Bibury, a beloved Cotswold village renowned for its iconic Arlington Row, has taken significant steps to address the challenges posed by overtourism. In recent years, the village has faced an influx of visitors, with weekend numbers reaching up to 20,000. Coach tourism, in particular, has raised concerns among residents due to the impact of up to 50 coaches parking daily in the village center.
In response, Gloucestershire County Council began a temporary traffic management trial last May, removing the existing coach parking bays from the heart of Bibury. Instead, temporary bus stops were established near the Trout Farm to provide safer and more efficient passenger drop-off and pick-up zones.
Highways officials reported that although coach parking has been problematic, the trial has yielded positive results. Following wide community consultation, with over 150 participants in a recent survey, more than 65% supported replacing the former coach bays with a bus stop, loading bay, and disabled parking spaces.
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Craig Chapman, chairman of Bibury Parish Council, expressed strong approval of the changes: “Removing the coach parking bays was a welcome development, addressing significant safety concerns caused by coaches reversing and the traffic disruptions near The Swan Bridge. Moving towards pedestrianising most of this area, while maintaining coach passenger drop-off points and short-term pull-in zones, represents an excellent outcome for the village.”
The council plans to refine the scheme based on feedback and aims to begin a public consultation in March. If approved, the new measures could be implemented by June 2026, marking a new chapter in preserving Bibury’s unique character while managing visitor impact.