The 11th Century Castle overlooks the town with its interesting old buildings including a colonnaded Butter Market. The castle is now being restored and lived in by the "self proclaimed King of Hay" Richard Booth.

Hay has gained world wide fame thanks to his eccentricities and his business in second-hand books. The "largest second-hand bookshop in the world" in the old cinema has attracted many other booksellers, so today there are now 25-30 book-shops, each with their own speciality. Buyers and sellers of books flock from all over the world to browse and deal in rare books, manuscripts, sheet music and collectable items in print.

Complimenting the bookshops Hay has a wealth of shops selling period furniture, antiques, gift shops, galleries and art shops and many olde worlde Inns and restaurants.

From Hay-on-Wye there are many walks, from short leisurely circular tours to long distance hill walking. The Offa's Dyke footpath (the long distance footpath along the border of England and Wales.) and the Wye Valley walk pass through the town. Hay Bluff beacon in the Black Mountains stands behind Hay at 2,219 ft, from which you can see over six counties, including Pembrokeshire and Glamorgan.

Llanthony Valley is one of the loveliest and best known valleys in the Black Mountains - the high scenic Gospel Pass mountain road passes Capel-y-Ffin (an old monastery), and the 11th Century Llanthony Priory and Abbey set in meadowland below craggy mountains, this is a most beautiful drive which leads on to Abergavenny and Crickhowell. It is well worth a visit to the medieval Patrishow Church with a rood loft and screen.
Hay hosts several festivals, in the spring it is the Times Literary Festival with a great many famous literary figures taking the stage, also there is a Jazz festival and "Hay on fire" in November.

Hay is 21 miles from Hereford and 17 miles from Brecon.