Croeso ir gelli welcome to hayonwye world renowned for books and bookshops. Presenting the magic of baroque, classical and contemporary chamber music in hayonwye, town of books. Hayonwye, a pretty town full of distinctive and characterful independent bookshops. Home browse by category shopping cart checkout login. Hayonwye, often shortened to hay, is a charming little market town on the welsh side of the englishwelsh border. Hay on wye booksellers bears the name of the town and makes for a great photo op with its 15 th century paneling. From afar, it looks like any other small european town. Hay on wye, often shortened to hay, is located along the border between wales and.
We are here to help you get the most out of our beautiful town by using local businesses. Top 10 mustvisit bookshops in hayonwye, wales culture trip. Within the medieval walls of hay, overlooking the river wye, in a georgian gothic townhouse, paul haynes rare books offer a small and carefully selected stock of antiquarian and rare books. Hayonwye, often abbreviated to just hay is a small market town and community in the historic county of brecknockshire in wales, currently administered as part of the unitary authority of powys.
Also known as the town of books, hayonwye is obviously a popular destination for book lovers from all over the world. Richard booth opened his first shop there in 1962, and by the 1970s hay had gained the nickname the town of books. In march 2008 we moved our internet stock to our new purpose built warehouse on the outskirts of hayonwye. Welsh town of books always ready for next chapter chicago. Our website has information for both visitors and residents. Hay on wye is world famous as a town of books and has something different around every corner. Theres a village in wales that is basically one big library. If not actually unique, i know of nowhere which combines all the charm, beauty and cultural importance of hay in such a condensed and beautiful package. Photo by erik pedersen view of countryside from hayonwye, wales, united kingdom, europe. Outside of hay castles, one of the many places to purchase books in the town of hay on wye in august 2018. Internationally renowned as the town of books, hayonwye in wales is literally piled with used books, from recently published titles to. In the town of books hayonwyes 10 best restaurants. Home to the largest secondhand bookstore in the world, hayonwye is more than just a little town on the border between england and wales, its. Home to the largest secondhand bookstore in the world, hay on wye is more than just a little town on the border between england and wales, its book heaven on earth.
In this extract from a new book, the author picks 10 to leaf through and visit. Get a look at the welsh village hayonwye where every other. He said hay remained the envy of many of the neighbouring towns. You might think me hyperbolic for saying all of this, but its the experience and the feeling that thousands of booklovers get every year when they visit hay on wye book town. With over twenty bookshops, it is often described as the town of books, and is both the national book town of wales and the site of the annual hay festival. Hayon wye is a destination for bibliophiles in the united kingdom, still with two dozen bookshops, many selling specialist and.
Richard booth is the man credited with the transformation of hayonwye from sleepy idyllic welsh town into the book town of britain. My absolute favourite bookshop in hayonwye if its possible to choose one was the set of. Hayonwye often abbreviated to just hay is a small market town and. He made hay on wye world famous as the town of books. I had a couple of days at my parents on my way home, then a day of. Hay on wye has become world famous for its secondhand and antiquarian bookshops, some specialising whilst others carry general stock. Hay is an agricultural town, a book town and a town that. Hay literature festival cancelled due to coronavirus, putting. Specializing in rare books, outofprint books, used books, secondhand books, and other hardtofind books. Established in 1855 in londons west end, francis edwards now has a firm place in the town of books and is extremely wellfrequented.
Creating a bookstore was nothing new to richard booth, who first began selling books in hay on wye in 1961. The idea was to fill the town with books and bookstores, a new economic model that would combine books and. Hay on wye is the home you, as a bibliophile, have been searching for your entire life. Hay is a very small market town in brecknockshire in wales, very close to the english border and next to the river wye. Also known as the town of books, hay on wye is obviously a popular destination for book lovers from all over the world. When peter discovers the watercolor of the woman that resembles his dead wife, he is standing in a bookshop in the small town of hayonwye, wales, in the united kingdom. Things are becoming more challenging for booksellers today however. But hayonwye has a delightful quirk that sets it apart from other small towns. Some familiar faces like bill clinton have already been to the place to check the hay festival, a famous literary event held in the town annually.
