Clothes Optional Tourism in the UK

[Reg Barlow]

This might be a little "off-the-wall" considering that we can't guarantee the sun, even in Summer, but how many subscribers to ClothesFree would consider a holiday in the UK, using British naturist clubs to tour the country or one as a base for exploring an area more deeply? I accept that this won't be a scientific survey, but I would be interested just the same. Apart from a yes or no, your country would be useful too.

Thanks for your tolerance.

[bikerboy]

I think that there should be that choice everywhere.

[Zorro]

I'd love to go... and considering my girlfriend has been known to travel on occasion, it's entirely possible we might make it there eventually. We both live in California, btw...

[Reg Barlow]

I'd love to go... and considering my girlfriend has been known to travel on occasion, it's entirely possible we might make it there eventually. We both live in California, btw...

I'll look forward to seeing you both sometime then. Thanks for the reply.

[usuallylurk]

This might be a little "off-the-wall" considering that we can't guarantee the sun, even in Summer, but how many subscribers to ClothesFree would consider a holiday in the UK, using British naturist clubs to tour the country or one as a base for exploring an area more deeply? I accept that this won't be a scientific survey, but I would be interested just the same. Apart from a yes or no, your country would be useful too.

Thanks for your tolerance.


I have been there, done that, in 1987.

We did spend around seven nights of the 14 at naturist B&Bs. One was in North Yorkshire, and while the area was fabulous -- "Herriott Country" -- the Moors, the steam railway, York City, Castle Howard -- the B&B was in a farm house -- you could go nude, and the hosts were great people. But the facilities that catered to naturists were spartan. There was a garden, and that was it.

In Devon, we stayed at a place in Lapford, which was the "home naturist base" for people in and around Honiton, Crediton, Exeter, etc. They had a plunge pool and a sauna, and again, the accomodations and host family were great.

But by this American's standards, the naturist facilities weren't what we're accustomed to.

So - if I were to go to the UK again on holiday, I would still seek out naturist accomodations, but I wouldn't make it a priority. Since we would probably only sleep there, and have breakfast there, naturist vs. textile wouldn't matter to us, probably. We would likely, however, visit a naturist swim or club on a Friday or Saturday night, if we weren't in the London area.

By the way, it's my understanding that both facilities' owners have retired and sold up.

[Reg Barlow]

So - if I were to go to the UK again on holiday, I would still seek out naturist accomodations, but I wouldn't make it a priority. Since we would probably only sleep there, and have breakfast there, naturist vs. textile wouldn't matter to us, probably. We would likely, however, visit a naturist swim or club on a Friday or Saturday night, if we weren't in the London area.

By the way, it's my understanding that both facilities' owners have retired and sold up.

Thanks for this. Very probably, the UK has lost three clubs in as many years and unlike the US, finding the capital to keep the old clubs going or create new ones is difficult here. But lets not be negative. Come back to the UK soon.

[tomkojohn]

My reservations concern the climate mainly. When I've visited the UK, the weather has always been a bit iffy for naturism. Also, I think its a matter of just not thinking about the UK as a naturism haven.

[Reg Barlow]

My reservations concern the climate mainly. When I've visited the UK, the weather has always been a bit iffy for naturism. Also, I think its a matter of just not thinking about the UK as a naturism haven.

Oh very true, we do have a lot of liquid sunshine but not as much as others. While this summer was basically written off because of the wet stuff, Spring was good this year and Autumn (Fall) hasn't been too bad either. But then, for three Summers before this year's damp squib, we had glorious wall to wall sunshine for much of June, July and August. However, with climate change, they say our weather will be more like the Med (especially down South) and in the most extreme case, people living down there will come to the UK for a comfortable summer. Our first test though is likely be the Olympics in 2012. Could we cater for the naturist sports fans? The words snowball and hell spring to mind at the moment, but who knows, with sufficient support from around the world, things may change.

But surely, you'd also want to come for history - the mother country and all that - not our weather? Naturism will be just an aside, to rest and recuperate, and relax!

[Sanslines]

Speaking about the climate change, most people still don't know that there are palm trees in Cornwall.

[usuallylurk]

Thanks for this. Very probably, the UK has lost three clubs in as many years and unlike the US, finding the capital to keep the old clubs going or create new ones is difficult here. But lets not be negative. Come back to the UK soon.

Well, a lot of older clubs ARE closing here, but that's because of suburban development. Mystic Oaks, which has had a number of names through the years, was arguably the oldest club on the west coast and it just closed after 70+ years.

There are newer clubs opening, but mostly in places like Florida, Texas, and Arizona -- where the climate is conducive to year-round clothes-free activities.

[Reg Barlow]

This is true (that there are Palm trees in Cornwall), no Dates though! Mind you, I'm hearing reports that a farmer is now able to crop Olive trees down there too and they happily grow in Kent, where I presently live. There are a lot of places in the UK with their own micro-climate that allow unexpected gems like to this to flourish.

[Reg Barlow]

Well, a lot of older clubs ARE closing here, but that's because of suburban development. Mystic Oaks, which has had a number of names through the years, was arguably the oldest club on the west coast and it just closed after 70+ years.

