Locals say picturesque Cotswolds village is being ‘destroyed’ by daytrippers

• Bourton-on-the-Water, a picturesque Cotswolds village, is being "destroyed" by an overwhelming influx of daytrippers and Instagrammers, locals say.
• Residents describe the village as "Blackpool-on-the-Water" due to the sheer volume of visitors, estimated at 5,000-10,000 daily for a population of 4,000.
• The nature of tourism has shifted post-pandemic, with daytrippers bringing their own picnics and using free parking, contributing little to the local economy beyond ice cream sales.
• Concerns include tourists using hedges as toilets, leaving litter, damaging property, and coaches illegally parking in residential areas.
• A resident survey found over 90 per cent believe current tourism levels are unsustainable, prompting calls for immediate enforcement and intervention from authorities.

IN FULL

Our beautiful Cotswold village has become ‘Blackpool-on-the-Water’ thanks to tourists, say furious residents