Hay-on-Wye (a book town on the Welsh border)
Right on the Welsh border is Hay-on-Wye, which has more second-hand bookshops than any other in the UK. It also hosts an annual book festival, which draws thousands of visitors from across the world. Introvert bookworms meet new literary friends, in this most unique place.
Trying to save your independent bookstore? Be inspired by this town, which has over 20 of them! Most follow the golden rule of niching down, rather than just selling books about anything and everything. Some bookstores here focus on:
- Children’s books
- Antiquarian and rare books
- Nature and botany
Hay-on-Wye famously has ‘honesty bookshops. Where if shops are closed, visitors can leave payment in a box to buy books on outdoor shelves.
Local legend claims that Hay Castle was built in just one night by Maud Walbee (a giantess, who carried the stones in her pocket!)
Despite being in Wales, this town unusually has a (Herefordshire) English postcode. The town sits on the River Wye (the fifth longest river in England) forms the border with Wales.
Hay-on-Wye? Is that some kind of sandwich? Arthur Miller, American playwright on his first visit
From the gardens of Bombay, all the way to lovely Hay. Ian Dury
