Latest news with #CloughWilliams-Ellis
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
UK seaside village 'like Lake Como' has very cheap fish and chips
The small village in Wales is no typical UK beach location Brits longing for an idyllic escape might consider jetting off to distant exotic destinations, but there's an overlooked treasure right on our doorstep. Portmeirion, tucked away along the Dwyryd Estuary in North Wales, breaks the mould of your average UK coastal spot. Wander into this village and you could easily believe you've landed in Italy, thanks to its captivating array of Mediterranean-style buildings, sun-kissed beaches, and charming boutiques. And the icing on the cake? It's reportedly home to some of the UK's most reasonably priced fish and chips. Last year's statistics show that visitors typically spend just £8.57 on this beloved dish, according to Capital on Tap. This placed the coastal gem as the third most economical for fish and chips, trailing only behind Southwold in Suffolk and New Brighton in Wirral. What's more, it's got great TV history behind it, having been the location for the filming of hit British TV show The Prisoner. Portmeirion has also caused quite a stir online, too. Influencer Meera Pankhania is among those smitten with its scenic beauty. "My boyfriend and I were meant to go to Portugal that weekend but as it went on Amber list, we visited here as an alternative and then climbed Mount Snowdon," she said in a previous TikTok reported by the Mirror. "We stayed there for two days and while I've never visited Italy myself, I felt like I was in Lake Como. To arrive at the place, you travel through some beautiful roads and beautiful scenery." Located in the heart of Gwynedd, the enchanting village of Portmeirion was brought to life by visionary architect Clough Williams-Ellis, who devoted five decades to shaping the site after purchasing the land in 1925. Today, the village boasts a remarkable assortment of nationally significant listed buildings, including the stunning Grade I Listed Portmeirion Town Hall, built in 1938. However, you might be shocked to learn that Portmeirion doesn't have any permanent residents, as its primary focus is on catering to tourists and holidaymakers. In fact, the village operates on a schedule, generally opening its doors to visitors from 9.30am to 6.30pm, seven days a week, during the peak summer season. Beyond its impressive infrastructure and unbelievable chippy prices, tourists also sing praises about Portmeirion's afternoon teas too. In 2024, one visitor took to TripAdvisor to share their thoughts on this, writing: "The best afternoon tea in the world, in the one of the nicest places. The village is stunning and we really made the most of it, being amongst the last to leave. "We had afternoon tea in the hotel, which was absolutely delicious." Meanwhile, another added: "There is no other place in England like this, it is so SO unique and amazing. "If you only visit ONE place before you die, hopefully not just yet! then come here. It is SO lovely! We spent hours here, we did have afternoon tea here and if the weather had been better and we could have gone on the coastal and woodland walks, we would happily have stayed from opening to closing time." So, it seems that for those seeking an affordable beach escape this summer, Portmeirion might just be the perfect destination.
Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tiny UK village that could be anywhere in Europe is ranked one of Britain's best
Feel the sand under your feet and gaze upon acres of beautifully planted gardens in this tiny village that nobody actually lives in A charming little village that boasts sub-tropical gardens and an authentic Italian gelateria has been named one of the best travel destinations in the UK. Portmeirion in Wales welcomes 200,000 visitors every year and sits on the estuary of the River Dwyryd, just two miles from Porthmadog and a mile away from Minffordd railway station. Built between 1925 and 1976 by visionary Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis, the folly tourist village needs a ticket to enter and boasts an array of attractions, including its colourful buildings that look as though they could belong anywhere in mainland Europe. There are plenty of gorgeous gardens to lose yourself in, twisting pathways and surreal sights as the vision of Williams-Ellis - a pioneering architect who wanted to prove how to develop a naturally beautiful site without ruining it - comes to life. And it came third in a recent Which? survey, which asked holidaymakers for their favourite seaside destinations in the UK. Portmeirion scored an impressive five out of five stars for its waterfront, tourist attractions and scenery, and four stars for its beach and parking facilities. The average cost of one night's stay in Portmeirion, according to Which?, is £143. The village has two hotels: The Hotel Portmeirion and Castell Deudraeth, which serves lunch and dinner and has a separate mouth-watering menu for Sunday lunch. The Hotel Portmeirion's terrace overlooking the Dwyryd estuary is open for walk-ins for lunch, or can be booked in advance for a traditional Sunday lunch. Alternatively, book