With over twenty bookshops, it is often described as the town of books, and is both the national book town of wales and the site of the. Hayonwye in powys is hosting its annual festival of literature and the arts this week, but the events success masks a struggle for survival among the secondhand bookshops that first made the. Mar 19, 2020 florence is worried for hayonwye, which is famed for its remarkable number of bookshops. It is also the number one town for bibliophiles because there are more than two dozen bookshops, many of them secondhand or specialists. Explore hayonwyes best bookshops, where literature enthusiasts can buy. Hay on wye bookshops you must visit when in hayonwye. Its unique position on the border between england and wales makes hay ideal for visitors to explore and enjoy the beautiful border country. Florence is worried for hayonwye, which is famed for its remarkable number of bookshops. If you are heading to the uk and looking for the best places to visit in wales or better yet some quaint small towns in wales, make sure the town of hayonwye is added to your wales itinerary.
It offers something fresh and unique in distinction to the typical cute uk village namely. Often described as the town of books, hayonwye draws a large number of book lovers looking for bargain across more than 40 bookstores selling mostly secondhand books. Creating a bookstore was nothing new to richard booth, who first began selling books in hayonwye in 1961. Today hayonwye or y gelli gandryll as it is known in the welsh language is friendly, lively and vibrant and, unsurprisingly for a town with such individuality and literary associations, is twinned with timbuktu, which itself has the oldest islamic library in the world. A visit to the town of books hay on wye, a pretty market town. Hay on wye y gelli the town of books bonn speculative.
Hayonwye booksellers bears the name of the town and makes for a great photo op with its 15 th century paneling. For over forty years, hay on wye booksellers have been sourcing and supplying the very best books to. While hayonwye is known around the world as the town of books, it could be set to lose its public library. This website is endorsed by hayonwye town council and. Oct 20, 2016 while hayonwye is known around the world as the town of books, it could be set to lose its public library. Hay on wye, a pretty town full of distinctive and characterful independent bookshops. A bibliophiles pilgrimage to where book lovers go when they diehayonwye. The service is free, and theres someone in the office manning the phones from 9am to noon, mondays to fridays, with an answer machine outside those times. Established in 1988 in hayonwye y gelli gandryll in welsh in powys, the annual. We are located in the market square in the centre of hayonwye, famous for its second hand book shops. Outside of hay castles, one of the many places to purchase books in the town of hayonwye in august 2018. Oct 08, 2015 in 1961, hay native booth opened a usedbook shop in the villages old fire station. Aug, 2019 this magical small town in wales is called hay on wye. Roses books features rare and outofprint childrens books.
Nov 24, 2014 hay on wye is a small market town and community on the banks of the river wye in powys, wales, adjacent to the english border. Filled with all things book related, you simply must see. Hayonwye has become world famous for its secondhand and antiquarian bookshops. Convinced that the presence of many bookstores in the town would draw in tourists and gain attention for hay, he converted an old cinema into the cinema bookshop, and encouraged other businesspeople to open stores as well. This magical small town in wales is called hayonwye. Hay on wye chamber representing great businesses in the. Hayonwye was already well known for its many bookshops before the festival was launched. Feb 15, 2019 a visit to the town of books hay on wye, a pretty market town. Famously known as the town of books, the place is dedicated to literature. Oct 20, 2005 we are located in the market square in the centre of hay on wye, famous for its second hand book shops.
The settlements name is first referred to between 15 and 1147 as haya. Filled with all things book related, you simply must see the book town for yourself on any visit to wales. If not actually unique, i know of nowhere which combines all the charm, beauty and cultural importance of hay in such a. Dialaride are now offering a delivery service for prescriptions from hay and talgarth surgeries and hay chemist. May 18, 2015 theres a village in wales that is basically one big library. In hay on wye, books vastly outnumber people, and theres a charming secondhand bookshop on every corner. Located in the book town of hay on wye, provide a search service to help you locate that long lost book, one that may be out of print, or one that you are just finding it hard to track down. Y gelli gandryll or just y gelli, often abbreviated to just hay the community uses the short version is a small market town and community in the historic county of brecknockshire breconshire in wales, currently administered as part of the unitary authority of powys. Hay and district chamber of commerce exists to support businesses in our area. Located in the book town of hayonwye, provide a search service to help you locate that long lost book, one that may be out of.
