Latest news with #BritishNaturism
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Police tell anyone sunbathing in their garden to 'be careful'
As the UK is expected to face more heatwaves in the coming weeks, Brits are being reminded of these rules As temperatures rise and Britain gets a dose of sunshine, it's no surprise that millions of people head outdoors to make the most of it. Whether it's a barbecue at home in the garden or visiting a local park, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the summer sun whilst it lasts. Some people might prefer to top up their tan at home during the heatwave and go for an au natural approach to avoid tan lines. Ditching all your clothes while on your own property might seem like a decision that's 100% up to you, and in the privacy of your own property, but there are a few things to consider first. Legally speaking, in England and Wales, it is not an offence to be naked in public or private. However, there are exceptions because you need to be careful that you're not causing "distress or alarm" or harassing others, as this is an offence under Section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The same conditions apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The College of Policing provides full advice and guidance in this document. Previously, Surrey Police had to clear up the rules for the rest of the country after it was called to a row between neighbours over this very issue. The force said: "If you want to wander around your garden naked and you are overlooked by neighbours, then you have to be careful - an Englishman's home is not quite his castle and your garden is not exempt from the law. "In an ideal world, your relationship with your neighbours would be such that they would not object to you gardening in the buff and they would never dream of calling the police. In the real world, however, you would be well advised to take some simple precautions." The police force offered a few options for people to consider when avoiding tan lines in the comfort of their own gardens, such as finding an area where they're less likely to be spotted by neighbours. But there's a chance your neighbours might be the ones finding themselves in trouble for complaining to the police. They added: "You will have to decide whether your desire to be naked in your garden is more important to you than being on friendly terms with those around you. No one has the right to spy on you, and if you find that your neighbour is leaning out of an upstairs window or standing on the top of a step ladder in order to see you, then he or she may well be committing an offence." British Naturism does claim there is "no obligation" to inform neighbours of one's desire to sunbathe without clothing. A spokesperson said: "There is no law against being naked in public, and so stripping off and enjoying the sun on your skin in your own garden cannot lead to arrest, nor can your neighbours make you cover up." Sunbathing, especially without protection, can lead to painful sunburns, which can be more severe in sensitive areas. Make sure to apply sufficient SPF protection with sunscreen and consider avoiding this activity during the harshest times of the day (typically between 10am and 2pm).
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Rules on sunbathing naked in your garden in heatwave as police issue warning
If you're looking to get a back garden glow while avoiding tan lines, think twice before stripping off. Police have warned that you could be breaking the law As temperatures rise across the nation, many of us will be taking advantage of the sunny weather at beaches, parks, and other outdoor areas this weekend. And if you're fortunate enough to have a garden, what could be better than enjoying the balmy weather in your own private space, away from crowded public areas and scantily clad strangers? If you're planning on sunbathing in your garden, you might consider going au naturel to avoid unsightly tan lines. However, caution is advised as police warn that nudity in your own private garden could potentially breach the law. In England and Wales, public nudity is not inherently illegal, but there are stipulations. It becomes an offence under Section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 if nudity is intended to cause "distress or alarm". The Crown Prosecution Service states: "In the case of naturism, a balance needs to be struck between the naturist's right to freedom of expression and the right of the wider public to be protected from harassment, alarm and distress." While you may be within your own property when in your garden, those residing in terraced houses will know that it's often quite easy to get a peek into your neighbour's garden, even without intending to pry. Although you may not be physically exposing yourself in public, there's a risk of causing "distress or alarm" to your neighbours when you're sans attire in your own garden - it's only deemed illegal if there was an intent behind the action. So, how do you go about safely sunbathing naked without stirring the pot with those who live next door? The police recommend giving the neighbours a heads up if you're planning to soak up the rays in the buff, and to try and find a spot that's hidden from prying eyes for your naked retreat. There was a case in Reigate where Surrey Police addressed this very topic after a dispute erupted among residents. They cautioned: "If you want to wander around your garden naked and you are overlooked by neighbours then you have to be careful - an Englishman's home is not quite his castle and your garden is not exempt from the law." "In an ideal world, your relationship with your neighbours would be such that they would not object to you gardening in the buff and they would never dream of calling the police. In the real world, however, you would be well advised to take some simple precautions." But despite these warnings, the law stipulates that an offence only occurs if the individual in question intended to cause alarm or distress. British Naturism says there is "no obligation" to inform neighbours of one's disposition towards naturalist sunbathing. They said: "There is no law against being naked in public, and so stripping off and enjoying the sun on your skin in your own garden cannot lead to arrest nor can your neighbours make you cover up. "Being neighbourly might mean you tell your neighbours that you plan to sunbathe naked but there is no obligation to do so, so don't hesitate. "Studies have shown that spending time naked is good for you, and so we encourage everyone to take advantage of the wonderful weather and celebrate their uniqueness."
