Where can I sunbathe naked in London?

May 25, 2009 2:37 AM

Where can I sunbathe naked in London?

I like sunbathing, but I hate tan-lines and so like to do it naked (in many countries in the rest of Europe where few people will look at you twice).

Except I live in London, and I can't for the life of me think of anywhere where I can just lie down on the grass with no clothes on, maybe read a book.. and not get arrested.

I know Hampstead Heath has/had a nude male sunbathing area but this is no use to me as I'm a woman. Please share with me any suggestions or experiences.

posted by rose selavy to health & fitness (6 comments total)

Can you get on the roof of your building?
posted by Mike1024 at 3:01 AM on May 25

Hampstead Women's Pond.

http://www.gingerbeer.co.uk/listing.php?ListingID=201&CategoryID=41
posted by stenoboy at 5:07 AM on May 25

I stumbled upon a website for naked ramblers recently, which claimed that public nudity wasn't actually illegal in the UK. That said, the police could probably find something to arrest you for...
posted by twine42 at 5:22 AM on May 25

I stumbled upon a website for naked ramblers recently, which claimed that public nudity wasn't actually illegal in the UK. That said, the police could probably find something to arrest you for...

I'm not a lawyer, but I think it's about the concept of 'causing distress' or something. Basically, if nobody complains, the police shouldn't get involved. Of course, in London there are more than enough people to complain about anything.
posted by Sova at 7:03 AM on May 25 [1 favorite has favorites]

English people love complaining about everything. (I say this as an English person.)

Hampstead women's pond did occur to me - but unlike the men's, there's no specifically allocated naked section. Which seems rather unfair. Who says women don't like to get naked as much as men?
posted by rose selavy at 4:40 PM on May 25

I feel your pain, rose selavy. My wife and I gave up this quest and have resigned ourselves to heading off to Holland or France when we feel the need to lay in the sun naked.

That said, I do have some advice regarding London. There is one place in central London we like to go to where its common for women to bathe in nothing more than their bikini bottoms. Check your mefi mail.
posted by vacapinta at 3:18 AM on May 31