Now that autumn is here and the season of cold weather, wind and rain has arrived, many will dream of a holiday to an exotic destination.

A Greek island, the Spanish coast or perhaps the Italian Riviera.

While for those wanting a trip to the latter, it may not be as difficult as you may think, with one tiny village sitting on the British coast built to almost exactly reflect it, minus the Aperol spritz and the pasta.

If you’ve been mulling over a UK break that feels far more exotic than it actually is, you’re not alone, but North Wales may have you covered, at a fraction of the price.

Its dramatic coastline, lush hills, and a culture as rich as its scenery, have become a go-to for those who want both escape and comfort – and its landscape is not a million miles away from the Cinque Terra – even if the weather may not always match.

Perched on the estuary of the River Dwyryd is the little Welsh gem of Portmeirion. The creation of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, built between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village, its houses are painted with bright colours, hidden archways and lush gardens. 

Being such a unique landscape, it’s no wonder that the village caught the attention of the film and television industry.

Portmeirion has the huge claim to fame as the real-life “Village” in the cult 1960s television series The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan. The series follows the former spy trapped in the mysterious village as he is hunted to try not to spill his secrets.

After a trip to the village, one fan then posted to TripAdvisor, leaving a five-star review. They wrote: “Being a fan of the TV programme ‘The Prisoner’, I had always wanted to visit ‘the village’ and it didn’t disappoint! We had a stroll along the seaside walkway & came back through the woods. The village shop is dedicated to the TV programme & the prices inside were very reasonable – my wife & I loved it.”

However, you don’t need to be a fan of the show to feel the pull, every corner of Portmeirion delivers something new and unique and creates the perfect place to enjoy the feeling of being lost.

But it’s not just The Prisoner fans recommending a visit, consumer experts at Which? Named the village as Wales’ best seaside destination.

They said: “The best seaside destination in Wales, Portmeirion in Gwynedd, is also one of the UK’s most unusual holiday villages.

“Visitors loved the architecture and its setting above a wide, sandy estuary – giving it five out of five stars for tourist attractions and for its seafront.”

One visitor backing up the accolade posted: “What an amazing place! Fabulous, friendly staff, especially Dafyyd at the gate. Such a happy soul.

“We visited on a gorgeous, sunny day and had a lovely time wandering around looking at the beautiful buildings, soaking in the amazing views and eating our picnic.”