What started as a peaceful countryside escape is slowly turning into a high-profile hotspot.
The Cotswolds, with its rolling green hills, stone cottages, and charming pubs, have long attracted those craving a quiet retreat.
But now, locals are beginning to feel overwhelmed—not just by tourists, but by celebrities and political figures descending en masse.
And the latest name to stir up conversation? U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
JD Vance Plans Family Vacation Amid Overtourism Woes
According to reports, Vice President JD Vance is preparing to bring his family—his wife Usha and their three kids, Ewan Blaine, Vivek, and Mirabel—on a countryside getaway to the Cotswolds this August.
It’s being billed as a simple summer family vacation, but locals fear the reality might be far more disruptive.
Vance joins a growing list of American A-listers who have fallen in love with the region, often dubbed the “English Hamptons.”
From Beyoncé and Jay-Z to Taylor Swift and Ellen DeGeneres, the Cotswolds’ reputation as a celebrity magnet has only grown stronger in recent years.
Residents Worry About VIP Security Gridlock
While the area’s beauty draws visitors in, its infrastructure hasn’t caught up.
The narrow, winding roads—some of which date back centuries—are simply not built for heavy traffic, let alone a high-security motorcade.
If Vance’s previous outings are anything to go by, Cotswolds locals might be in for a logistical nightmare.
Just last week, the Vice President caused quite the stir during a visit to Disneyland in California, where major rides were shut down to make way for him and his children.
Reports claim that more than 50 personnel, including Secret Service and Disney security, coordinated the private tour, frustrating regular parkgoers.
Now imagine that same level of security detail navigating the narrow village roads of rural England.
Clarkson’s Farm Already Straining Local Roads
Even before the Vance family’s arrival, residents have been struggling with traffic caused by Jeremy Clarkson’s booming farm shop and country pub.
Since the debut of his hit series Clarkson’s Farm, tourists have been pouring in, clogging up lanes between Diddly Squat Farm Shop in Chadlington and The Farmer’s Dog pub in Burford.
The 12-mile journey has turned into a traffic nightmare, leading locals and parish councils to plead with mapping apps like Google Maps to redirect drivers away from tiny village shortcuts.
Clarkson himself even added a message to his pub’s website asking visitors to stick to the main roads.
His plea hasn’t stopped muscle cars like Mustangs and Ferraris from showing up en masse, however.
Social Media Turns Villages into Tourist Traps
Apps like TikTok have only intensified the problem.
Hashtags like #CastleCombe and #CastleCombeEngland have driven tens of thousands to the medieval village made famous by movies such as War Horse and Dr. Dolittle.
While influencers are busy chasing the perfect shot, residents are left to deal with drone invasions, noise, and a steady rise in Airbnb conversions that erode the village’s community spirit.
One local described the summer scene as “like a beach,” with people lounging wherever they can and tour buses coming and going multiple times a day.
Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water Push Back Against Crowds
Other picturesque locations like Bibury—dubbed England’s “most beautiful village”—are being hit hard too.
On some weekends, the village sees as many as 20,000 visitors, with up to 50 coaches jamming its streets in a single day.
Authorities are now testing new traffic measures, like closing central coach bays and introducing safer bus stops, to try and bring some relief.
In Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” for its elegant stone bridges, some residents are pushing for a more radical solution.
They want to ban vehicles from the village center entirely and set up a designated drop-off point half an hour away.
With a population of just 3,000, the village simply can’t absorb the traffic that comes with tens of thousands of visitors.
One local councillor said the situation had gotten so bad that residents were being threatened by frustrated tourists looking for parking.
The Tension Between Fame and Peace
As more celebrities and political elites choose the Cotswolds as their go-to destination, the growing tension is undeniable.
For residents, it’s no longer just about seasonal tourists—it’s about the fear of losing the peace and charm that drew them there in the first place.
Whether JD Vance’s upcoming visit ends up causing further frustration or simply blends into the background remains to be seen.
But for many in the Cotswolds, the message is clear: the countryside is reaching its breaking point, and something has to give.
