Bibury, a small village in the Cotswolds in south-central England, is drawing in tourists from around the globe hoping to spend time among its beauty.
However, despite the picture-perfect scenery, some have said the steady stream of visitors is creating a growing problem for the people who live there.
Tourism has brought mounting parking pressure to the community, and enforcement there is generating roughly £900 ($1,200) a week in fines.
What happened?
According to the Oxford Mail, Bibury — home to Arlington Row and its honey-colored stone cottages — is facing tighter parking controls as growing visitor numbers put more strain on the village.
Parking officials reportedly issued 651 penalties in 2025, up sharply from 28 in 2019. Based on the £70 fine level — reduced to £35 if paid within a few weeks — those tickets could amount to as much as £45,570 ($61,000) a year.
Community representative Craig Chapman told the Independent, as shared by the Oxford Mail, that the issue is not just the number of tourists but also how some of them park. He said many showed "very little regard for the villagers," leaving cars on double yellow lines, blocking pavements, and creating hazards on the village's narrow roads.
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Chapman said stricter enforcement would help keep access open for emergency vehicles and allow pedestrians to move more safely through the village center.
Why does it matter?
Residents say the effects are immediate: badly parked cars can cut off sidewalks, obstruct driveways, and make emergency access more difficult.
The fine revenue does not fully pay for the response, either, because enforcement costs are around £4,000 a month.
While tourism brings visibility and spending, unmanaged crowds can strain infrastructure, disrupt daily life, and turn a peaceful destination into a traffic bottleneck.
What's being done?
During the busy March-to-October season, Gloucestershire County Council wants to introduce pay-and-display parking for 24 on-street spaces along The Street, with two-hour charges set at £6 or £7.
As cited by the Oxford Mail, officials said those fees were benchmarked against other high-visitor destinations and could generate up to £218,880 a year. Over four years, the council projects a surplus of up to £360,680 after enforcement costs are factored in.
A pedestrianized central area, previously used for coach parking, is reportedly expected to become permanent, with temporary barriers to be replaced by structures better suited to the historic setting.
County council leader Lisa Spivey said the aim is to make parking "safe, legal and appropriate."
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