Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are thought to be the latest famous faces to settle in the Cotswolds, following six years living in the US. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly moved back to the UK in August, and their precise location in the rural region is not known.
Tourist influx sparks resident frustration
The Cotswolds, which the couple are now thought to call home, is an increasingly popular tourist destination, thanks to its English countryside charm, luxury escapes, celebrity residents and Instagram-worthy scenery. The area is thought to attract 25 million visitors a year, according to the official Cotswolds tourism organisation, and local businesses stand to benefit financially from the influx.
Jeremy Clarkson is thought to be among the reasons for the rise in visitors, with his show Clarkson’s Farm filmed at his Diddly Squat Farm, just outside Chipping Norton. Visitors also often stop by his farm shop and The Farmer’s Dog, his pub. The likes of the Beckhams, Beyoncé, Ellen DeGeneres and Kate Moss also own properties in the area, while Princess Anne and her family live in Gloucestershire.
Residents describe 'theme park' atmosphere
Yet one of its village’s picturesque charm, which has long drawn visitors to the area, is increasingly driving some residents away, with a small minority of tourists reportedly overstepping the mark. Local resident Clare Perrin, 64, from Bibury, likened the village to "a theme park", telling The Times: "It’s crazy and we just feel like it’s not going to change because it’s the age of Instagram. It makes you question staying here."
Some villagers have also claimed that families have walked into their homes through open doors, enjoyed picnics in their gardens and blocked access for ambulances. Clare said she experienced a frightening ordeal when she was stuck in an ambulance after suffering a suspected heart attack. "It couldn’t turn around because about 70 tourists were at the end of the row. The poor ambulance man was very stressed and got a tourist to help him move the others out of the way," she claimed.
Long-term residents decide to leave
Victoria Summerley, 70, an author and journalist, also told the publication about a heated confrontation with an "entitled" visitor, who she claimed had blocked the road while waiting to collect other visitors. "I sprayed him through the window and he burst into tears. His attitude was so offensive I thought it would teach him a lesson," she said.
Brian Skarda, a parish councillor and former president of the Rotary Club in nearby Cirencester, said he and his wife, Jill, were leaving after 14 years of living in the area. He claimed visitors had become "more inconsiderate" since the pandemic, adding that he and his wife had had enough of the enduring "door banging, window peeping and general interference in our private lives" from tourists. He also claimed there had been occasions when they were unable to get out of their own front door or move their car.
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan were recently spotted enjoying their surroundings at a local pub. A friend of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told The Sun: "They are enjoying exploring the area including local watering holes. Meghan has been spending a lot of time since their move to the UK making sure the children are settled and working on her As Ever brand. When they aren’t working, like most couples they like to spend time together." However, according to a journalist, the pair have sparked some complaints among locals.
