Cotswolds Villages Grapple with Overtourism, Leading to Resident Assault and Council Intervention
Overtourism has become a significant problem in the English Cotswolds, particularly in villages like Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water. These picturesque locations, often highlighted on social media, are experiencing an overwhelming influx of visitors, far exceeding their infrastructure capacity. Bibury, with approximately 630 residents, can see up to 20,000 visitors on a peak summer weekend, leading to severe congestion and disruption. The situation has escalated to the point where a resident in Bibury was assaulted last year during a parking dispute with tourists, underscoring the frayed patience among locals. Photographs have circulated showing tourists climbing fences and leaning on historic stonework for pictures, treating residential areas as mere backdrops. In response, Gloucestershire County Council has allocated £175,000 to a Bibury Overtourism and Safety Mitigation Scheme, developed in collaboration with local councils, businesses, and law enforcement. Similar issues are reported in Bourton-on-the-... 
