Although overtourism is often a problem associated with villages, cities, and towns on the European continent, it is also an issue that affects places in the UK too. Whilst cities like London can cope with thousands of people filling the streets during the spring and summer, smaller villages are less able to, creating issues for the local population.
In recent years, the likes of Bibury and Castle Combe have become hubs for tourism, due to their aesthetics and appearances in Hollywood films and TV shows. One couple living in the former have become so fed up with the behaviour of some tourists they have decided to leave after 14 years. Brian and Jill Skarda moved from Barnsley to Bibury, a place described as “the most beautiful village in England” by William Morris and the “world’s most beautiful village” by Forbes, because of tourists.
Bibury has become even more popular since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic (Image: Loop Images, Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
However, it isn’t because of the behaviour of tourists over the 14 year period, but rather the five years since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, during which time they say the actions of visitors has changed.
In a column entitled Tales from the Riverbank for Village Life magazine, Mr Skarda criticised the behaviour of some people for being “invasive”.
Mr Skarda, who identified Arlington Row as a primary source of concern, said he believed visitors are now encroaching too closely on locals’ lives, making it increasingly difficult for them to live normally.
He explained: “We have decided that we have had enough invasive tourism in Arlington Row…We have been here for over 14 years and noticed that since Covid, visitor behaviours have changed.
“They have become more inconsiderate and the sheer numbers of tourists …meant that, on occasions, we have virtually been unable to get out of our front door.”
Towards the conclusion of his column, Mr Skarda expressed his wish that Bibury might eventually “resolve its tourism issues” having bemoaned the location was being “ruined by the very people who come to see it”, reports the Independent.
Mr Skarda isn’t the first Cotswoldian resident to have complained about the impact of tourism on their daily life. In 2025, locals in Castle Combe voiced their concerns about the impact of tourists too.
Residents in Castle Combe are worried about tourists too (stock) (Image: Getty)
Like Bibury, Castle Combe has been used as a site for Hollywood projects such as Stardust and other ventures, but the village home to just 400 people received an influx of over 100,000 tourists a year, a situation only exacerbated by drones.
In fact the problem became so acute, it was reported that people had had to put up signs asking people not to film with the devices in 2025.
A retired police officer living in the village, one Hilary Baker told the Express said it was the presence of drone cameras that had prompted many people to leave the place entirely.
She said: “Give us a little bit of consideration. That’s what caused everybody to go, ‘This is now beyond reasonable.’ Because our children are precious, you don’t know who’s on the other end of the camera.
“I’m not casting aspersions, but you just don’t know anymore. It’s out there in the ether before you can blink an eye. If only they would stop and think, ‘How would I feel sat in my garden minding own business with a drone flying 20 feet above my head?’