Sarah Christopher
24 April 2024
Every spring the charming town of Hay-on-Wye transforms into a literary wonderland. For 11 glorious days nestled amidst the rolling hills of Wales, this book-loving town becomes a haven for wordsmiths, bibliophiles, and anyone with a curious mind and love of language.
Hay-on-Wye is a place where you can rub shoulders with renowned authors, listen to captivating talks on everything from history to science fiction, enjoy musical performances, and even get a book signed by your favourite author. That's the magic of the Hay Festival. Whether you're a die-hard fiction fan or a lover of historical biographies, the festival offers something for everyone. There are over 600 events to choose from, so you can spend your days attending thought-provoking discussions, listening to poetry readings, or browsing the stalls overflowing with books – 55,000 titles to be exact!
If visiting this readers' paradise sounds like a dream holiday for you, make sure you check out our wide range of cottages in this delightful ‘town of books’.
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When and where is the Hay Festival?
The Hay Book Festival takes place annually in late spring, as it has done for almost 40 years. For 2024, it will be running from Thursday 23 May to Sunday 2 June. It’s held on a dedicated site at the edge of the market town of Hay-on-Wye in Mid Wales.
History of the Hay Festival
Image credit: Sam Hardwick
In 1987, the Florence family had the idea that they could celebrate their beloved hometown, Hay-on-Wye, which was already dubbed the ‘Town of Books’ with an annual festival. The first festival took place in a local pub garden and attracted around 1,000 visitors. Since then, it’s grown year on year and evolved from a book festival that was spread across various locations in the town, to now having its own festival site just south of the town, welcoming over 250,000 visitors annually, and hosting 600+ events each year covering everything from author readings to yoga sessions.
Over the years a wide range of famous faces have graced the stages of the festival from Salman Rushdie and Stormzy, to Bill Clinton (who famously called Hay Festival the ‘Woodstock of the mind’) and Jilly Cooper. So whatever type of culture vulture you are, there’s sure to be something to delight and entertain.
Today, the festival still thrives and has reached the international stage, with Hay Festival Global hosting arts events in Colombia, Peru, Mexico and Spain, as well as mainland USA.
Attending the Hay Festival
Hay Festival may be a literary festival but there’s so much more to discover beyond the books. There are author discussions, yoga sessions, live music and craft sessions for kids, amongst many other activities.
The festival itself is free to enter so you can wander through the grounds and soak up the atmosphere, browse the enticing stalls selling books, crafts, and delicious treats at your leisure. Some events held at the festival are drop-in sessions but most are ticketed so require pre-booking. Tickets do sell fast so it’s advised to book your tickets as soon as possible after release. Prices vary for the different activities, performances and discussion and full details can be found on the Hay Festival website.
Attendees travelling to the festival by car can park at the official Hay Festival car park near Clyro Court and catch the free shuttle bus to the festival entrance. Public transport options are also available. Or if you’re staying in one of our Hay-on-Wye cottages, then you can make your way directly to the site on foot.
Need to know:
- Date: Thursday 23 May to Sunday 2 June 2024
- Location: Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye. HR3 5PJ
- Prices: Free to attend. Talks and events ticketed, prices vary. See the festival website for more details
- Are dogs allowed? Guide/assistance dogs only
How to spend a day at Hay
If you’re wondering what you might do for an entire day at the Hay Festival, worry not, there’s plenty to see and do, as well as time for getting a start on reading your new purchases.
With more than 600 different speakers, authors and performers, as well as a whole host of activities sessions such as wild swimming and pizza making for kids, there’s something for everyone at the festival.
The programme has also been designed with downtime in mind, specifically for bookworms who want to while away the hours with their heads buried in a new novella! Dotted around the festival site you’ll find the perfect pit stops to sit and rest (with book in hand) in between talks and performances.
For those that enjoy a little retail therapy, you’ll be in heaven at Hay. There’s a huge bookshop stocking all those featured at the festival, as well as other authors. There are author signings throughout the festival so you can make your new purchase extra special. There is also the festival gift shop where you can pick up some mementoes from your Hay stay, as well as a whole host of independent stores selling everything from gifts and tasty treats to fashion and food.
You won’t go hungry or thirsty at Hay Festival, whether you’re looking for a snack to go or a three-course meal, there are plenty of options on-site. There’s the official festival bar, café and restaurant as well as many street food vendors selling everything from sushi to fish and chips.
As the day gives way to the night, the hubbub continues with evenings at the Hay Festival offering a packed schedule. Music, comedy and other entertainments, including pop-up performances, are all part of the fun. Stake out a spot on a deck chair, pick up a glass of something special from the bar and a hearty plate of artisan food, and you can certainly make an evening of it.
Hay Festival for families
Bringing the kids? There is a packed schedule on offer for children and young people, inviting them on an exploration of ‘curiosity, creativity and connection’ as they soak up the work of poets, authors and illustrators as well as environmentalists, scientists and performers.
The Hay Festival runs workshop days (Haydays) and creative events throughout the 11-day programme, as well as talks and conversations aimed specifically at children and young adults, with many beloved authors of their favourite books appearing as headliners.
Stay at a self-catering cottage during the Hay Festival
The Old Cider House
Make the most of your literary adventure with a stay in one of our self-catering holiday cottages. Perfect for relaxing after a busy day at the Hay Festival, as well as exploring the other wonderful things this border town has to offer.
Nestled alongside the River Wye, a Hay-on-Wye holiday offers scenic walks, independent bookshops, inviting pubs serving delicious local fayre, and easy access to the breathtaking Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park and historic Welsh borders.
Header photo credit - Sam Hardwick
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.