‘Beautiful Italian-style’ coastal village crowned the best in Britain
- UK Hidden Gems
- Aug 9
- 2 min read
A Welsh village has been named the best place in Britain to visit. Hand Luggage Only, a well-known travel blog launched in 2014 by two Cambridge graduates, crowned thi place as the top destination in the UK this year.
“Perched on the Welsh coastline, this beautiful Italian-style village is easily one of the most stunning in the country,” the pair wrote. “Spend a day exploring the colourful streets, admire the unique architecture, enjoy a gelato, and pick up some of the village’s famous china,” they added.
This location joins Bibury in the Cotswolds, Yorkshire, and Aberaeron on the Welsh coast in the blog’s top three.
Portmeirion, located on the north Wales coast, was the creation of Victorian architect Clough Williams-Ellis.
He bought the land, which overlooks the Dwyryd Estuary, in 1925 with the vision of creating a “home for fallen buildings”.
It became a long-term passion project, with Williams-Ellis refining and adding to his design until his death in 1978 at the age of 94.
He was clear about his purpose for building Portmeirion. “My main objective, that of architectural and environmental propaganda, is by no means obscured,” he once explained.
This scenic spot, which now draws around 220,000 visitors every year, was intended to be an example of “propaganda for good manners” in design and planning.
Portmeirion also found fame as the filming location for the classic 1960s TV series The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan, and still hosts an annual convention for fans of the show.
Visitors can enjoy a range of shops, including those selling pottery and ceramics designed by Williams-Ellis’ daughter Susan, along with Italian-style piazzas, two hotels, brasseries, and a 70-acre woodland filled with plants brought back by Victorian explorers.
As it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2026, there are plans for concerts and a big celebration next year.
Portmeirion is privately owned and charges for entry. A day pass costs £20 per adult, with concessions at £17.50, while children under five can enter for free.
Remember - LeaveNoTrace!
As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
Download the official APP!
Gain access to over 1,600 hidden gems and their co-ordinates all over the UK when you download our app. Add gems to your bucket-list and tick them off as you go along, as well as earn rewards/badges when you visit a certain amount.
Users will also have acess to over 9,000 parking spots across the UK as well as over 1,600 staycations in the UK.
Comments