Every naturist beach on this site is a little easier to enjoy because of work you never see: conversations with landowners, guidance for police, campaigns that make being bare feel normal. Much of that work is done by British Naturism.
1. Who they are
British Naturism (BN) is the national naturist organisation for the UK, recognised by the International Naturist Federation. It began in 1964 as the Central Council for British Naturism, when the country’s two sun-club federations merged, and took its current name in 2009. It is a members’ organisation, run from Northampton, with individual members and well over 100 affiliated clubs across the country.
2. What they do
- Clubs and places to go: listings of naturist clubs, swims, beaches and holidays across the UK.
- The Great British Skinny Dip: costume-free swims at pools, lidos and wild-swimming spots, a gentle first step for many people.
- Young British Naturism: events and a community for 18 to 35-year-olds.
- Women in Naturism: a campaign to make naturism feel welcoming and safe for women.
- Events, walks and swims, plus BN Magazine, newsletters and forums for members.
3. A voice with police and councils
BN’s quieter work matters most. In 2018 it reached an agreement with the College of Policing, and its guidance on naturism now features in police training. It publishes plain-English legal guides on naturism in public places, works with landowners such as the National Trust on beaches like Studland, and speaks up when a beach is under threat.
BN also commissions research on how many of us there are. Its 2022 Ipsos poll found that nearly 7 million people in the UK call themselves naturists.
4. Why we back them
Go Bare helps you find somewhere to go. British Naturism helps make sure those places stay open, welcoming and legal. Millions of people enjoy naturism, but only a small fraction are members, and membership is what pays for the campaigning. If naturism has done you good, joining is the simplest way to give something back.
New to all this? Start with our first-timer’s guide, then find a beach near you.