UK’s ‘prettiest village’ turns into ‘Disneyland’ by ‘terrible vacationers’ as residents fume
Locals in the picturesque village of Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds have voiced their frustrations over the number of “awful Disney tourists” visiting the area
Residents in a village frequently hailed as “Britain’s most beautiful” claim their community has been turned into “Disneyland” by an invasion of “awful tourists”. They argue the village has deteriorated significantly in recent years, with one historic establishment forced to shut its doors due to the tourist influx.
Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, welcomes approximately 300,000 visitors annually. This leaves the 4,000 residents in the Gloucestershire village, many of whom are pensioners, vastly outnumbered.
The growing demand to accommodate massive tourist numbers has reportedly resulted in essential local services being replaced by souvenir shops, cafes, and eateries.
According to The Times, Hartwells Ironmongers shut permanently earlier this month after serving the community for 220 years. The establishment, founded in 1805, was purchased by 70-year-old David Barker in 1989.
Additional closures in recent years encompass four butchers, four hairdressers, two fish and chip shops, two bank branches, two hardware shops, a travel agent, a newsagent, a greengrocer, a bookshop and a shoe shop. Yet there are now approximately 20 gift shops, 11 restaurants and 10 cafes, reports the Express.
Mollie Wise penned in the local publication, the Bourton Browser, last month: “We moved to Bourton 30 years ago for the amenities and community. What a stark change.
“Only a handful of shops for the residents now. I expect other residents will remember more shops that have ceased trading.”
Liha Okunniwa, a 10-year resident of Bourton, has found the influx of tourists in recent years “unbearable”. The 46-year-old has even had visitors trespassing into her garden to snap photos of her property.
Speaking to The Times, she said: “It wouldn’t be so bad if the tourists weren’t all so awful. They come through my gate into my garden, trample all over my garden and take photos outside my house.
“They take photos of me eating in my kitchen.” The high street now only houses one local supermarket – a Budgens.
“The last bank, a Lloyds, closed its doors in 2017, leaving some locals struggling for access to basic services. Over 100 residents attended a meeting with Gloucestershire County Council and Cotswold District Council last month, warning that the village was reaching a “breaking point”.
To discourage large crowds, additional parking charges have been implemented this month. These include extra fees for cars between 10am and 8pm daily.
Paul Hodgkinson, the council’s cabinet member for health, culture and visitor experience, commented: “This new approach is designed to give something back to residents and boost the money going back into the village.”
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