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Our winter wonderland town was made famous in The Holiday movie – now we’re invaded by thousands of tourists who ruin it
A CHARMING countryside village made famous by the feel-good Christmas film The Holiday is being invaded by troublesome tourists.
Fans of the festive favourite turn up in their thousands every year to follow in the footsteps of the all-star cast - but locals say they're ruining the picturesque setting.
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The swarms of visitors to Shere in Surrey throughout December make parking and traffic a nightmare, according to residents.
The influx also means much of the housing in the quintessentially English village between Dorking and Guildford has been turned into holiday rentals and Airbnbs.
One fed up local, who did not want to give her name, said bluntly: "It's absolutely awful.
"On the weekends there is nowhere to park. You can’t even walk down the street safely.
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"It’s very unpleasant for the people who live here."
Another resident, who also wished to remain anonymous, said her neighbour was outraged when a group of tourists used her private parking space to dump their motor.
The Holiday, released in 2006, follows two women, played by Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, who swap homes over Christmas.
Kate's character Iris spends the holiday period in LA, while Cameron's character Amanda travels to the English countryside - with both finding love in each other's worlds.
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While some of filming locations were created specifically for the movie, several exist in Surrey and Oxfordshire.
Among them is The White Horse pub in Shere, where customers can enjoy a pint on the same wooden bench as heartthrob Jude Law did.
There is even a plaque on the wall commemorating the filming of The Holiday, which is said to be getting a sequel.
Business might be booming for the boozer as a result, but those living close by aren't so happy about the rush of day-trippers.
Dr Lynette Nusbacker, who has lived in Shere for 12 years, said: "The car parks are completely full and people who actually live here have to sit and wait in queues to get a space.
"We decided to create our own private parking area but on the weekends it is ‘mysteriously’ unlocked and full of other cars.
"We don't want to ruin our recreation ground by extending the car park further, and adding more spaces will only attract more people to come here."
Asked about how many people the Nancy Meyers classic brings to the area, Lynette estimated: "If you would see 20 people here on a weekday, you see five times that on a weekend.
"A lot about this village is very traditional. For example we don’t have streetlights, which means we can’t have speed bumps, so we have people zooming through the roads."
Shere became "especially rammed" after Covid restrictions lifted, according to the 55-year-old strategist.
She added: "Before the pandemic there was only one Airbnb in the village but now there are far more."
This had led to a major traffic problem, with residents actively avoiding going out at weekends.
However, Lynette did point out that without tourism, the village would not be able to afford the amenities it has.
Once the rumoured sequel hits the big screen, Shere could see an even bigger invasion of Hollywood fans.
The new movie is expected to feature its original lead quartet of stars - 17 years on.
It is set to revisit the relationships that sprung up between Cameron, 50, and Jude, 49, and, Kate, 47, and Jack Black, 53.
A source said: "The plan is to start rolling on scenes next year, primarily in the UK and in Europe, but the main talent are all signed up and on board.
"It’s one of the most successful movies of its kind and still enjoyed every year by millions of fans around the world - it makes perfect sense to revisit those characters and find out what became of their lives after they hooked up.
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"It’ll be funny, poignant, and heartwarming - just what everyone wants for Christmas."
The Holiday cost £70million to make but went on to take in well over £200m at the box office before becoming staple seasonal viewing.
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