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hundreds descend on Langport for Nudefest 2025
Hundreds of people have descended on a campsite for what has been billed as a "normal festival" - just one where everyone is naked. Thorney Lakes in Langport, Somerset, has once again become home to Nudefest - a week-long event that sits at the centre of the British Naturism calendar. From a performance by The Wurzels to a volleyball tournament and a cider farm tour, the event attracts hundreds of people from across the UK each year."In the evening we've got a silent disco, bands playing and karaoke - it's a normal festival but we're not wearing clothes," said Sue May, 50, from Hampshire who has been attending the festival since 2018. "It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, everybody gets on - you don't find an angry naturist," she said," Ms May added. "It's a place you can be yourself." Speaking from the festival site she told the BBC: "If people saw what I'm looking at here, there's just people wandering around, they're chatting, there's nothing seedy about it."As a volunteer with Women in Naturism, helping women find the confidence to explore the community, she said she believed interest in the lifestyle had "definitely grown" since Covid. University of Sheffield student Saoirse Newhouse, 21, told the BBC she was attending the festival for the first time as part of the organising team, carrying out duties from setting up sports games to filming social media content. Describing the "friendly" atmosphere at the festival, she said: "Obviously when you do something that isn't societally considered the norm you generally have to be quite open minded.""There's always something going on, some sort of activity, so you can always get involved with that and talk to more people," she added. She also encouraged other women like her to get involved with naturism, despite persistent stereotypes about the community mostly consisting of older men. "There is a bit of a gender skew," she said - but added: "I, and a lot of other women I've spoken to, [say] you feel more respected as a human here."I've never at any of these festivals had someone staring at my breasts or anything inappropriate like that - I've had it more commonly in the outside world," she said - adding that she felt more protected at a naturist event than she did at a pub or club. She described the "strict stance" taken by British Naturism on harassment, which she felt encourages more people to attend "because they know their security is really respected". "People do assume that if you're wearing no clothes you must get unwanted attention but obviously when we look at statistics we realise that what a woman is wearing doesn't determine if she's going to be harassed or assaulted," she added. "It's completely on the perpetrator." Another attendee, 64-year-old Dave Bygrave from North Yorkshire, told the BBC there was "just a really nice and friendly atmosphere" at the festival. "It's fantastic to be in this place where you can just wander around, get food, hear the music, have a drink and talk to people without ever having to get dressed," he many in the community, he said, he and his wife had long been interested in the lifestyle but had been able to go to far more events following their retirement. "The difference between packing to come to Nudefest versus packing for any other holiday is comical really - a couple of t-shirts and some spare underwear for the journey home and that's about it," he joked.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Naked cruise' coming to popular UK beach - with live music and bar
A one-of-a-kind cruise will set sail from Plymouth this week, where patrons can enjoy picturesque views, a glass of wine and lively entertainment... entirely in the buff. Naturists from across the region and beyond cast off on the city's first ever naked cruise on Friday, 13 June. The stately vessel departs The Barbican Landing Stage at around 4.45pm, whisking guests on three-hour-long voyage across the stunning Plymouth sound and along the peaceful River Lynher, before heading towards the quaint village of St. Germans. Along the way, passengers will enjoy views of Royal Navy ships moored along the River Tamar, all while taking in the evening sun. Organised by British Naturism's South West events coordinator Keith Bowman, the clothes-free cruise is the first of its kind in the area. Inspired by successful 'Naked Cruise' events held in the U.S., Bowman saw an opportunity to bring a special form of recreation to the South West coast. Speaking to Plymouth Live, he revealed he was taken aback by the enthusiasm he encountered after explaining his idea to the first boat hire business 'he could find' in Plymouth. He said: 'To my surprise, they jumped at the chance to provide a cruise around Plymouth Sound and along the local