Sorry, I didn't mean to belittle the plight of US clubs or anywhere else for that matter. Mark Storey did an excellent article in N magazine about naturism's aging population a few years ago, which amounted to saying adapt to local circumstances or die. Nothing ever stays the same and that goes for naturist clubs as well as businesses. Many of the clubs here in the UK are members' owned and it seems they are very guarded as to whom they let in - not sure if its the same elsewhere - but if they try to keep to how they were in 1930 or whenever they formed, they eventually loose any relevance to naturism and their local community.
We do have a few commercial clubs but again note the word club, they are not resorts like the ones you refer to in Florida etc. Investors want a return and a quick return at that, they cannot be seen to be meeting a social need, even if there is one.
For the UK however, I think tourism could be the saving grace of many of our members' owned clubs, but as you reported, the standard of accommodation is - well dire springs to mind - but they will not change unless it can be shown to them that tourists would be willing to come in the first place and what they need to do to attract those tourists. Hence why I thought your comments about the standards was particularly important.
Anyhow, I've gabbled on enough.

[Jason Lee]

Not sure clothing-optional tourism in the UK would achieve anything

[nudistinlondon]

The UK does have many opportunities for clothes-optional recreation, although the major problem is the weather. There are quite a few clubs where folk can stay and have a great time. Moreover, of course, they can use such clubs as a base for local sightseeing. I am a member of a club near London from where it would be quite possible to travel into the city to see the sights, and then return to what we all like - nude living. There are aloso quite a few beaches to enjoy, although, once again, it's the weather factor that can be problematic.
Best wishes
Steve

[Reg Barlow]

Sorry Jason, I can't leave it at that. Why don't you think clothes optional tourism will achieve much in the UK, leaving aside the doubtful weather?

[Reg Barlow]

There are quite a few clubs where folk can stay and have a great time. Moreover, of course, they can use such clubs as a base for local sightseeing.….
Best wishes
Steve

This is true Steve, but if you look at some of their web sites you'll find they may only have one static caravan available or a log cabin if you're lucky. Plus, from an earlier post, the customer service would also be a problem, simply because the clubs around the UK haven't seen themselves as a mutually owned business. And this, I think, is where the Americans especially have got us Brits beaten hands down and its time the naturists clubs in the UK took some lessons.

[shaneone]

i think there is great potential for nude tourism in the UK. Having lived there for 4 years and taken advantage of many beaches and one or two clubs, I don't see why it shouldn't be promoted. Granted you are not guaranteed the same weather as you might find in the South of France, and when it's sunny, it is truly beautiful.

[Reg Barlow]

i think there is great potential for nude tourism in the UK. Having lived there for 4 years and taken advantage of many beaches and one or two clubs, I don't see why it shouldn't be promoted. Granted you are not guaranteed the same weather as you might find in the South of France, and when it's sunny, it is truly beautiful.

Thank you Shane. Can I quote you to my colleagues in British Naturism please?

I'd still love to hear from anyone willing to speak up, positive and negative, it's all useful information.

[Reg Barlow]

I'm thinking more of appropriate/suitable activities/events for clothing optional tourism

Sorry to be dense, but would you mind not being so critic. I wanted to know if the UK could be a destination for nude tourism. You said, no. And I asked why not? Can you explain more fully why the UK cannot be considered as a destination from a tourism POV?

[shaneone]

Hey Reg

Go ahead and use my quote to your colleagues at BN. Hope it helps some.

[Jason Lee]

I'd consider a UK nude holiday / tour

900 Aussie Dollars = 394 U.K. Pounds

no good

[Reg Barlow]

I'd consider a UK nude holiday / tour

900 Aussie Dollars = 394 U.K. Pounds

no good

That's now. With Sterling so strong at the moment I'm not expecting hoards of (naked) tourists next summer from Australia or anywhere else for that matter - and quite frankly we're not ready for them anyway - what about the future though, say 2012? True the Olympics will raise prices a bit, but if we (the Brits that is) want to sell our hotel rooms then we've got to be practical about it. I'm hoping that some naturists would also like to take in the Olympics and on free days either see the sights or have a relaxing day at the naturist centre. Does that sound more inviting?

[Jason Lee]

a free (no cost) UK nude tour sounds inviting

naked female tour guide (in her 20's or early 30's)

no policy against erections (rules)

[Reg Barlow]

a free (no cost) UK nude tour sounds inviting

naked female tour guide (in her 20's or early 30's)

no policy against erections (rules)

Hmmm… Are you still sore that England turned you over in the RWC? I thought you were debating seriously Jason. Sorry to have made that mistake. Next!

[Reg Barlow]

I'd still love to hear from anyone willing to speak up, positive and negative, it's all useful information.

I hope I'm not breaking some unwritten code by responding one of my own posts, but there is still lots of time for people to participate in this survey, plus give me feed back on the idea of the UK being a nude tourist destination. Why is a good question? Why would you come? Why wouldn't you? What makes you hesitant?

The results so far (with 41 respondents) is that roughly 56% of you would come to the UK for a naturist holiday, even with reservations, 29% of you are "Not Sure" and 14% of you say "No Way". Not in any way scientific, these results are nevertheless encouraging. I look forward to reading some more of your views, even the negative one.

[Pete Knight]

Speaking about the climate change, most people still don't know that there are palm trees in Cornwall.

In Scotland too, its all to do with the 'Gulf Stream' warming the coastal areas, Cornwall is known as the English Riviera because of its likeness to the Mediterranean resorts (Well a little.), and we do occasionally have excellent summers.

As for naturist facilities, there just isn't the big money available to invest in an activity that realistically will only cover about 4 months in a good year, unless it has all weather facilities!! Even the French and Spanish Mediterranean resorts close at the end of September.

Pete Knight