The Welsh village named as one of UK's 'most beautiful' places by travel writers

The Welsh village of Portmeirion has been named as one of the 15 most beautiful places in the whole of the UK. The list was drawn up by travel writers on Time Out who were asked to nominate the most stunning locations in Britain.

The Italianate village, which is the brainchild of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, is the only place in Wales that made the list. It is already one of the most popular attractions in Wales and this latest accolade will further fuel visit to the site near Penrhyndeudraeth.

Described as being like "something out of a dream" it shares the list with the likes of Loch Lomond in Scotland and the Shambles in York.

READ MORE: Charlotte Church's stunning Welsh home sells for above asking price

READ MORE: The easy three-mile walk with 'secret' swim spot and spectacular views

Time Out UK features editor Chiara Wilkinson said: "For all of the stick we give the UK – the grey skies, the pigeons, the Greggs sausage roll packets littering the pavements – it’s actually a pretty gorgeous country. In London alone, you can be goggling over the Barbican’s brutalist beauty one moment, the next, you might be basking in the tranquility of Hampstead Ponds. Add the turquoise coasts of Cornwall, the rugged mountains of Snowdonia (Eryri) and the fairytale wonder of Scotland’s highlands and islands to the mix, and you’ve got a country which is as good looking as they come.

"When we set about curating this list of the most beautiful places in the UK, we called on our network of expert travel writers. These guys have have personally experienced the pinch-me moment of seeing every place on this list in real life – so we can guarantee you there is no catfishing going on here. Of course, you’ll find the usual suspects – you can’t argue with the magic of the Isle of Skye, after all – but you’ll also find some more surprising beauty spots to add to your travel bucket list."

Describing the village, the writers said: "Portmeirion is like something out of a dream. That is intentional, as the brainchild of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis set out to bring the peace and pace of the Mediterranean to the northwest of Wales. Don’t scoff: the two are more alike than you might first assume. Since its completion in 1975, this unique tourist village has established itself as the most romantic spot in north Wales. Of course, it certainly helps if it comes with Italianate architecture, colourful facades and an unforgettable sense of romance. How could you not fall for Portmeirion?"

The top 15 most beautiful places in Britain, according to Time Out, are:

1. Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean

2. Minack Theatre, Cornwall

3. Barbican Estate, London

4. Singing Sands, Isle of Eigg

5. Avebury Stone Circle, Wiltshire

6. Medieval Shambles, York

7. Seven Sisters, Sussex

8. Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye

9. Whitstable Seafront, Kent

10. Rydal Caves, Lake District

11. Loch Lomond, Highland Boundary Fault

12. Central Oxford

13. Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol

14. Portmeirion, North Wales

15. Benone Strand, Causeway Coast