Local Essentials
The practical stuff most travel sites skip. Everything you need to know before visiting Hay-on-Wye, from parking to pharmacies.
Emergency Services
General Emergency
999 or 112
Police Station
Hay is policed by Dyfed-Powys Police. Call 101 for non-emergencies and 999 or 112 in an emergency.
The County Hospital, Stonebow Road, Hereford HR1 2BN, about 29km east of Hay in a straight line, over the border in England. nhs.uk lists its A&E as open 24 hours for all ages.
01432 355444Hay Medical Centre (Haygarth Medical Centre)
NHS 111 Wales lists the GP and the Minor Injury Service at 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank and public holidays, and says the Minor Injury Service is a walk-in service for registered and non-registered patients. Closed at weekends; out of hours, ring 111.
Brecon War Memorial Hospital Minor Injury Unit
About 22km south-west of Hay. Open 8am to 8pm every day including bank holidays, per NHS 111 Wales and Powys Teaching Health Board. No under-1s are seen and children under 5 cannot be X-rayed there. The board asks you to phone first, though walk-ins are accepted.
Hay is a border town, so the nearest A&E is in England. For minor injuries on a weekday, Hay Medical Centre on Forest Road runs a walk-in service 8am to 6.30pm; at weekends the nearest Minor Injury Unit is Brecon, 8am to 8pm daily. NHS 111 Wales is the number for urgent advice that is not life-threatening. On prescriptions, GOV.WALES says that if you are registered with a GP in Wales you are entitled to free prescriptions from a pharmacist in Wales.
Parking
Oxford Road car park (long stay)
Rate: £1.50 up to 1 hour, £2.50 for 1 to 2 hours, £3.50 for 2 to 4 hours, £5 over 4 hours, free overnight (Powys County Council tariff from 1 August 2025)
Opposite Hay Castle; disabled bays at the castle end. PayByPhone accepted. The Hay Castle Trust says it has free electric vehicle charging points.
Market Square car park (short stay)
Rate: Powys County Council tariff from 1 August 2025, as above
Small and central; fills first, especially on Thursday market day.
Pet-Friendly Info
Castle
Dogs on a lead are welcome on Hay Castle's ground floor, in the cafe and in the grounds, per the Hay Castle Trust.
Pubs
The Three Tuns says dogs are welcome throughout the pub, and the Swan at Hay's Market Bar is dog-friendly.
River
Wye Valley Canoes takes well-behaved dogs if they stay in the canoe.
Pharmacies
R M Jones Chemist
7-8 High Town, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5AE
The pharmacy in the middle of town, registered at this address with the General Pharmaceutical Council.