To not pay to visit portmeirion

[millimat]

Has anyone paid to go in? We were going to visit at the weekend but it would have cost us £35!!!!! What is so amazing about it?

It's a listed village, all the buildings, grounds etc are protected to ensure that it keeps its unique character. That costs a lot of money to maintain, which is why it's owned by a charitable trust.

I genuinely can't work out why you're so baffled by this. If you ever do decide it's worth £35 you'll soon see the necessity of charging entry.

We've been twice. It's gorgeous. Your loss.

You could, of course, have typed 'Portmeirion' into Google and found all this out by yourself in about thirty seconds...

Yes Portmeirion is wonderful.

@jamoncrumpets yes I could, and have. However I'm genuinely intrigued as to others perceptions on this.

I like Portmerion, last time we took a picnic and sat on the beach to eat it. Love the architecture there and would like to rent one of the houses but they are not cheap (you can stay there).

You begrudge paying to visit a place run by a charitable trust? Do you not visit castles or stately homes either?

Jamoncrumpets- you may be missing the point of Mumsnet slightly. It's a discussion board to, you know, discuss stuff.

It's of architectural and historical significance. Like a castle. Or museum. Or stately home. Those places don't maintain themselves.

£35 for a family of four is very reasonable. It takes a lot of maintenance and it’s privately owned, not a normal village.

You have to pay to go into most things - stately homes, aquariums. It’s not new.

Think it more of a movie set plus beach and gardens rather than a village. Personally I think it is a magical place and don't begrudge the entry fee but it does seem to divide opinion .Why not you tube a tour round to give you an idea of what it's like before you commit the money.

I've got to be honest I had no idea before we visited that Portmeirion isn't actually a village where people live etc. It's more like a stately home in as much as there's gorgeous grounds and interesting architecture all over the place. It's just in many buildings rather than one big one along with random little statues tucked away in unexpected places.

At first I was gobsmacked that we'd have to pay to gain access but then I wouldn't expect to just be able to walk around Warwick castle for free so why should a unique architectural development in Britain be any different?

It was a lovely place to potter around and I'm glad that my visiting has helped the overall upkeep. I'd love to book a cottage there one year but it's a bit pricey so that might be a while in the making.

I suppose you either like that sort of thing and contribute to its upkeep or you swerve it for something more in line with your tastes.

Surely that’s just a fairly standard family ticket entrance price to an attraction?

I'm with you MrsBlaidd.
I thought it was a village, not an attraction / charitable trust. Is so not clear on their advertising.
I totally agree - I'd pay for a castle, movie set etc, but I genuinely thought it was a pretty village to mooch around.

Be thankful it isn't more. I took my DC to the intrepid here in NYC (we are expats) and the cost of the tickets was eye watering. £35 is an absolute bargain compared to what they charge here.

When I lived in the U.K. I never appreciated that so many of these places of interest are either free or very affordable. Now I have DC and I'm doing it abroad it is ridiculously expensive here in comparison made worse by the silly rules here at you can't bring a picnic. I often take the kids back to the car to eat lunch because I refuse to spend £50 on lunch.

The intrepid cost $105 for admission (one adult and 3 DC aged 6 and under) which is about £75.

I wouldn't expect to just be able to walk around Warwick castle for free so why should a unique architectural development in Britain be any different?

^Agree.

I live near Petworth House (NT). It costs £33.60 for a family, (or £37.50 gift aided). I don't really see that Portmeirion, with interesting architecture, film history, views, beach and gardens is unreasonable to charge a similar price.
Entry fees are to be expected

We were put off by the price too.

I've never heard of the intrepid?

Another one put off by the price so our family of 6 did not go. will go with husband when kids grow up as I really want to go.

It's beautiful and well worth the money. Beaches, nature walks, sculptures, the village ... if you like visiting stately homes and castles you will enjoy it.

But def not the place to pop in for one/two hours before a trip to the beach?! That was our plan

Portmeirion is beautiful. I don't think it sounds like your thing, OP because I'm sure you will have seen photos of it but here are some that I took a couple of years ago. I agree about the weather - pick a nice day.

It was the thing that i was most disappointed with and felt it poor value. It was pissing with rain and i had a 15,13 and 3 year old with me.

I have been staying in the village for holidays since i was a child. It's one of my favourite places. It is wonderful.i have been going back for 20 odd years. I would highly recommend