A nudist has revealed what life is like in the UK’s naked resort – and insists it’s a “completely non-sexual environment”. The Spielplatz Naturist Resort is located close to St Albans and, according to its website, is a “secluded woodland paradise” which “has everything a naturist might wish for”.
Andrew Welch, 60, calls the resort home. He first discovered naturism at 14 while on a French beach and observing the freedom of those around him – and he moved to Spielplatz after more than 40 years as a naturist. Writing for MailOnline, he explained nudity actually isn’t mandatory in Spielplatz.
He said: “You must be nude to swim in the large outdoor pool, to relax in the heat of the sauna, or sit in the bubbles of the Jacuzzi, but the rest of the time, it’s up to you.”
The Spielplatz website describes how it is “operated exclusively for naturists by naturists”. It says the “modern facility” boasts “10 acres [of] secluded woodland paradise,” adding that it is a “family orientated club for visitors, guests and members alike”. People can visit for a long break or just a few hours.
And according to Andrew, the nudity soon seems “unremarkable” for regular visitors. In fact, he described the site as a whole as “completely non-sexual”.
He said: “If you think that naked dancing – or naked anything – leads to obvious (ahem) embarrassment, then you can put that thought out of your mind. It is a completely non-sexual environment and the nudity – despite what you might think – quickly becomes unremarkable.”
Spielplatz was created in 1928, making the community nearly 100 years old. It has a 4.6 rating on TripAdvisor. And when the warmer weather hits, Andrew described how you’ll see residents doing all sorts including “weeding, painting a shed, or washing the car, with nothing on”.
Promising that its members are “well behaved”, the site’s webpage outlines its rules as follows:
The naturist resort hosts a social club and bar which holds monthly events for residents, which Andrew said can “often be a disco”. At evenings, he claimed “even in the winter, most chairs are draped with piles of discarded clothes”.
Also featuring family friendly activities and free parking, Spielplatz received a stellar review of five stars from one TripAdvisor reviewer. They said: “A wonderful weekend stay at SpielPlatz. We usually have one of the tents you can rent, this time we stayed in the The Bell tent glamping with style. Includes a very comfortable double airbed, electric, furniture and lots of space.
“Facilities very clean, great outdoor pool and hot tub. Tennis court. Grant always makes you welcome at club bar. A 10 minute walk through the woods and there are shops and food takeouts.”
Another review from June last year claimed it was “great to find a spotlessly clean toilet and shower block” and titled it as “the place to be when you have nothing on”.
With roughly 60 people living there year round, Spielplatz also offers rentals of up to nine months a year and there are now a few houses for sale. With Watford close by and London a short half-an-hour train away, Andrew welcomes any “nervous newcomer[s] to social nudity” and says: “Why didn’t I do this before? Perhaps you’ll say that too if you pay us a visit.”
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