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The World Naked Bike Ride in the UK

The World Naked Bike Ride is a protest on two wheels. Every summer, cyclists in cities around the world ride through the streets wearing as little as they dare, to make a point about oil dependency, car culture and how exposed cyclists are on the road. In the UK the world naked bike ride has run since 2004 and now happens in a dozen or so towns and cities each year, from London and Brighton to Edinburgh and Cardiff.

It is not a naturist event, but plenty of naturists take part, and British Naturism lists many of the rides on its events calendar. Here is what it is, where it happens, what the law says and how to join in.

What is the World Naked Bike Ride?

WNBR UK describes itself as “a peaceful, imaginative and fun protest against oil dependency and car culture”. It also celebrates the bicycle and the human body. The nakedness is the message: a bare body on a bike shows how vulnerable cyclists are in traffic.

The London organisers list their aims as opposing the world’s reliance on oil, pushing back against car culture, securing proper rights for cyclists, showing how vulnerable cyclists are on city streets and celebrating body freedom.

Each ride is organised locally by an independent volunteer group, and nobody is paid. According to WNBR UK, the first UK ride in 2004 attracted 58 people. Since then well over 150 rides have taken place in the UK, with an estimated 30,000 or more people taking part over the years.

Protest, not naturism

This is the main thing to understand if you come to the ride from a naturist background. Naturism is about a relaxed, non-sexual naked lifestyle (our guide to what naturism is explains more). The WNBR is a street protest with a carnival feel: body paint, slogans, music, fancy dress and crowds lining the route.

That has a few practical consequences:

  • You will be photographed. Spectators and photographers turn out for the big rides, and the London organisers point out that most of them are not breaking the law. There is no photo control as you would find at a club or a Naked Heart Walk.
  • It is busy and loud. Big rides draw crowds, and some carry sound systems.
  • The rules are about the protest. Riders are asked to stay peaceful, keep moving, not block roads and follow police instructions.

For some naturists that is exactly the appeal: a day when you can cycle over Westminster Bridge with nothing on. Others prefer the quieter world of naturist beaches and clubs. Both are fine.

“Bare as you dare”

The ride’s dress code is summed up by the London organisers as “be as bare as you dare”. Nudity is welcome but not required. Riders turn up in body paint, fancy dress, underwear, masks or nothing at all. Edinburgh’s ride puts it simply: nudity is not mandatory and minimalist fancy dress is fine.

Two pieces of kit are worth keeping on: shoes, for safety on the pedals, and, if you like, a helmet.

World Naked Bike Ride UK cities

The global WNBR wiki keeps the most up-to-date list. For 2026 it listed confirmed rides in:

  • London: Sunday 14 June 2026
  • Manchester: 12 June 2026
  • Chelmsford: 20 June 2026
  • Ipswich: 27 June 2026
  • Cardiff: 28 June and 9 August 2026
  • Colchester and Edinburgh: 4 July 2026
  • Clacton: 11 July 2026
  • Cambridge: 18 July 2026
  • Bristol: 15 August 2026
  • Brighton and Hove and York: 12 September 2026

Other places, including Folkestone, Hastings, Croydon and Oxford, have been looking for organisers to restart, and Portsmouth and Eastbourne were listed as cancelled for 2026. The season is now over, but some 2027 dates are already up on the wiki: Chelmsford on 19 June, Ipswich on 26 June, Colchester on 3 July, Clacton on 10 July and Cambridge on 17 July. London’s organisers say their 2027 ride will probably be on Sunday 13 June.

London

London is the big one. In 2026 it moved from its traditional Saturday to a Sunday for the first time, to avoid road closures, events and Trooping the Colour. More than 1,000 riders set off from nine start points, including Clapham Junction, Croydon, Deptford, Hackney Wick, Kew Bridge, Regent’s Park, Tower Hill and Hyde Park Corner, plus an accessible start, and merged into one ride from Westminster Bridge. Several start points offered body painting before the off.

Brighton

Brighton’s 2026 ride, its 20th anniversary, was due to run on 13 June but was postponed over safety fears linked to clashing protests in the city that day. It was rescheduled for 12 September.

The law and the police approach

In England and Wales, being naked in public is not in itself a crime. The offence of exposure under section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 needs an intention to cause alarm or distress, and College of Policing guidance says a naturist going about their lawful business while naked will not be guilty of it. The same guidance lists cycling naked as a “passive behaviour” in public, for which no police action is necessary. Disorderly or sexual behaviour is a different matter.

On the day, rides work with the police rather than against them. WNBR London says it has worked with the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police since 2005, registers its route in advance, and asks riders to follow any police instructions. Riders are also asked not to hang around getting dressed and undressed at the start and finish, because that affects future police arrangements.

In Scotland there is no detailed national police guidance on nudity. British Naturism says Police Scotland considers each case on its merits. Edinburgh’s ride has run for years, but police may ask riders to cover up, so check the local group’s advice before you go. The same goes for Northern Ireland, where the PSNI also takes each case on its merits.

How to take part

  1. Find your nearest ride on the WNBR wiki’s list of rides, then check that city’s own page or social media for start times and points.
  2. No booking, no fee. For London you just turn up at a start point on time with a bike. Organisers ask you to register interest on their Facebook events so they can plan, and donations help cover security, insurance and road fees.
  3. Bring a bike in good working order. If you hire a shared bike, use a seat cover. Organisers had to remind riders of this after the 2026 London ride.
  4. Pack a bag or basket. There is no secure storage while you ride.
  5. Think about sun and paint. Wear sun cream, and arrive early if you want body paint.
  6. Behave like a protester, not a party. Stay peaceful, keep moving, and do not photograph children, including your own.

If you are new to being naked in public, a quieter first step might suit you better, such as a club swim or a day on Brighton’s naturist beach. For other naked events through the year, see our UK naturist events page, and consider joining British Naturism, which campaigns for the rights of everyone who enjoys being naked outdoors.

FAQs

Do you have to be naked on the World Naked Bike Ride?

No. The dress code is “bare as you dare”. Full nudity is common, but body paint, fancy dress and partial clothing are all welcome.

Is the World Naked Bike Ride legal in the UK?

In England and Wales, cycling naked is lawful unless you are being disorderly or sexual, or intend to cause alarm or distress. Police guidance treats it as passive behaviour. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, police take each case on its merits.

When is the next World Naked Bike Ride in London?

The organisers expect it to be on Sunday 13 June 2027, but call that a probable date. Check the WNBR London website nearer the time.

Do I need to sign up?

Not for London, which is free: you just turn up at a start point. Other cities run things their own way, so check the local page. Registering interest online helps organisers plan.

Is the World Naked Bike Ride a naturist event?

No. It is a protest about oil dependency, car culture and cyclists’ safety, with a celebration of body freedom. Many naturists take part, and British Naturism lists many rides on its calendar.

Sources

More from Go Bare: all posts, naturism guides and UK naturist beaches.