Explore Hay-on-Wye, the world’s most famous book town, with 14 must-visit literary gems from charming bookshops and Hay Castle to the iconic Hay Festival.
Nestled on the border between Wales and England, the gorgeous book town of Hay-on-Wye is every bibliophile’s dream. Famed for its endless literary offerings, these are 14 must-visit highlights everyone should experience.
The Swan at Hay Hotel
Many readers choose to base themselves at the Swan at Hay – Hotel when visiting Hay-on-Wye for good reasons. With its close proximity to many of the town’s finest booksellers and the abundance of books from local stores left in each of its guestrooms, there’s no better place to stay.
This lavish 19-room hotel is set within an old Georgian building, with each suite carefully designed with wide-screen TVs, sumptuous ensuite bathrooms, and botanical studies created by the well-known artist Lea Gregory.
Address: Church St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5DQ, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 3PM
– Check-out time: 11AM
Hay Library (Powys County Libraries)
If you’re looking for somewhere for a quiet read after hitting a few of the stores on this list, you can visit Hay Library. Having survived a near-closure back in 2016, Hay Library was able to continue operating after significant public outcry from many in the local community.
Today, it’s open to the public with a significant amount of reading materials, as well as some amenities, including hot drinks offered in return for donations, and computer and printing facilities.
Address: Oxford Road adjacent to Primary School, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5BT, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday and Thursday: 10:30AM – 12:30PM & 1:30PM – 6PM
– Friday: 1:30PM – 6PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 12:30PM
– Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday: Closed
Hay Cinema Bookshop
A former movie theater, Hay Cinema Bookshop, became a second-hand store in 1965, and they’ve amassed a wide-ranging inventory of around 200,000 printed works. You’re sure to lose track of time going through all the topics that span from politics to art.
In terms of prices, you can spend as little or as much as you want at Hay Cinema Bookshop, as they have something for every budget. However, real bookworms won’t be able to help but walk out with a bag full of items once they see the variety of used copies.
Address: Castle St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5DF, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 6PM
– Sunday: 10AM – 5:30PM
Haystacks Music & More
The name of this pick gives it away: if the book you’re after is related to music, you’ll find it at Haystacks Music & More. Here, you’ll come across loads of pre-owned vinyl, CDs, and books on music, all laid out in a cool space, with records down the middle and covers in every corner.
When it comes to genres, they’ve got pretty much everything: rock, indie, jazz, reggae, you name it, with plenty of rare collectables on show as well.
Address: 2 Castle Wall, Backfold, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5EQ, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 9:30AM – 4:30PM
Hay Castle
Your literary journey continues to one of Hay-on-Wye’s most cherished literary landmarks, Hay Castle. Over the years, it served as a medieval fortress before becoming central to Hay-on-Wye’s economic revival, thanks to second-hand bookseller Richard Booth, who used it as the base for his own declaration of independence from the UK.
Nowadays, Hay Castle is open to visitors and even has its own bookshop, which we’ll cover in the next listing. Guided tours run daily between 11AM and 2PM, so be sure to book in advance to secure your spot.
Address: HAY CASTLE, Oxford Rd, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5DG, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 5PM
Honesty Bookshop
As if Hay Castle wasn’t enough to delight book lovers, wait until you learn about the Honesty Bookshop. Within the castle grounds, two open-air book shelters are built into the stone walls, filled with second-hand books for visitors to enjoy.
Here, there are no cashiers or checkouts, just shelves of books and an honesty box. Visitors are invited to choose whichever titles they like as long as they drop £1 in the box for every cover they take with them.
Address: Castle St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5DF, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 5PM
Mostlymaps
Mostlymaps sets itself apart with a focus on maps of every kind. We’re talking antiques from back to the 1800s, Soviet-era charts, and county maps from across the UK that are hard to come by nowadays.
Step inside and you’ll find maps plastered wall to wall, tables in the middle stacked with more, and smaller presses holding books and globes.
