Brighton Naturist Beach, East Sussex
Brighton's naturist beach, a short walk east of the Palace Pier towards Brighton Marina, was the first official nudist beach in Britain when the council set it aside in 1980. It is a shingle beach screened by a low bank of pebbles, easy to reach by train and busy on summer weekends.
See the listing for Brighton naturist beach for directions and details.
Studland, Dorset
The naturist stretch of Knoll Beach at Studland, looked after by the National Trust, is one of the most popular in the country: soft sand, dunes behind and views towards Old Harry Rocks. The naturist area is marked with signs at each end, so keep within it.
It is reached on foot from the National Trust car park at Knoll Beach. Our listing for Studland naturist beach has more.
Fraisthorpe, East Yorkshire
South of Bridlington, Fraisthorpe has a long, quiet sandy beach with a section that naturists have used for many years. It is wide and rarely crowded, which suits people trying naturism for the first time.
Pett Level, East Sussex
Between Hastings and Rye, the beach east of Pett Level has a naturist area towards Cliff End. At low tide there is a broad stretch of sand. The walk in is along the sea wall, so wear shoes for the shingle.
Morfa Dyffryn, Gwynedd
Morfa Dyffryn, south of Harlech in north Wales, sits in a nature reserve of high dunes, with a naturist section of the beach marked by posts. It is one of the most scenic in the UK; stay on the marked paths through the dunes.
Cleat's Shore, Isle of Arran
On the south-west coast of Arran, Cleat's Shore is a remote, rocky-and-sand beach that has long been used by naturists and is often named as Scotland's best known nudist spot. Expect a walk to reach it and very few people.
The law and naturist etiquette
Being naked in public is not in itself a crime in England and Wales; the law is concerned with intent to cause alarm or distress. On a recognised naturist beach you are very unlikely to have any problem, but keep to the marked area, as the people on the rest of the beach have not chosen to see it.
Regulars expect a few simple things: do not stare or take photos of others, bring a towel to sit on, keep sexual behaviour away from the beach entirely and take your rubbish home. Rules and marked areas can change, so check signs when you arrive. You can browse nudist and naturist beaches across the UK on AskedFor.
Your questions, answered
Where is the best nudist beach in the UK?
Brighton and Studland in Dorset are the best known. Brighton was Britain's first official naturist beach in 1980, and Studland's naturist area is looked after by the National Trust.
Is it legal to be naked on a beach in the UK?
Being naked is not in itself a crime in England and Wales; what matters is whether you intend to cause alarm or distress. Keep to recognised naturist areas and you are very unlikely to have any problem.
Can I take photos on a nudist beach?
No. Taking photos of other people on a naturist beach is the quickest way to cause upset and may lead to police involvement. Photograph the view only if nobody else is in the shot.