I've visited it a few times (stayed over the weekend for a birthday as well) and it's surprising how small the Village is if you've just seen it from the series. There's a lot of forced perspective designed into the buildings to make them seem larger as well as some fake windows painted on the outside. I like the mix of themes with the various statues and paintings - mermaids, lions, angels, buddha etc.

So you mean that The Prisoner was Portmeirion themed?

But yes, Portmeirion had a rich history before McGoohan decided that it was perfect for his idea. Noël Coward wrote Blithe Spirit while staying in the village. George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman were all visitors. Beatles Paul McCartney, George Harrison and their manager, Brian Epstein, were also regulars in the village.