The Hotel Portmeirion opened in 1926 as the focal point of Clough Williams-Ellis’ proposed ideal village. Artists, writers and Albanian royalty have stayed – everyone is special at Portmeirion and all are welcome.

The main building of the hotel was built around 1850 (extended by Clough Williams-Ellis in 1926 & 1930; listed Grade II 1971) was the original mansion of Aber Iâ, and first described by Richard Richards in 1861 as “one of the most picturesque of all the summer residences to be found on the sea-coast of Wales.” Portmeirion was created by Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis from 1925 to 1976 to show how a naturally beautiful site could be developed without spoiling it. 

The historic Hotel Portmeirion today offers 14 rooms and suites in the beautiful surroundings of the Portmeirion Italiante village.

The show was riveting as Number 6 would be constantly trying to escape this picturesque village with its tight streets, beautiful gardens, round houses and a thousand other fantasies. The Village ended up deeply buried in my imagination for decades.

The Prisoner became a cult classic despite having only 17 episodes filmed between 1966 and 1968. McGoohan who finds himself a prisoner in this mysterious coastal village where he is isolated, is a captive in a town cut off from the mainland by mountains and the sea.

It was only years later that I learned the Prisoner had been filmed in a real place in North Wales called Portmeirion. I had to see it for myself. But it wasn’t enough just to see the town. Just a few years ago, I arranged to stay inside the village at the Portmeirion Hotel. This two-day visit gave me a wonderful opportunity to explore every nook and cranny of this fanciful, fascinating town. I was travelling with my grandson in late October, and we enjoyed wonderful sunny fall weather. My camera was busy the whole time, trying to capture the essence of this whimsical “calculated folly”. It gets very touristy in the summer months, but we had it almost all to ourselves to explore that fall.

It has had its share of famous visitors from George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, Gregory Peck, Ingrid Bergman and the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein who was a frequent visitor along with Paul McCartney and George Harrison.

This playful village was constructed of parts and fragments of demolished buildings between 1925 and 1975. Its architect was Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and his design was often thought to be based on Portofino in Italy. Many of the architectural details and buildings are quite old and were moved to the site to form an inventive collection of architectural fantasies that somehow fit together wonderfully to form this impish village. I could spend many words to describe this relaxing, playful town but it is the photos that can speak volumes about this enchanting, funky little town that is so unique and not to be missed.

For further information, Portmeirion Village | Holiday Resort North Wales; Telephone: 01766 770000; Email: st**@po*****************.com ;

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Have you ever visited a village that was a worldwide TV star? If not, I urge you to stay at the unique Port Meirion Village in North Wales. It became famous as the result of a decidedly offbeat British TV show and, as you will see if you go there, there’s a marvelous collection of eccentric houses, homes and other buildings that were not only shaped in unconventional sizes, but that were also painted in a multitude of garish colors. Never, in my travels around the world, have I seen a place that is more spellbinding, really riveting and spectacularly fascinating as Port Meirion. Never heard of it you say? Well that could well be, but for some folks of a certain age, if I mention the cult British TV series of 1967 called The Prisoner starring Patrick McGoohan, the name and place WILL ring a bell.

Located on the coast of Snowdonia in North Wales, and perched just above the River Dwyryd, Port Meirion and the Village is at once mysterious, compelling and strange, and a photographer’s delight. Which might explain why the TV show used the village in the TV series. In fact, the majority of filming was done there, and the quirky and indeed innovative location, made it the ideal place in which to put “The Prisoner.”  When YOU see it, you might also recall it from the TV show. Go here for reservations and more information about Port Meirion.

Designed and built by the decidedly offbeat British architect Sir Clough Williams Ellis, many in England in the early 1900s thought he was an oddity, but his unconventional designs, dazzling colors of odd shaped buildings, and the crazy quilt of its overall design (some of which are shown here) have made the village of Port Meirion one of Europe’s biggest tourist attractions. Gift shops abound with everything you could ever wish to know about the TV show and, of course, The Village itself. Down by the estuary you’ll find a wonderful hotel and superb restaurant that adds to the charm of the entire location. Note how “empty” the estuary is at low tide. If North Wales is on your itinerary, Port Meirion epitomizes the word unique.

To give you an idea of that exceptional difference, Wales was – for countless decades – THE place for gray looking slate quarries. When you see what Port Meirion is, and contrast the grayness of slate to the colorful village, it’s like looking at an orange in a huge heap of black coal.

So, if you’re looking to do something extra special on your next vacation, be sure to make a reservation, as I did, in one of the comfortable, one-of-a-kind rooms in Port Meirion. One of the “things” that’s “incredibly British,” and that I saw in my Village room as soon as I entered, was the always the ubiquitous set of cups and saucers, various tea bags, sometimes biscuits (cookies) and a teapot so you can brew your own “cuppa’ tea.” It is a wonderful British touch I’ve always loved.

Be sure to take lots of videos and “Selfies” with you in and around the numerous places, buildings and wonderfully weird statues. Add in photos of you in one of the vast array T-shirts emblazoned with the key words used in the TV show that I’m sure you’ll want to buy, and you’ve got a marvelous memory of Port Meirion to share with everyone – in fact, send it to your friends back home in the US the second you take it.

If you’ve visited other special places like this that you’ve enjoyed, tell me about it at

jd******@gm***.com

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