The Most Magical Place on Earth

and no, I'm not talking about Disney.

At the weekend I went to the most magical place on earth, Hay-on-wye, also known as ‘The Town of Books’. Which, for a bibliophile like me, is the most magical place on earth. With over 20 bookshops (yes, twenty) adorning the cute winding streets, this idyllic bookish town is the perfect place for literary lovers.

quirky antique stores, cosy coffee shops & shelves upon shelves of books...what more could you wish for?

Just over two hours from where I live, straddling the border between England and Wales, a friend and I made a day of it - although I’d say you definitely need a couple of days there at least, the visit every bookshop. The weather was rubbish - how classically British - but that meant it wasn’t as busy as it would have been on a sunny summers day, so that was a blessing in disguise. We began our day with some brunch in a cosy, and very aptly named, coffee shop called The Cosy Cafe. It was rather busy due to people seeking cover from the rain but thankfully, we managed to get a table.

Book Town began in 1961 when book lover Richard Booth heard lots of libraries were closing down in the USA. He decided to stock up on books and opened Hay-on-wye’s first second-hand bookshop in an old firehouse. Soon, other literary enthusiasts followed suit and so Book Town was born.

With an open air ‘Honesty Bookshop’ on the grounds of a castle, a ‘Book Passage’ where all books are just £1 and niche specific shops - such as ‘Murder and Mayhem’ specialising in, you guessed it, thriller and crime books - there’s something for everyone.

Open shelf Honesty Bookshop, The Book Passage, Murder and Mayhem

We only managed to get through four or five shops and spent the majority of our time in the first shop we entered - which I now realise was Richard Booth’s bookshop. A three-storey emporium, bursting with both new and second-hand books. From classics by literary giants such as Jane Austen, Virginia Woolfe and George Orwell to contemporary writers, poetry books and non-fiction galore, you are guaranteed to find something you love in this gorgeous shop that feels like tripping gleefully in time.

Books I bought

In total, I bought 7 books and spent around £30. As a lot of the books are second-hand you can get some really great bargains if you’re willing to search hard enough.

Richard Booth’s Book Shop

• Watching Women and Girls by Danielle Pender

• Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

• The Awakening & Other Stories by Kate Chopin

This seemed to be one of the more ‘expensive’ shops - it was the first shop we went into and I later saw two of the books I’d bought in there almost half price in other shops - but it is a wonderful experience and a must-visit.

Addyman Bookshop

• Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops by Shaun Bythell

• Orlando by Virginia Woolfe

This bookshop is like a Tardis with several little rooms, one for each genre. Totally adorable and completely enchanting with extremely reasonable prices.

The Book Passage (next to Addyman Bookshop)

• Betty Jay by Anne Brontë

• A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft

Located next to Addyman Bookshop, this is another must-visit. I found these two gems for £1 each which I was thrilled by. The books are arranged in colour order rather than author so it does require some serious browsing, but it’s worth it.

I plan to visit Hay-on-wye again, later this year, as it truly is an extraordinary town that brought me pure unbridled joy (after I got over my initial anxiety and overwhelm by the sheer volume of books and shops to choose from). I can’t wait to go back but this time I will go with a game plan to ensure I can visit as many shops as possible.

Addyman Bookshop (next to the book passage)

I hoped you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it and reliving my trip to this remarkable town. As always please feel free to share Georgia Writes and, if you’re not already, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thank you.

Until next time…

Georgia x

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