rivers. It's surprising how people become more interested when I mention the word "Naked."' In addition to breathtaking views, guests will be treated to an onboard experience complete with electric music and a fully licensed bar. Refreshments will be available for purchase via cash or card, meaning everyone can enjoy a drink or snack as they relax in their natural state. Boarding begins at 4.30pm, with the vessel expected to return around 7.45pm. Tickets are currently available at £25 for members of British Naturism and £30 for non-members. Bowman said: 'Organising the event has been a dream and the boat company couldn't have been more helpful. Tickets are selling steadily, and as normal with Naturist events, we expect a last-minute rush for tickets. Why not come and join us.' For those still unsure about whether to take the plunge, Bowman encourages curious adventurers to imagine a 'bright, sunny, warm evening with a glass of wine or cuppa in hand' watching the world go by as they navigate the waters 'NAKED!' Meanwhile, a keen traveler has shed light on what it is really like going on a nude cruise - with less luggage to pack being one of the major perks. Writing anonymously on Reddit the man, aged 67, invited other users to 'ask me anything' about the experience. He booked a cruise via the Texas-based travel company Bare Necessities, which has been operating clothing-optional ship charters since 1990. The unnamed man said he was on a 2,000 passenger Carnival cruise liner with his 61-year-old wife for a seven-day round trip from Tampa, Florida, with stops in Mexico and Honduras along the way. He reiterated to other Reddit users that the trip - his first ever nudist cruise - was 'not a swingers cruise or a sex positive environment' and 'this was a crowd with lots of nudist experience.' Explaining the ins and outs of nudist cruising, he revealed that the captain 'generally makes an announcement after exiting a port when clothes can be removed' and 'usually it's about thirty minutes.'
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Naked cruise setting sail from seaside beauty spot and bookings are open now
The three-hour-long nude cruise will set sail on Friday, June 13 A three-hour nudist cruise is set to embark from Plymouth next week. The unique voyage is scheduled to depart on Friday, June 13 for a tour around Plymouth Sound and up the River Lynher towards St Germans. The bare-skinned adventure will commence at The Barbican Landing Stage, where guests will embark upon the grand vessel. With the stunning views of Plymouth Sound as an initial vista, followed by the quintessentially English countryside along the River Lynher, the cruise promises an unforgettable experience. Participants will have the bonus of viewing the moored Royal Navy ships along the River Tamar during their journey. Adding to the enjoyment will be live electronic music and a fully licensed bar on the ship, where cruisers can buy drinks with cash or card. Keith Bowman, British Naturism's South West region events coordinator and the planner behind the Naked Cruise, spoke to Plymouth Live regarding the inception of the event: "The idea for a boat trip came from the successful 'Naked Cruises' held in the USA so I thought to myself, if they can do it then so can we.", reports Plymouth Live. When asked about the ease of organising such an unusual outing, Keith revealed: "I contacted the first boat hire business I could find in Plymouth and explained my idea. To my surprise, they jumped at the chance to provide a cruise around Plymouth Sound and along the local rivers. It's surprising how people become more interested when I mention the word 'Naked'." As of now, approximate times to board and depart have been shared, with exact times expected to be advised at a date closer to the nude voyage. Boarding for Plymouth's unique Naked Cruise is set to commence around 4:30pm, with the vessel slated to cast off at about 4:45 pm. Following a tranquil three-hour journey along the river, the boat is scheduled to return at 7:45pm. Keith, who has been at the helm of organising the event, remarked: "Organising the event has been a dream and the boat company couldn't have been more helpful. Tickets are selling steadily and as normal with Naturist events, we expect there to be a last minute rush for tickets. Why not come and join us." Tickets for this extraordinary Naked Cruise experience in Plymouth are available to British Naturism members for £25 each, while non-members can secure their spot for £30. To entice those contemplating the experience, Keith offers an enticing scenario: "Can you imagine it? It's a bright, sunny, warm evening. You have a glass of wine or cuppa in your hand. Snacks are available if you feel peckish. You're sitting back just watching the world go by as you cruise the waters NAKED! Does that sound good, or what?".
