'Hidden' UK town looks exactly like an Italian getaway and holidaymakers love it
A peaceful UK town boasts breath-taking scenery, sub-tropical gardens and adorable cottages - some visitors have even compared it to an Italian coastal gem.
You'd be forgiven for thinking this stunning town is in the heart of Tuscany – but it is actually much closer to home.
Portmeirion in Gwynedd, North Wales is lined with quaint cottages, vibrant cafes, exquisite restaurants, and to top it all off, a traditional Italian gelato shop. Not only does this picturesque enclave offer stunning views, lush sub-tropical gardens, and cute boutiques, but its vividly painted buildings, palm trees, and sea-facing alfresco lounges make Portmeirion the perfect staycation if you're looking for a Mediterranean getaway on a budget.
Portmeirion is rich in history and the town has even featured in various film and TV productions. As one TripAdvisor reviewer described it: "There's a definite charm about the place, even visiting on a rainy day like we did, and you'd be hard pushed to find anything else like it."
Another lucky visitor added: "We were so lucky that the weather was amazing and you could almost believe you were in Italy." One other visitor commented: "A fantastic place and lots to do.
"The grounds and gardens were beautiful. The seafront was lovely. We enjoyed coffee, ice cream and a delicious breakfast in the sun."
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One mum, who shares her travel tips on Instagram under the handle @thetravelmum, described the location as "amazing". She posted video clips of her trip and said: "Portmeirion is a tourist village in north Wales, some say designed and built with inspiration from the Italian town of Portofino.
"You can visit for the day, sit and enjoy some gelato and relax by the beach. If you fancy a treat you can even stay there overnight and enjoy some top class dining. We saw a wedding there too! Bizarrely it has mixed reviews but we really enjoyed visiting somewhere so different."
The mother-of-four, who enjoys finding bargain breaks, says the Welsh holiday spot is perfect for those who "want some Italian vibes but you're broke". Her followers were quick to comment on the clip. One person exclaimed: "Wowww can't believe this is Wales."
Another wrote: "Need to add to our list," while another fan shared: "This is where I got married, it is beautiful."
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If you're travelling from England, a train journey from London will take you a minimum of five hours and 50 minutes. From Manchester, it takes around five hours, and generally around four hours and 45 minutes from Birmingham by train.
Many people choose to drive or travel by coach when holidaying to Wales. For a quicker journey, you can fly to Anglesey Airport 30 miles from Portmeirion. The airport hosts twice daily flights from Cardiff Airport on weekdays.
The closest significant international airports to Portmeirion are Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport, both roughly a two-hour drive away. The trip from both Manchester and Liverpool airports is approximately 100 miles and takes around two hours.
If you live in the south, in parts of east or northern Scotland or further afield, it might be easiest to fly to northern England first if lengthy car or train journeys aren't your cup of tea.