Tiny town of permanent inhabitants of less than 2000 people, you can walk hayonwye from end to end in no time, probably about half hour except if you get distracted, which you would, by the myriad of bookshops scattered around the town. In one of my other lives i collect and sell books, mainly old girls school stories, so holidaying in a town full of bookshops is never a bad thing. May 29, 2014 hay on wye in powys is hosting its annual festival of literature and the arts this week, but the events success masks a struggle for survival among the secondhand bookshops that first made the. Roses books specialise in rare and outofprint childrens books and is a wonderful place to buy gifts or just to wallow in nostalgia. In hayonwye, books vastly outnumber people, and theres a charming secondhand bookshop on every corner. Of course, the town is famed for its many bookshops.
If you are heading to the uk and looking for the best places to visit in wales or better yet some quaint small towns in wales, make sure the town of hay on wye is added to your wales itinerary. Internationally renowned as the town of books, hayonwye in wales is literally piled with used books, from recently published titles to secondhand books dating back 300 years. Its like the equivalent of town of candies for candylovers or town of games for geeks. Now imagine this is also a picturesque and inspiring town to visit. Hay literature festival cancelled due to coronavirus. Its home to 1,400 people and hundreds of thousands of.
Nov 19, 2017 hayonwye booksellers bears the name of the town and makes for a great photo op with its 15 th century paneling. In 1961, hay native booth opened a usedbook shop in the villages old fire station. On the border between england and wales lies hayonwye. This is exactly what you can find in hayonwye, a tiny market village located in the welshenglish border, in the county of powys, mid wales. Soon, many other people in town opened their own bookshops, with many specialising in a specific niche. Apr 23, 2014 internationally renowned as the town of books, hay on wye in wales is literally piled with used books, from recently published titles to secondhand books dating back 300 years. Jan 09, 2020 former us president bill clinton, following a visit to the eclectic and energising hay festival in the enchanting border town known as wales town of books, described the event as a the woodstock of the mind. Hayonwye is well known as a book town, which in its heyday boasted over 30 independent bookshops. Most people talk about the beautifully restored booths books, but some of the smaller businesses are worth a mention, too.
Get a look at the welsh village hayonwye where every. Paul collins and his family abandoned the hills of san francisco to move to the welsh countrysideto move. Photo by erik pedersen view of countryside from hay on wye, wales, united kingdom, europe. Hay cinema bookshop is set inside of an old restored movie theater and is now home to over 200,000 volumes across numerous genres.
Former us president bill clinton, following a visit to the eclectic and energising hay festival in the enchanting border town known as wales town of books, described the event as a the woodstock of the mind. Hay on wye is well known as a book town, which in its heyday boasted over 30 independent bookshops. From its inception, the festival was held at a variety of venues around hay, including the local primary school, until 2005 when it moved to a unified location just south of. Part of the shop is one of the oldest buildings in hay, built in the early 17th century. Hayonwye, often shortened to hay, is located along the border between wales and. Well, almost never sadly i found that the shops selling the sort of thing i collect were selling them for prices. Books in the castle, shelves on the streets and more little boutique bookstores than you could ever have thought possible. Richard booths bookshop, 44 lion st, hayonwye, hereford hr3 5aa. Often described as the town of books, hay on wye draws a large number of book lovers looking for bargain across more than 40 bookstores selling mostly secondhand books. But in amongst this bucolic joy is a national treasure. Local author jim saunders has written about hayonwye and the other market towns dotted along the welsh border. Sep 23, 2019 hay is a very small market town in brecknockshire in wales, very close to the english border and next to the river wye. Hayonwye is a small market town and community on the banks of the river wye in powys, wales, adjacent to the english border.