okay, so now you are intrigued and perhaps satisfied to go to Hay-On-Wye. What do you do whilst you’re there? Listed below are a couple of concepts:

1. Store for books

DUH! You are not going to go to Hay-On-Wye and never go to its well-known bookstores! You might simply spend a full day simply visiting all of the totally different outlets, which all have distinctive personalities.

Begin out at Richard Sales space’s Bookshop, the unique store Sales space opened at 44 Lion Avenue. This three-story store is just not solely historic, however can also be chock filled with each new and secondhand books. The structure of the constructing is price seeing, too.

From there, wander round city a go to another bookshops! There are a number of themed guide shops, like Homicide & Mayhem (devoted to thriller and crime novels), Homosexual on Wye (an LGBTQ+ guide store), The Literature Laboratory (a youngsters’s guide retailer), and The Poetry Bookshop, plus numerous normal guide shops.

The Hay Cinema Bookshop is a big secondhand bookstore contained in the native cinema, and it’s also possible to take a look at the guide choice on the outside Honesty Bookshop on the foot of Hay Fortress, the place you should purchase used books for simply £1.

The nice half about shopping for books in Hay is that, since lots of them are secondhand, you will discover some really nice offers!

2. Go to Hay Fortress

The city of Hay-On-Wye is partially located round Hay Fortress, a fortification courting again to across the 12 months 1200. The fortress was used and expanded upon for hundreds of years, however fell into disrepair after fires within the 1900s.

As of 2022, nevertheless, Hay Fortress has re-opened to the general public after main renovations to show it into an area for arts, literature and studying. The fortress now has an artwork gallery and cafe, together with numerous workshops and talks.

There are every day guided fortress excursions, and a viewing platform to go to with views out over the city and Welsh countryside.

3. Do different procuring

Whereas Hay’s bookstores are the star of the present on the town, there are many different cute outlets and boutiques to find, too!

Head to spots like Mostlymaps, the Eighteen Rabbit Honest Commerce store, Haystacks Music, and the Hay Vintage Market, together with different outlets and galleries alongside Fortress Avenue particularly.

You too can take a look at the Canolfan Hay Craft Centre advanced close to the city’s principal car parking zone, which has craft/reward outlets, a fudge store, and (maybe most significantly) public bogs.

4. Admire the River Wye

The River Wye runs proper alongside Hay-On-Wye, and you may go for a stroll alongside it whilst you’re on the town, and even rent a canoe for a part of the day!

5. Eat and drink your approach round Hay

Once more, Hay is a small city. However there are nonetheless loads of cozy spots to put up up for a espresso, a meal, or a pleasant pint. A couple of spots I might advocate embody:

• Dugan’s Patisserie & Boutique
• Angie’s (their slogan is “tea desserts and insults!”)
• The Cosy Cafe (nice for lunch)
• The Sandwich Cellar
• The Granary (one other cafe)
• Three Tuns (pub)
• Tomatitos Tapas Bar
• Chapters Restaurant (good for dinner)
• The Previous Black Lion (pub and restaurant)

There’s even an area micro brewery simply outdoors of city referred to as Fortunate 7 Beer Co! See in the event that they’re open throughout your go to, or search for their brews round city to strive.

Attending to Hay-on-Wye

Hay-on-Wye sits virtually proper on the England-Wales border, however is formally in Powys county in Wales. One of the best ways to succeed in the city is by automotive. It is roughly 1.5 hours from Cardiff, 3 hours from Conwy, and three.5 hours from London.

An essential factor to find out about visiting Hay-On-Wye is that there is actually no parking in the principle middle of city apart from on the Market Sq. Automotive Park, which is small and restricted to 2 hours of parking. I like to recommend you park on the Oxford Street Automotive Park, which is a big automotive park a 5-minute stroll from all of the bookshops. Parking right here prices £2.50 as much as 2 hours, £3.25 for 2-4 hours, and £4 for something over 4 hours (extra on parking costs here).

Do you have to keep in a single day in Hay-on-Wye?

You *can* keep in a single day in Hay, and it would make sense if you wish to go to the city and in addition spend a while mountaineering in Bannau Brycheiniog Nationwide Park (AKA the Brecon Beacons). However Hay-on-Wye would not actually have that many resort choices, and you may see just about every thing in about half a day.

So I personally suppose Hay-on-Wye makes a superb day journey from Cardiff versus an in a single day journey.

Who’s able to plan a visit to Hay-on-Wye, the guide city of Wales?

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 nations on 6 continents from her dwelling base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey via the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares suggestions based mostly on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!