Now it’s Paddington’s fault.
How can a much-loved, family-friendly icon of British childhood wind up at the centre of an overtourism row?
It seems householders in the beautiful and exclusive Primrose Hill area of London are getting fed-up with the disruption of a constant stream of sight-seers, TikTokers and influencers beating a path to their front doors, in the wake of publicity for the new film coming to cinemas in November.
Add to that complaints about noise from an Airbnb’s Paddington-related makeover, and tempers are flaring.
It’s just the latest in a long stream of protests about over-tourism linked to the film and TV industry.
Locations in the Harry Potter series have either had to restrict access or monetise the heck out of the asset.
The village featured in Downton Abbey has put curbs on coaches, and Hebden Bridge was plagued with rowdy stag and hen nights after being featured in the series Happy Valley.
Restrictions, tourist taxes and protests are spreading as authorities struggle to balance the travel economy with residents’ needs.
But are tourists to blame?
Has the ease of travel, in the 21st century, made us into a bunch of care-for-nobodies?
Before the age of instant media, you had to wait ’till you returned home then wait again for your photos to be developed before you could share your trip with your friends and family.
Now the world can follow your every move and try to emulate your holiday.
Is this good or bad?
Are there places you now won’t travel to, and if so, why?
Out of respect for the locals?
For fear of being attacked?
Or because you can’t, or won’t, pay a tourist tax?
Time to nail our colours to the mast.
We love visiting film, book and TV locations on our travels.
There’s a particular joy in researching, sleuthing and discovering in real-life something you’ve only seen in your imagination, and we’ve featured several over the years we’ve been blogging.
But – and we don’t want to sound preachy here – we would never intrude on private property or get in the way of local life.
We also try to find independent shops and cafés in the area, to give a little back to the local economy.
We’ll happily pay a tourist tax on accommodation or an admission surcharge if it’s somewhere we really want to go, but hate the idea of paying more for basics like food just because we’re not local.
And anywhere that’s really ‘cashing in’ on celluloid fame (like the photo opportunities at King’s Cross/St Pancras) is a big turn-off for us.
In fact, when we were last there, Pork Belly spent more time photographing the extraordinary ceiling than the fake Platform 9 and 3/4!
So will we keep visiting film and book locations?
Hell, yes!
Will we keep telling you of interesting places linked to a famous piece of art or literature?
That’s a yes, too.
And let’s face it, given the few people who actually see our social media posts, we’re not exactly influencers!
Will we be mindful of the locals and not get too intrusive?
Absolutely!
And we hope you do too.
Where to next?
• The real House at Green Knowe
• Fabulous worldwide film locations
• Famous UK film locations