Hay-on-Wye Bookshop Guide

Welcome to the world’s first bookshop town, Hay-on-Wye. Here you’ll find more than twenty bookshops selling all kinds of books: from new to second hand, fiction to non-fiction and books for children and adults.

Hay-on-Wye also plays host to the annual Hay Festival which sees 300,000 guests visit the town across eleven days for a range of book related talks and activities.

Here are all of the bookshops that you’ll find in Hay-on-Wye!

Richard Booth’s Bookshop

This enormous bookshop can be found on Lion Street and contains a wide variety of new and used books over three floors. The shop itself is stunning with dark wood interiors and an impressive staircase, with plenty of cosy seating scattered throughout. There’s also a cafe and a cinema showing a wide variety of films throughout the year.

Named after the self proclaimed ‘King of Hay’, this bookshop memoralises Booth who opened Hay’s very first bookshop in 1962.

With so much to see, I highly recommend leaving a good deal of time to properly explore the bookshop and everything it has to offer.

Address: 44 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AA

Hay-on-Wye Booksellers

First opening its doors more than 40 years ago, the Hay-on-Wye Booksellers stock a wide range of books including new, used and antiquarian titles.

They’re based out of a beautiful historic building with a 15th century timber facade which you’ll recognise from the black and white stripes.

It has an olde world charm but is also remarkably modern as they have a wide variety of stock available to purchase online through Abe Books.

Address: 13/14 High Town, Hay on Wye, HR3 5AE

Francis Edwards

On the top floor of the Hay Cinema Bookshop you’ll also find this wonderful antiquarian shop. Originally founded in 1855 in London’s West End, this shop is now in Hay, occupying four rooms with more than 6000 books.


Hay Cinema Bookshop

I can’t think of a better way to repurpose an old cinema than to fill it with books!

The Hay Cinema Bookshop sells second hand and antiquarian titles across all subjects in a fun, maze-like building.

It’s a great place to uncover hidden gems and to bag a bargain, plus it stays open until 9pm during the book festival.

Address: 2, The Enterprise Park, Forest Road, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5DS

Addyman Books

Another well known name in Hay’s bookshop scene, Addyman Books first opened in 1987 and moved into its current premises six months later. This shop is one of three fantastic bookshops owned by Derek Addyman and Anne Brichto, specialising in English literature and modern first editions.

They have a large catalogue of books available which is available to peruse on their website.

Address: 39 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR3 5AA, United Kingdom

The Addyman Annex

The Annex opened in 2002, and is considered by the owners to be ‘the jewel in the crown of the Addyman triumvirate’. It certainly is a beautiful shop with a large collection of second hand fiction and non-fiction books, including a large selection of Welsh books.

Address: 27 Castle St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5DF

Murder & Mayhem

This bookshop may be the smallest in the Addyman enterprise but it’s definitely the most unique. Stocked with Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes titles, Murder and Mayhem also specialises in Cozy Crime, British Library Reprints, True Crime, Horror and Ghost Stories.

The decor here is iconic and it’s definitely a must visit in Hay!

Address: 5 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, via Hereford, HR3 5AA

The Poetry Bookshop

The largest shop of its kind in the UK, the Poetry Bookshop first opened its doors in 1979 and specialises in second hand and antiquarian poetry collections. They also have an online shop, which is ideal if you can’t make it to Hay itself.

Browse The Poetry Bookshop’s online catalogue here.

Address: The Poetry Bookshop, The Pavement, Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5BU

Gay on Wye

A new addition to Hay, the aptly named Gay on Wye is the town’s first LGBTQ+ specialist bookseller, and aims to be a sanctuary for the community and its allies.

The shop was founded by Thomas Owen in 2023 and stocks a wide range of fiction and non-fiction titles that explore LGBTQ+ themes and experiences. They also host a wide range of events including book clubs, author talks and signings.

Address: 3 Lion St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AA

Green Ink Booksellers

Another second hand bookshop option, Green Ink Booksellers opened in 2018. Their stock includes Modern First Editions, Literature, Poetry, Art, History, Philosophy, Folio Society and Children's books.

Address: Grove House, 19 High Town, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AE

Broad Street Book Centre

Located on the outskirts of town, the Broad Street Book Centre contains around 2 million individual books.

Run by Mary Fellowes, the shop aims to spread a love of reading and is also the perfect place to stay, with a bed and breakfast just upstairs.

Address: 6 Broad St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5DB

Clock Tower Books

This bookshop is based out of a beautiful old clocktower, and stocks 18,000 fiction and non-fiction titles across a range of topics and genres.

Address: Clock Tower Books,Market Hall, College Green , Tywyn, United Kingdom

North Books

A relatively new bookshop, North Books opened its doors in 2022 and specialises in new books spanning across both fiction and non-fiction.

In addition to physical books the shop also runs a bookish breakfast service, where customers can enjoy the peace and quiet of the bookshop before it opens to the public. Other products on offer include literary themed teas and ceramics.

Address: 4 Castle Street, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5DF

C. Arden Bookseller

This shop specialises in books on natural history, gardening, beekeeping and botany and has been running for more than 30 years. While their stock may sound quite niche, it is actually very expansive and includes new, used and antiquarian titles.

Address: Forest Rd, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, HR3 5DT

The Honesty Bookshop

You’ll find the Honesty Bookshop in the grounds of Hay Castle.

As the name suggests, this bookshop runs on an honesty based system and is more of a long shelf than a fully fledged bookshop.

Here you’ll find lots of well worn paperbacks for £1 each - just put the money in the box provided.

Address: Castle St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5DF

The Children’s Bookshop

This fantastic shop stocks around 20,000 used and second hand children’s books. It’s just outside of Hay-on-Wye but is well worth the trip! To get there, head towards the Co-op on Clifford Road and keep on walking for another 10 minutes.

Address: Toll Cottage Pontvaen, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5EW

British Red Cross Bookshop

Hay’s newest bookshop, all proceeds will of course go towards the British Red Cross charity and support the work that they do.

Address: Paris House, High Town, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AB

The Literature Laboratory

Another children’s book specialist, this shop run by Rebecca Watkins also stocks books about parenting and wellbeing. You’ll find this whimsical bookshop across from the Butter Market, where they also run book clubs and reading challenges in addition to author events.

Address: 4 Market Street, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5AF


Do you have a favourite Hay-on-Wye bookshop? Leave a comment and let me know!

More Blog Posts

Inside Richard Booth’s Bookshop

A Bookshop Guide To Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town

A Bookshop Guide to Edinburgh

A Bookshop Guide to Cecil Court, London

Previous
Previous

Tatty Devine Jewellery Review

Next
Next

26 Quotes from Turtles All the Way Down by John Green