Address: 2 Castle St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5DF, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Saturday: 10:30AM – 5PM
– Sunday and Monday: Closed
Hay-on-Wye Booksellers
Delivering excellent literature for more than 40 years, Hay-on-Wye Booksellers needs no introduction. Whether it’s a rare text or a new release, you’re bound to find it here in their extended collection of fiction, first editions, and more.
Hay-on-Wye Booksellers exudes a timeless charm, where creaking floorboards, low ceilings, and walls lined with historic volumes bring the setting to life.
Address: 13-14 High Town, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AE, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10:30AM – 4PM
Green Ink Booksellers
Conveniently located in the heart of Hay-on-Wye, Green Ink Booksellers invites book collectors to dig through their eclectic lineup of second-hand texts, with lots of historical, philosophical, and children’s options available. Across multiple levels, the space is glowing with character, softly lit, and filled with hidden volumes.
Unlike some of the bigger-name stores in the town, Green Ink has more of a local charm to it, thanks to the owners, who go above and beyond to give it that extra community feel.
Address: Grove House, 19 High Town, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AE, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Sunday to Friday: 10AM – 4PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 5PM
Murder and Mayhem
Murder and Mayhem is a specialty bookshop devoted to all things crime. Their location on Lion Street may not look very large, but don’t be fooled by its unassuming exterior. Inside, it’s packed with horror, true crime, and thriller stories, along with an impressive collection of books on Sherlock Holmes.
The crime theme of Murder and Mayhem is made even more vivid by the shop’s interiors, with painted crime-scene outlines on the floor and images of guns on the walls.
Address: 5 Lion St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AA, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 10AM – 5PM
– Sunday: Closed
Addyman Books
Owned by the same folks who run Murder and Mayhem, Addyman Books was Derek Addyman and Anne Brichto’s first successful venture that began back in 1987. It has quickly become the go-to place for English literature and first editions at prices that won’t break the bank.
Visitors have praised Addyman Books for turning a simple bookshop visit into an experience, with each section boasting its own distinctive design and character. Not to forget the extra features like the cardboard displays in the specialized sections.
Address: 39 Lion St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AA, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 5PM
Richard Booth’s Bookshop
Another popular location on Lion Street is Richard Booth’s Bookshop, covering three well-laid out floors bursting with books from top to bottom. You’ll find both new and used publications here, including classic reprints, out-of-print editions, and the latest releases.
Their website has a color-coded floor plan that visitors can use to navigate the large shop, which offers titles on every subject imaginable, folklore, sociology, languages, music, media, and much more. And just when you think it can’t get any better, the store even has its own bookshop cinema down the street.
Address: 44 Lion St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AA, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9:30AM – 5:30PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM
The Poetry Bookshop
Mingle with fellow poetry lovers as you explore the Poetry Bookshop, which has been open since 1979, selling everything from second-hand finds to rare antiquarian gems. They also buy books from the public, so if you’ve got some old poetry gathering dust, bring it along and give it a new home.
The Poetry Bookshop regularly hosts events, just check the signs out front on the day to see what’s on, or have a little scan of their website, where they usually post the details.
Address: The Pavement, Cranbourne House, Lion St, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5BU, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Thursday to Saturday: 10:30AM – 5PM
– Sunday to Wednesday: Closed
The Hay Festival
The yearly Hay Festival unites readers from all over the world with its world-class bookish event. For roughly ten days, lovers of the written word come together for workshops, talks, demonstrations, live music, and delicious food in the Dairy Meadows, just outside of town.
It’s a free, open event that anyone can attend, though some sub-events require tickets. Make sure to add the next one to your calendar, which will take place from May 21st to May 31st in 2026.
Address: The Drill Hall, 25 Lion St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AD, United Kingdom
Join our community of 1.5M readers
Like this story? You'll love our free weekly magazine.
Adam Ryan
Adam is a distinguished content writer, bookworm, and full-time adventurer with a constant craving for coffee. When he's not working, he loves exploring remote corners of the world, immersing himself in different cultures, and writing about his experiences.
