What was supposed to be a relaxing family getaway for US Vice President JD Vance is shaping up to be anything but peaceful.
As Vance plans a quiet summer holiday in the English countryside, activists are preparing to greet him with a wave of disruption and protest.
Plans for a Family Retreat in the Cotswolds Face Resistance
JD Vance, along with his wife Usha and their three children—Ewan Blaine, Vivek, and Mirabel—is expected to visit the tranquil Cotswolds region next month.
But their trip might be anything but serene.
Several activist groups, including pro-Palestinian supporters, climate campaigners, and trade unionists, are already organizing protests to spoil the visit.
The vice president’s choice of destination has also stirred the waters because it’s the same area where TV personality Ellen DeGeneres recently relocated.
DeGeneres, who has openly criticized Donald Trump, cited the former president’s re-election as a reason for permanently leaving the US for the UK.
Ellen DeGeneres Reflects on Her New Life Across the Pond
Ellen, now living with wife Portia de Rossi in the English countryside, didn’t hold back in revealing why she made the move.
She explained that they arrived in the UK just a day before the US presidential election.
When they learned the outcome, she said they immediately decided to stay.
Her candid comments and political stance have added another layer of tension to Vance’s visit, especially among locals who are politically opposed to Trump and his allies.
Disneyland Backlash and a Trail of Protests
This wouldn’t be the first time Vice President Vance has been the target of public demonstrations.
Just last week, during a family trip to Disneyland in California, he came under fire for shutting down popular rides so his children could enjoy them privately—an act that left many guests fuming.
Earlier this year in Vermont, he also faced criticism while skiing, as protesters held up placards urging him to “go home.”
It seems the Stop Trump Coalition is determined to make sure his time in the UK is no different.
Protesters Prepare a UK Welcome for Trump and Vance
With former President Donald Trump scheduled to visit his golf resorts in Scotland soon, activists are ramping up for a busy protest season.
Demonstrators plan to line roads, beaches, and even the skies with banners opposing Trump’s presence.
The same groups have now extended their focus to JD Vance’s visit, promising a similar show of resistance.
A coalition spokesperson declared that the vice president “is every bit as unwelcome in the UK as Donald Trump,” adding that protest plans are already in motion for stops in both Scotland and England.
Locals Concerned About Security Chaos in Quiet Villages
The peaceful charm of the Cotswolds is expected to be tested once Vance and his large security detail arrive.
His recent Disneyland visit involved dozens of Secret Service agents, barricades, and even sniffer dogs.
Cotswolds residents now worry that their narrow rural roads will be clogged by convoys and chaos.
Already battling overcrowding from tourist traffic to Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop and his nearby pub, villagers have complained about constant gridlocks and disruptions caused by Google Maps directing travelers through small residential lanes.
Clarkson’s Farm Effect Adds to Tourist Pressure
Jeremy Clarkson’s TV fame has brought an influx of fans to his farm and pub, and the increased footfall has turned previously quiet roads into high-traffic zones.
Locals have begged for traffic to be redirected to larger roads, and even Clarkson himself has urged visitors to avoid narrow lanes.
The situation has become so intense that online maps and route apps are being asked to reroute drivers altogether, while the pub’s official website now carries a message asking guests to avoid smaller village roads.
TikTok and Instagram Fuel Cotswold Overtourism
The rise of social media tourism has brought yet another challenge to the area.
TikTok users and influencers have made places like Bibury go viral, drawing tens of thousands of visitors every weekend.
To address the traffic jams and overcrowding, local councils are introducing temporary parking rules and new drop-off zones for coaches.
Bibury, often called the “most beautiful village in England,” now sees up to 50 tour coaches a day.
The county council has responded by working with local businesses and coach companies to trial new traffic solutions.
Castle Combe and Bourton-on-the-Water Under Pressure
Other scenic Cotswold villages like Castle Combe and Bourton-on-the-Water are also under strain.
Castle Combe, famous from films like War Horse and Doctor Dolittle, is grappling with swarms of tourists and invasive behaviors.
Locals have reported drones buzzing over their homes and streets filled with beach chairs and crowds.
Bourton-on-the-Water, often dubbed the “Venice of the Cotswolds” for its charming stone bridges, is also reaching a breaking point.
Residents have raised concerns about safety and overcrowding, and some are pushing for a car ban in the village center with tourists dropped off outside and forced to walk in.
A Summer of Conflict Ahead?
As JD Vance prepares for what should have been a peaceful family break, he’s walking into a hornet’s nest of political dissent, local frustration, and overcrowding.
With protesters gearing up and residents already on edge due to tourism issues, this trip to the English countryside might turn into one of his most controversial yet.
Whether he and his family will enjoy their vacation—or end up cutting it short again—remains to be seen.