15 August 2023 , 11:24
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England's most overcrowded tourist attraction is "incredibly busy" and a "bit chaotic" according to visitors who have found themselves swept up in the buzz of one of the world's most iconic buildings.
From Barcelona to Venice, many of the world’s top holiday destinations are struggling to cope with over-tourism as cheap flights and a post-pandemic surge in wanderlust has led more and more people to head to them.
The situation has become so severe in Venice the city is poised to introduce a tourism tax, has banned cruise ships from docking there and is facing being put on Unesco's World Heritage 'in Danger list' if urgent work to avoid 'irreversible damage' is not done.
While the problem may not be as severe in the UK, some of the biggest tourist hotspots are also suffering from a glut of visitors. According to research from luxury travel company, The Thinking Traveller, British attractions are among Europe’s most crowded.
The tourist attraction was described as "incredibly busy" (In Pictures via Getty Images)Edinburgh Castle was the continent’s busiest attraction while Buckingham Palace took second place on the list in terms of how busy they feel, rather than total numbers of visitors. The Thinking Traveller team scoured review sites for mentions of “crowds”.
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Buckingham Palace, London’s most famous royal residence, is recognised around the world as the home of the monarch. In 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, a whopping 578,000 tourists visited the Palace while even more stopped outside the gates for a photo.
The crowds can prove a little much for some (Bloomberg via Getty Images)On Tripadvisor visitors to the royal residence have spoken of how overwhelming a trip there can be, particularly during the school holidays when great throngs of picture takers and hopeful-royal spotters can be seen gathering around the prominent statue of Queen Victoria which stands in front of the gates.
"Try not to visit during the school holiday if you can. Very busy," one person advised following a trip there this month. Another tourist ‘Emma’ said she didn’t go inside the Palace but added: “The whole area was incredibly busy with visitors from all over the world.”
Some tourists choose to enjoy tea in the Palace gardens as part of their visit which one visitor said was a “bit chaotic” as the “palace was extremely busy”. However, despite the crowds, the majority of reviews for Buckingham Palace are very positive. The attraction has an impressive 4.5 rating on Tripadvisor.
The Palace was judged to be the second busiest tourist attraction in Europe (NurPhoto via Getty Images)‘Martyn R’ enthused: “What a great day out. Make sure to try the care, busy, but the afternoon tea box is delicious and the coffee is worth the wait.” Another happy customer added: “Having visited Buckingham Palace from the outside many times, it was lovely to be able to go inside. The stateroom tour was amazing. The Palace is truly beautiful inside and out.”
If the crowds are too offputting, tourists could head to one of the UK’s lesser visited castle attractions. According to one survey, Hever Castle is the UK’s most underrated. The castle, located in Kent, was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.
As well as having a fascinating history and objects - including one of Henry VIII's private locks, taken with him on his various visits to noblemen's houses and fitted to every door for his security - it has plenty to keep families entertained, including mazes, gardens and lakes.
Several times a year live-action-role-players get together to take part in jousting tournaments and archery displays.