yourself in for a delicious afternoon tea between 2.30 and 3.30pm on weekdays and Saturdays for a posh treat while enjoying the Riviera views. Or you could pack yourself a picnic and wander down to the beach to watch the tides roll in and out by the estuary. At low tide you can even squelch through the wet sand and take in the beautiful views of the sun glinting off the water. And fans of the 1960s cult classic TV show The Prisoner will love spotting the buildings and landmarks that appeared in the 17-episode series. There's even The Prisoner Shop where you can pick up a themed souvenir. "The whole village is a magical and quite surreal architectural gem," says one TripAdvisor reviewer. "Allow a minimum of 3-4 hours to enjoy the full experience, which is well worth the entrance fee." Another frequent visitor to Portmeirion writes: "Gardens are also a delight, the horticulture on show is great, the walks through woodland areas and coastal path should also be experienced." They go on: "If you can manage it, venture along the steeper paths along the boundary to reach outstanding views, very peaceful along the way. It's not just a summer attraction, we'd also recommend visiting outside of the summer period." However, one rule to be aware of - that has caught some visitors out before - is that the entire village is dog-free, apart from guide and assistance dogs. That being said, some reviewers have praised the cleanliness of the village thanks to the lack of dog mess. Entry costs £20 per adult, £13 for a child aged between five and 15, and £17.50 for concessions. Children aged under five can enter for free, and parking is included in the cost of your day ticket.
Scottish Sun
29-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
The six cleanest beaches in the UK where you can safely swim in the sea this summer
One is near the village known as Wales' 'Italian Riviera' WATER WORKS The six cleanest beaches in the UK where you can safely swim in the sea this summer Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUMMER is coming in hot and soon, and lots of us will descend on the UK's beaches, but which ones are the cleanest and best to swim in? Which? has revealed the top six UK beaches with the highest water quality that are perfect for a dip. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 These are the six beaches in the UK with the cleanest waters 5 Bamburgh in Northumberland has some of the cleanest coastal waters Credit: Alamy There's good news for anyone who lives in or is planning to visit the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland. The waters off the coast have been classified as 'excellent' - which is highest and cleanest rating designated by the Environment Agency. Not only that but visitors can take in the beautiful views of Bamburgh Castle too which sits on top of a nearby hillside. Over in Wales, Portmeirion is known as the 'Italian Riviera' because of its folly village. It was built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis which he turned into a Mediterranean looking sub-tropical gardens with a piazza and historic cottages. However, there are lots of beaches there too like Harlech which is part of the Snowdonia National Park. The waters here have also been classified as excellent by the government agency Natural Resources Wales, meaning they're perfect for swimming and paddling. Another area where the waters have been classified as being of high quality and cleanliness is in St Andrews, Fife in Scotland. St. Andrews has several beaches, like East Sands, which meets the high standards, it's a sandy stretch of beach with a path on the inland side. East Sands is close to the harbour and sailing club meaning it's a hotspot for watersports like surfing and sailing. UK beach named one of the top 100 in the world 5 East Sands Beach in St Andrews is much cleaner than its neighbour West Sands Credit: Alamy Currently the bigger, and most well-known beach in St Andrews called West Sands, is currently rated as 'good'. This means the water quality is generally not as clean as its neighbour, according to Which?. Two beaches in Tynemouth, North Tyneside have Blue Flag status, Long Sands beach and King Edward's Bay - they are also both classed as 'excellent' when it comes to water quality. Which? advises not to swim in Cullercoats Bay which is nearby, but failed to meet the minimum standards for water quality - so it's best just to frolic on the sand for this one. 5 Whitesands Bay near St Davids has water quality rated 'excellent' Credit: Alamy Very near the UK's smallest city, aka St Davids in Pembrokeshire, is Whitesands Bay. It's a hit with surfers and swimmers alike for good reason - the 'excellent' water quality. Along the Suffolk coastline is the town of Southwold whose beach is among one of the cleanest. It's lined with colourful beach huts and has a long pier full of arcade games and fun fair rides. Southwold Pier Beach received a rating of excellent and is a very popular tourist spot during the summer months. Here are more UK beaches, and these three have been named the best in Europe by Tripadvisor this year. And here is one of England's most secluded beaches you can now only reach by boat. Here Are TheSix Best Beaches For Swimming in the UK Bamburgh, Northumberland Portmeiron, Gwynedd (Wales) St Andrews, Fife (Scotland) Tynemouth, North Tyneside St David's, Pembrokeshire (Wales) Southwold, Suffolk
