A sad chapter has unfolded in the quaint village of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, as its oldest shop, Hartwells Ironmongers, has closed its doors forever. The reason? An influx of tourists that locals describe as 'awful' and 'unbearable', transforming their beloved village into a living hell.
For 36 years, David Barker, now 70, ran Hartwells, which first opened in 1805, making it a 220-year-old institution in the region. Behind its counter, Barker sold paint, plugs, and adaptors, but the shop's closure marks the end of an era.
Bourton, a village of just 4,000 residents, now attracts a staggering 300,000 visitors annually. Locals like Liha Okunniwa, who has lived there for a decade, describe the tourism as unbearable. "It wouldn't be so bad if the tourists weren't all so awful," she said. Tourists invade her garden, trample over her plants, and even take photos of her eating in her kitchen.
The village has undergone a dramatic transformation, with essential amenities like hospitals, butchers, hairdressers, and banks closing down, replaced by 20 gift shops, 11 restaurants, and 10 cafes. Mollie Wise, a former editor of the local newspaper, the Bourton Browser, noted the stark change: "We moved to Bourton 30 years ago for the amenities and community. What a stark change. Only a handful of shops for the residents now."
District councillor Jon Wareing blames "TikTok tourists" for exploiting the area for social media content, showing little interest in the village's heritage and culture. The county council has introduced additional parking fees to discourage visitors, but the village's residents feel they've reached a breaking point.
"It's become so hellish that I'm thinking of moving out altogether," Okunniwa added.
The closure of Hartwells symbolizes the delicate balance between tourism and local life. While tourism brings money into the village, it also threatens to overwhelm and destroy the very community it aims to attract. As Bridget Cullimore, who worked at Hartwells since leaving school, said, "This is the end of an era."
What do you think? Is tourism always a blessing, or can it sometimes be a curse? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
