HowTheLightGetsIn Festival

Wow, what a simply amazing, stimulating and exceptional experience of an event. Thanks to the organisers and all the lovely young people doing the hard work of looking after participants- for their flexibility, responsiveness and care of us all, especially those manning the events, who tried to accommodate all those wanting to attend an event . They created a great atmosphere for us all to enjoy.Thank you all. We've been talking about the event to all those we know who would be interested-we'll be there next year! Thanks goes to those too who conceived of the event.Sarajane

Pricey tickets, but the real nightmare starts after you bought the unrefundable or resellable tickets.They advertised when you buy early you get access to the Winter festival, but after emailing several times we haven't received any reply.You would think you have access to all the events at the actual festival, but thats not true.Everything costs extra and they will make you pay. Speedy access to tents, access to some tents, parking etc.We decided to not come due to this disappointing set up and will sit now on the tickets.

Music and philosophy! Same time as Haye Book Festival. Stimulating combination that makes you think and have fun. Does rain a bit in Wales.

Hard to describe how this festival marries so seamlessly the depth of incredible quality debates by the most renowned speakers and the freewheeling, joyous vibrancy of a real party atmosphere, with the traditional divide between speaker and audience being effectively removed in favour of collective participation. The event couldn't be farther removed from the stuffiness of traditional academia and it's a great space for those who think about philosophy not as a discipline for the elect, but as the dialectic exercise of thinking such as can only happen through real encounter with others and therefore accessible to all humans who are open to that encounter.

Amazing, had a wonderful time. Food was delicious and came away with lots of ideas to explore.

Loved it! Amazingly diverse range of speakers, great music, comedy and a site that's big enough to make exploring it fun but compact enough that everything is within a few minutes walk.

A good festival with lots of interesting debates, talks, music and event spaces. Let down by some poor organisation or planning in parts.... couple of poor debate chair persons, lack of thought on debate management at times, terrible sound in the largest tent, ( which was also too plain), and no provision for caravans or motorhomes. A festival that needs to grow up.

A festival with philosophy instead of music. What's not to love? To be fair there is music in the evenings, but I'm 100% here for the debates about the nature of reality and the origins of the universe. Seen some world class speakers here including Roger Penrose, Steven Pinker, John McWhorter and more - and the surroundings in the Wye valley are absolutely stunning. A short walk away from the main Hay book festival too, which runs concurrently.

Avoid the lavish banquet" – £26 for only several mouthfuls. Food everywhere is extremely overpriced for the quantities – I'm only 9st 3lbs and was only full after having a banquet

Great festival, loved hosting my pottery workshops there. Beautiful scenery too.