World’s most beautiful village rakes in £900 a week in Cotswolds parking fines

Key facts

Village: Bibury, Cotswolds
Weekly fine income: About £900
Fines issued last year: 651
Fines issued in 2019: 28
Fine amount: £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within a fortnight)
Proposed pay-and-display charge: £6 or £7 for two hours (March–October)

Background

Bibury, a Cotswolds village near Cirencester, has been named the most beautiful village in the world by Forbes in a list of 50. The publication praised Arlington Row and the village’s honey-coloured stone cottages.

The global acclaim has brought problems, with locals complaining of dangerous parking and overtourism on narrow lanes. Parking wardens issued 651 penalty charge notices last year, up from 28 in 2019, as Gloucestershire County Council stepped up enforcement after resident complaints.

Current situation

With fines set at £70, reduced to £35 if paid within a fortnight, tickets issued in 2025 could have generated up to £45,570, equivalent to about £3,797 a month or roughly £900 a week.

Community representative Craig Chapman told the Independent that many visitors showed 'very little regard for the villagers', parking wherever they could, even blocking pavements or stopping on double yellow lines. He said firm enforcement was needed to keep routes open for ambulances and fire engines and to ensure pedestrian safety.

However, the cost of sending wardens out so regularly is estimated at around £4,000 a month, meaning income from fines alone does not cover the full enforcement bill.

Parking fines and projected revenue in Bibury
Year	Penalty charge notices	Potential revenue
2019	28	Not specified
2025	651	Up to £45,570

Figures from the Independent report and Gloucestershire County Council. Revenue for 2019 not provided.

Impacts

The county council is planning pay-and-display parking for 24 on-street spaces along The Street, with proposed charges of £6 or £7 for two hours during the busy March to October period. Officials say these tariffs could bring in up to £218,880 a year, delivering a projected surplus of up to £360,680 over four years once enforcement costs are taken into account.

A pedestrianised area in the middle of Bibury, previously used for coach parking, is to be made permanent, with temporary barriers replaced by structures designed to fit the historic setting. A focus group is also examining options for out-of-village parking to ease pressure on residents’ driveways and the tight road network.

These measures are part of a wider £175,000 investment package aimed at managing visitor numbers and congestion. County council leader Lisa Spivey said the authority wanted to support both locals and tourism businesses by making sure parking was 'safe, legal and appropriate', while North Cotswolds MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown welcomed the measures as a positive step towards protecting Bibury’s landscape and community.

Future outlook

Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.

If the pay-and-display scheme is implemented, it could generate significant revenue and reduce illegal parking, but its success may depend on visitor compliance and the effectiveness of enforcement.

The permanent pedestrianisation and out-of-village parking options could ease congestion, but they may also face logistical challenges or local opposition. The focus group’s recommendations could shape the village’s approach to managing tourism.

Without these measures, overtourism and dangerous parking could persist, potentially leading to further resident complaints and continued high enforcement costs. The council’s investment package may help, but its impact remains to be seen.

Source: thisisoxfordshire.co.uk

AMRIT EXPLAINER