5 Best Places to Shop in Wales

Founder Richard Booth once tried to declare Hay an independent kingdom—with himself as king. Richard died in 2019 but his bookstore lives on and has a huge collection from all over the world, piled haphazardly across two labyrinthine floors. There's also a tiny cinema (around the corner on Brook Street) and a café along with regular events.

A former movie theater, Hay Cinema Bookshop isn't the prettiest place, but its collection of books about cinema is unrivaled. That's just a fraction of the 200,000 or so titles on offer.

True to its name, this shop specializes in crime and horror. Head upstairs for a cheaper and more eclectic selection, including old pulp novellas.

In an attractive stone building on the grounds of  Brecon Cathedral, this well-stocked bookshop sells a good selection of works by Welsh writers as well as guides to the area. It also has a very nice café serving sandwiches and salads made with local ingredients.