Tourists visiting a well-liked village in the UK are requested to use smaller automobiles upon arrival

In the heart of the Cotswolds, the picturesque village of Bibury is known for its charming thatched-roof cottages and scenic beauty, which earned it the title of the most beautiful village in England by poet William Morris. However, the influx of tourists, especially during the high season, has put a strain on the village and its approximately 600 inhabitants.

Recent measures taken to alleviate tourist overcrowding include limiting parking spaces, promoting alternative visiting times, and enhancing local signage to manage visitor movement. These efforts, expected to be continued and potentially intensified, aim to maintain the village's charm while accommodating the influx of visitors, which can reach up to 20,000 per day.

A new traffic management system, introduced in May, has been a trial run in Bibury. The system includes parking restrictions, a designated drop-off area for coaches, and penalties for non-compliance. Previously installed coach parking bays were found to be disruptive and unsafe, leading to the introduction of this new system.

The high volume of coaches in Bibury can reach up to 50 a day, which has been a point of contention for the local community. An upcoming meeting with the Highways management team might result in an outright ban on large coaches, a suggestion supported by Bibury's former chair of the local council, Craig Chapman, who described the pressures from tourists as "intolerable and unacceptable."

The new traffic management system in Bibury has been supported by a significant increase in parking enforcement. However, Lisa Spivey, the county council leader, has stated that the system requires intensive staffing to function effectively. Future changes to the traffic management system may include a better unloading bay for visitors to England's oldest working trout farm and improved accessibility features such as an increase in disabled parking spaces and additional bus stop signage.

Lisa Spivey has also encouraged tourists to consider visiting other places in The Cotswolds and Gloucestershire instead of Bibury, or to visit Bibury in a smaller vehicle more suited to the historic narrow streets. The US Vice President J.D. Vance's reported vacation in the region during the summer of 2025 may have increased the notoriety of the region, further highlighting the need for effective traffic management.

Other villages in The Cotswolds have also complained of the effects of overtourism, prompting discussions about sustainable tourism practices in the region. The Cotswolds, a protected landscape in south-west England, is characterized by rolling hills and chocolate box villages filled with golden-stone, thatched-roof cottages. As these villages strive to maintain their charm while accommodating tourists, the focus remains on finding solutions that respect both the local community and the visitors who come to appreciate the beauty of these historic English villages.