Hay Festival of Literature & Arts

For a town of 1,500, Hay-on-Wye punches well above its weight. Famed as a booktown ever since ‘King’ Richard Booth opened the first secondhand bookshop 50 years ago, the launch of Hay Festival in 1988 earned it a place on the literary and global map.

One of the world’s biggest and best literary festivals happens every year in late spring in the little borders town of Hay on Wye. Dreamed up around a kitchen table by Peter Florence and his parents over 30 years ago, the first Hay Festival was held in the modest surroundings of a pub garden. These days it attracts 100,000-plus visitors to engage with the world’s great writers, poets, philosophers, historians, scientists, comedians and musicians. It’s moved to a large tented village on the outskirts of town with 10 venues, pop-up cafes, shops and restaurants.

Between sessions, visitors can relax in deckchairs on the village green, browse the stalls and visit a festival bookshop which stocks 55,000 titles by visiting speakers. Evenings are devoted to music, comedy and film.

Includes

Return coach travel

Free time