Inside the UK seaside getaway that feels a bit like Lake Como and even serves afternoon tea
- UK Hidden Gems
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Brits dreaming of the perfect escape might think about flying off to far-flung places, but there is a hidden gem much closer to home.
This hidden gem, tucked along the Dwyryd Estuary in North Wales, feels nothing like a typical British seaside spot.
Walk into this village and you might believe you have arrived in Italy, thanks to its colourful Mediterranean-style buildings, soft golden sands and pretty little shops.
Even better, it is said to offer some of the most affordable fish and chips in the whole of the UK.
According to Capital on Tap, last year visitors paid an average of just £8.57 for their fish and chips.
This makes Portmeirion the third cheapest place for the classic British meal, beaten only by Southwold in Suffolk and New Brighton in the Wirral.
The village also has a strong link to television, as it was the main filming location for the cult British series The Prisoner. Portmeirion has grown even more popular thanks to social media.
Influencer Meera Pankhania is one of many who have fallen in love with its charm, reports the Mirror.
“My boyfriend and I were meant to go to Portugal that weekend but when it went on the Amber list, we came here instead and then climbed Mount Snowdon,” she explained in a past TikTok.
“We stayed for two days and although I’ve never been to Italy, it felt like Lake Como. To get there, you drive along amazing roads with such beautiful scenery.”
Set within the peaceful Gwynedd landscape, Portmeirion was designed by the visionary architect Clough Williams-Ellis, who spent fifty years bringing his dream village to life after buying the land in 1925.
Today, it is filled with remarkable listed buildings, including the striking Grade I Portmeirion Town Hall built in 1938.
What surprises many visitors is that Portmeirion has no permanent residents at all. It exists entirely for guests and holidaymakers, opening daily between 9.30am and 6.30pm during the busier months.
Alongside the stunning architecture and famously cheap fish and chips, Portmeirion is also known for its afternoon tea. In 2024, one visitor wrote on TripAdvisor: “The best afternoon tea in the world, in one of the nicest places.”
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.
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