Brilliant Bookshops: The Literature Laboratory

Hay-on-Wye is well known for being a town of books and many have come and gone over the years in which I have been a regular visitor so it is not a surprise to discover new places. ‘The Literature Laboratory is a relative new comer and it is an absolute beauty.

For somewhere so full of books and book-ish joy, the shop carries an amazing sense of peace and calm from the moment you enter. There is a real focus on nature and well-being and shelves are bursting with carefully selected fiction and non-fiction for all ages. Three ‘rooms’- one as you enter, another up a few steps to the back and the third reached by a small passage way- are presented in the most attractive way with front facing books a key feature!

I was captivated by this shop from the moment I entered to find a whole table devoted to folklore, something rarely to be found! Natural history and books about nature can also be found here. The shop also boasts a wonderful section dedicated to Welsh authors, folklore and Wales which is well worth a browse.

Dotted throughout are toys and games, carefully selected to encourage active and imaginative play for very young babies upwards. There is also a selection of stationery items and a small range of gifts.

Believing that ‘books are medicine’, The Literature Laboratory also offers a selection of books for adults, including parenting and self-help titles to promote wellbeing in the grown-ups who care for children!

Found near the Butter Market in the centre of the town, The Literature Laboratory is an absolute must to visit!

The Literature Laboratory,

4, Market Street,

Hay-on-Wye,

HR3 5AF

You can read about some of the other bookshops in Hay here and Hay Castle here