Searching for hidden literary gems? Eager to experience the legendary Hay Festival? Stay close to the action at The Living Energy Holidays offering affordable accommodation located at the foot of the Black Mountains. It offers a quiet relaxing stay but is less than five miles from Hay-on-Wye, the renowned Town of Books.
Hay-on-Wye is a serious contender for the title of Britain’s book capital, a true sanctuary for literary enthusiasts and the intellectually curious. Renowned as the “Town of Books,” its labyrinthine lanes are home to a remarkable array of bookshops, each a repository of rare finds and fascinating literary heritage. But Hay-on-Wye’s appeal doesn’t end with its impressive literary credentials. The town boasts a storied castle, picturesque riverside strolls along the Wye. Hay-on-Wye offers an uplifting escape where the mind is stimulated and the soul refreshed. Arrive for the books but prepare to be charmed by its unmistakable magic.
It is a crime to visit Hay-on -Wye for the first time without knowing how it came to fame as a Town of Books. The prosperity of Hay today has nothing to do with sheep or wool hut was created by the “King of Hay” Richard Booth.
The Vision and Eccentricity of Richard Booth
Richard Booth was the force behind Hay-on-Wye’s transformation into the world’s first and most celebrated “Town of Books”. In 1961, Booth opened his first second-hand bookshop in the small Welsh border town, sparking a movement that saw dozens of others follow suit. His entrepreneurial spirit and imaginative ideas revitalised Hay, turning a once-declining market town into a thriving international tourist destination and an essential pilgrimage site for literary enthusiasts.
In a move that would capture imaginations far beyond the borders of Hay, Booth declared the town an Independent Kingdom on 1 April 1977 – April Fool’s Day. Proclaiming himself “King Richard Cœur de Livre” (Richard Heart-of-Book), he appointed his horse as Prime Minister, a tongue-in-cheek gesture that generated considerable global media attention. Booth even issued “passports” to his so-called Kingdom of Hay, with thousands of tourists eagerly becoming citizens of this literary micronation.
Booth did not shy away from flamboyant and provocative protests. He famously threatened to secede from the United Kingdom, either by joining Wales or forming a new “Book Commonwealth”, to highlight his discontent with local government decisions and the decline of rural services. His antics included arriving in town by horse-drawn carriage and threatening to burn English books (except for First Folios), all in the name of resisting centralisation and drawing attention to his cause.
In later years, as the town faced issues of gentrification, Booth’s eccentric legacy prompted a dramatic mock trial for treason, culminating in a theatrical “execution” of the King of Hay. The symbolic beheading of Booth’s effigy took place on 27 September 2009. Richard Booth kept his head and lived on, passing away in 2019 at the age of 80. He was awarded an MBE in 2004 for his significant contributions to tourism.
Take a visit to Hay Castle, once the stately residence of Richard Booth, the self-proclaimed King of Hay (crown not included) but eccentricity guaranteed. Pop inside to read up on his legendary contributions to the town, which include transforming Hay into a haven for bookworms and bibliophiles alike. His quirky model was so contagious, it spread like an outbreak of literary enthusiasm, spawning 40 book towns around the globe. Who knew the path to world domination was paved with paperbacks?
A short climb to the top of the Castle gives some fantastic views of the town and surrounding Welsh hills.
| And finally return to The Living Energy Holidays for a relaxing evening and comfy bed and waking up to a hearty breakfast cooked just for you. |
Your comfy bed or beds can be found in our superb Angel Cottage (4 single beds), Living Energy Barn (16 beds in 4 rooms) and Spring Barn (7 guests in 3 rooms)
