The enchanting yet quirky Italian-inspired village named one of the best seaside towns in the country
manchestereveningnews.co.ukAn idyllic and enchanting village located just a few hours from Manchester has been named as one of the UK’s best seaside towns.
Portmeirion, in Gwynedd, has been ranked in second place on Which?’s annual ranking of seaside towns and villages. Located less than a three hour’s drive away from the centre of Manchester, the North Wales village is nestled within the River Dwyryd.
The area is entirely unique in that it is perhaps the only place you could find a statue of Hercules, a circular viewing platform with a grotto lined with scallop shells and conches, a lighthouse, a pink-washed house and a gardener's cottage named the Mermaid. READ MORE: 'People's pub' in Greater Manchester reopens following £1m renovation and name change Despite being an abundance of nature and greenery, the picturesque village was actually designed and built over a 50-year period by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975.
Due to its prominence and unique nature, many buildings within Portmeirion are listed by the Welsh historic environment service for their architectural and historical relevance, including a statue of Buddha that was created as a film prop for 1958 movie Inn of the Sixth Happiness.
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