UK Cotswolds Village Named World's Most Beautiful Amid Tourism Concerns

Bibury, a small village in the Cotswolds, England, has been named the most beautiful village in the world by Forbes, topping a list of 50 global contenders. Known for its honey-colored stone cottages along Arlington Row, a site featured in the UK passport and preserved by the National Trust, Bibury is celebrated as a "watercolour dream" with picturesque river views and historic charm. Despite its beauty and popularity, the village’s approximately 600 residents express concern over the surge in tourism, which can bring over 20,000 visitors during peak weekends, causing overcrowding, traffic congestion, and disturbances to local life. Measures have been introduced to mitigate the impact, including replacing parking bays with drop-off points and encouraging smaller vehicles to reduce congestion on narrow roads. While Bibury’s recognition has boosted its profile as a tourist destination, locals find the increased foot traffic a "double-edged sword" that threatens the village’s tranquility and heritage. The village remains a sought-after location for visitors seeking quintessential English countryside scenery, alongside other nearby Cotswold attractions.