The Irish Sun
29-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
The six cleanest beaches in the UK where you can safely swim in the sea this summer
SUMMER is coming in hot and soon, and lots of us will descend on the UK's beaches, but which ones are the cleanest and best to swim in? Advertisement 5 These are the six beaches in the UK with the cleanest waters 5 Bamburgh in Northumberland has some of the cleanest coastal waters Credit: Alamy There's good news for anyone who lives in or is planning to visit the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland. The waters off the coast have been classified as 'excellent' - which is highest and cleanest rating designated by the Environment Agency. Not only that but visitors can take in the beautiful views of Bamburgh Castle too which sits on top of a nearby hillside. Over in Wales, Advertisement It was built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis which he turned into a Mediterranean looking sub-tropical gardens with a piazza and historic cottages. However, there are lots of beaches there too like The waters here have also been classified as excellent by the government agency Natural Resources Wales, meaning they're perfect for swimming and paddling. Another area where the waters have been classified as being of high quality and cleanliness is in Advertisement Most read in Beach holidays Competition St. Andrews has several beaches, like East Sands, which meets the high standards, it's a sandy stretch of beach with a path on the inland side. East Sands is close to the harbour and sailing club meaning it's a hotspot for watersports like surfing and sailing. UK beach named one of the top 100 in the world 5 East Sands Beach in St Andrews is much cleaner than its neighbour West Sands Credit: Alamy Currently the bigger, and most well-known beach in Advertisement This means the water quality is generally not as clean as its neighbour, according to Two beaches in Which? advises not to swim in 5 Whitesands Bay near St Davids has water quality rated 'excellent' Credit: Alamy Advertisement Very near the UK's smallest city, aka St Davids in Pembrokeshire, is Whitesands Bay. It's a hit with surfers and swimmers alike for good reason - the 'excellent' water quality. Along the Suffolk coastline is the town of Southwold whose beach is among one of the cleanest. It's lined with colourful beach huts and has a long pier full of arcade games and fun fair rides. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Here are more And here is Here Are TheSix Best Beaches For Swimming in the UK Bamburgh, Northumberland Portmeiron, Gwynedd (Wales) St Andrews, Fife (Scotland) Tynemouth, North Tyneside St David's, Pembrokeshire (Wales) Southwold, Suffolk 5 The six best beaches for swimming in the UK have been revealed by Which? Credit: Alamy Advertisement
Leader Live
10-05-2025
- Leader Live
Gwynedd villages named among the most beautiful in Britain
From Grasmere in Cumbria down to Ogmore-by-Sea in the Vale of Glamorgan, the Daily Mail has revealed the 24 most beautiful villages in Britain. Introducing the list, the news outlet said: "With stories of rats and overflowing bins recently dominating the news, it's easy to forget that the UK is blessed with beautiful villages dotted up and down the country. "But where can you find these gorgeous places? We've spoken to estate agents, property experts and buying agencies to bring you a selection of the UK's prettiest villages." The 24 most beautiful villages in Britain REVEALED by experts: Full list of little-known and surprising gems - but does YOUR favourite make the cut? The most beautiful villages in Britain, according to the Daily Mail, are: Portmeirion, designed in the 1920s by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, is an "Italian-style" village filled with tiny terracotta-roofed houses washed in bright colours and spread around a central piazza. Portmeirion has its own "secret gardens", coastal coves and derelict castle. (Image: Getty Images) Then there's the gardens (known as the Gwyllt) which offers 70 acres of surrounding woodland to explore. Upon your adventures through the extensive grounds, you will find secret gardens, a derelict castle, coastal coves and some of Britain's largest trees. Aberdyfi, located in southern Gwynedd, is described as one of Snowdonia's "most attractive coastal villages", according to the Daily Mail. RECOMMENDED READING: The news outlet explains: "With its pastel-coloured terraces and a quaint little harbour, Aberdyfi is one of southern Snowdonia's most attractive coastal villages. "Not least because of its location: Aberdyfi stands where mountains meet the sea at the mouth of the River Dyfi." Chairman of Premier Cottages, James Johnston, adds: "The main street runs beside Aberdyfi's spectacular beach and it has a pretty square with a range of independent shops, galleries and restaurants with winding lanes rising high up the hill behind the village giving magnificent views over Cardigan Bay."
