Portmeirion Village

Portmeirion

What is it? 

A colourful village near Porthmadog built by Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis 

Where is it? 

Portmeirion, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, LL48 6ER 

What’s there? 

Portmeirion is one of the most popular visitor attractions in North Wales and features a restaurant, hotels and self-catering holiday accommodation 

Facts - 

▪ Williams-Ellis acquired ownership of the land in 1925. He had been searching for a suitable site for his proposed ideal village for several years. He wanted to show how a naturally beautiful location could be developed without spoiling it, and that natural background could be enhanced through sympathetic development 

▪ He was an advocate of rural preservation, amenity planning, industrial design and colourful architecture 

▪ Williams-Ellis began designing the tourist village, incorporating elements of Italian architecture and design in his buildings and constructions of squares and gardens. Whilst some have speculated that his design was based on the famous and exclusive fishing village of Portofino on the Italian coastline, Sir Williams-Ellis was said to have simply wanted to capture the atmosphere of the Mediterranean, which he accomplished in fabulous style. 

▪ Portmeirion was home to Festival No. 6 from 2012 – 2018. The festival welcomed acts such as the Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones, Mark Ronson, and Manic Street Preachers over the years. 

▪ Portmeirion Village provided the backdrop for the 1960's cult classic series, The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan. Portmeirion hosts the annual The Prisoner Convention, and is also home to The Prisoner shop, where fans can buy official merchandise