Naturism in UK

UK naturism is rooted  in the 1920s formation of English Gymnosophical Society after the First Word War.  March of 200 nudists through London’s Hyde Park lead by war hero Captain Harold Hugh Vincent led to more awareness about naturism. ¹ A naked history of 100 years of naturism The first naturist club was founded in the U.K. in Wickford, Essex in 1924. The Moonella group has land that they used ²A History of Naturism Select members of the English Gymnosophical Society were invited to join the club known as the Camp. Members used pseudonyms to protect their identities. The Moonella Camp was moved to a new site in St Albans in 1927.³UK’s first nudist colony in Essex which was mentioned on ITV’s Downton Abbey The Moonella group was mentioned in the British tv drama Downton Abbey. ⁴This Is the Nudist Colony That Got a Downton Shout-Out

The Camp was not the only naturist camp formed as several other groups and societies developed across the country during the 1930s. ⁵ A naked history of 100 years of naturism

Brighton Beach Britain’s first official nude beach was established 1979

Naturism is growing in the U.K.  A survey 2022 survey Last found that 14 per cent of British people, or one in seven people, described themselves as naturists or nudists. ⁶ Naked woman appears on GMB to debate nude sunbathing

British Naturism is the national naturist organization in the U.K.

Spielplatz is the oldest continuously operating naturist club and venue. In the U.K.

Morfa Dyffryn, Gwynedd

Mile-long stretch of golden sand regarded by many as the UK’s best.

Budleigh Salterton, Devon

Narrow shingly beach that slopes quite steeply into the sea.

Studland Bay, Dorset

Owned by the National Trust, one of the most popular naturist beaches in Britain. Wardens regularly patrol.

Eastney, Portsmouth

Small and shingly. Shy naturists should ask the bus driver to let them off at the “radar station”.

Leysdown East Beach, Kent

Sand, shells, shingle and mud at the eastern end of Isle of Sheppey.

Corton Beach, Suffolk

Small, sandy, gravely, stony beach two miles from lovely Lowestoft.

Holkham Beach, Norfolk

Very large official beach at the end of a two-mile path. Take a windbreak.

Cleat’s Shore, Isle of Arran

Isolated site at the southern end. Stunning beauty, but not warm.

Brighton beach became Britain’s first nude beach forty four years abut Brits continued to have a mixed relationship with social nudity. ⁷ Focus: And here is the (naked) news from Brighton – there’s too much nudity on TV

 

References

• 1
  A naked history of 100 years of naturism
• 2
  A History of Naturism
• 3
  UK’s first nudist colony in Essex which was mentioned on ITV’s Downton Abbey
• 4
  This Is the Nudist Colony That Got a Downton Shout-Out
• 5
  A naked history of 100 years of naturism
• 6
  Naked woman appears on GMB to debate nude sunbathing
• 7
  Focus: And here is the (naked) news from Brighton – there’s too much nudity on TV