A Visit To Hay-On-Wye

Hay-On-Wye is a small market town in Wales that is World famous as the ‘town of books’ which means that it is my idea of heaven. As a self proclaimed bookworm, I have long wanted to pay a visit to check out the town in general, and the book shops in particular. Last Saturday, I finally got the chance to take a good look around, the sun was shining and, I’m pleased to say, the town did not disappoint.

Hay-On-Wye prides itself on being the World’s first ‘booktown’, teamed, since 2007, with Timbuktu in Mali, famous as being the home of the Mr Men. It is a pretty, picturesque market town that has a 17th century ‘castle’ (which looks more like a mansion to be honest) at its centre. On Saturdays there is a bustling market centred around the base of the castle, and this was great – full of local food and drink produce and interesting stores. There are also some other lovely independent shops that sell items other than books, and some charity shops that have good quality items and lots of new stuff too (the Red Cross shop was particularly good, I got a lovely Kate Loxton scarf for £5.95).

 

But it is the bookshops that are the main draw, and one in particular for this Agatha Christie fan. Murder and Mayhem is a must visit for anyone with a love of crime, both from the golden age, from the masters like Christie and Conan Doyle, and also for lovers of true crime. It is a gloriously quirky shop, from it’s shop sign that resembles that of an old pub, from the building itself, which looks like something from Dickens, and from the paint outline of a body that graces the floor. The Agatha Christie selection is absolutely huge, full of vintage paperbacks, new editions and rarities, so obviously I didn’t leave empty handed, finding an American version of ‘They Do It with Mirrors’ (Murder with Mirrors) as well as a nice copy of ‘At Bertram’s Hotel’ from the late 1970’s.

Another lovely bookshop is the Hay Cinema bookshop, which, has the name gives away, is a former cinema that is, quite frankly huge, and has a brilliant selection of all kinds of books (I loved the art and architecture sections). The Hay Cinema bookshop is so big, in fact, that you are given a floor plan to navigate your way around, but it is a great place to visit, and I loved the book sale outside in the Sculpture Garden where books were available for just £1.

Hay-on-Wye is a gloriously quirky town that is a perfect destination for book lovers, antique lovers and those who just an opportunity to take a Instagram worthy image.

 

 

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