Bourton-on-the-Water is a popular tourist spot in the Cotswolds (Image: Daily Express)
I visited one of the prettiest villages in the and what was meant to be a relaxing day trip quickly turned out to be a nightmare and I was forced to leave early.
Thanks to its serene river is often called the of the Cotswolds due to its little bridges and pathways which straddle the knee-deep River.
Bourton-on-the-Water often tops the lists of the most in England and is one of the most popular destinations in the Cotswolds.
After hearing about its quaint charm I couldn’t help but pay the village a visit and escape the hustle and bustle of the city, but I instantly regretted this decision as soon as we arrived.
Hordes of people lined the water’s edge (Image: Lauran O’Toole)
What I expected from the idyllic little village was visiting the charming shops, pubs and cafes, stopping off for an ice cream and perhaps even paddling in the cool waters.
However, my first thought when I laid eyes on the village is that it is as busy as London, it seemed nearly every person in the UK had the same idea as me on how to spend their Sunday.
, hordes of people lined the water’s edge while you could barely walk a step without bumping into someone or getting in the way of someone’s picture.
Whilst trying to navigate the crowds of people I thought I’d try and make my way across one of the bridges to get an ice cream.
The streets of Bourton are overflowing with tourists (Image: Daily Express)
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After rubbing shoulders with what felt like hundreds of people and muttering ‘sorry’ with people clearly distressed as me I eventually made it to one of the ice cream shops.
To my horror the queues for all the ice cream shops were as long as far as the eye could reach.
After queuing for half an hour for a scoop of ice cream, I thought I would de-stress with a refreshing pint but the queues at the bar were about a foot long.
My thoughts were echoed by one visitor on TripAdvisor who said: “Beautiful but overrun by tourists which is a shame because it’s got charm overflowing.
“It’s called little Venice because all the bridges over the canal are very similar.
“I would have liked to stay longer but it was too busy especially because the sun was out so everyone was flocking here.”
Bourton-on-the-Water attracts crowds of people (Image: Lauran O’Toole)
Whilst Leila E who visited in August 2024 felt “irritated” at the mass amount of people, she said: “We live pretty close to the Cotswolds and often visit the area. Unfortunately mass tourism has ruined Bourton on the water. Our last visit will truly be our last and I can only hope that many more will agree with me and stay as far away from this village as possible if only to help out the poor residents.
“The second we stepped foot out of the car we were gobsmacked at the sheer volume of people there were. You couldn’t appreciate the beauty of this town as you simply couldn’t see any of it through the mass crowds.
“I actually felt very irritated walking through this village. It was not a nice experience and as much as we once loved this village we will not be returning.”
Residents have also reported that the influx of visitors, particularly during peak seasons, have led to overcrowded streets, packed eateries, and overwhelmed public facilities.
A local business owner told the Express earlier this year: “While we welcome tourists and the business they bring, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to manage the crowds. Our roads are congested, and parking is a nightmare.”