Hay on Wye is known as the worlds first book town.

This little village in Wales is home to around 20 bookshops and it’s mostly thanks to a man called Richard Booth.

Mr Booth seemed to be somewhat of an eccentric personality, declaring himself “king Richard Coeur de Livre”,  living in a self made castle and amusing the people of the town with his grand gestures and ideas. in 1982 he moved his second hand empire to this impressive location installing “miles” of bookshelves. Today a selection of second hand and new books are available inside and they have expanded to include a small independent cinema round the corner.

I chatted with one of the bookseller’s who had worked there for 6 years, she told me that she relives the moment she first entered this bookshop every time a new customer walks in. The expression of awe and wonder on their faces when they cross the threshold never grows old.