It’s a Saturday lunchtime. I’m sitting with a pint of (local, British) lager in a wide, flat field.
There are queues at the various food stalls, bench tables outside the beer tent filled with animated chatter, piano music emanating from the dodecahedron music venue that is the Magic Teapot, groups listening attentively to talks in marquees, creations being crafted, under expert tuition, from willow branches, a sauna and hot tub area providing something to those who need downtime, others choosing the option of lounging on massive cushions under skimpy canvas structures, a gong bath meditation session over by the Zen tent, a horse-drawn cart touring the perimeter full of people rocking with the motion as it navigates the grass, and the show-ground filled with a mass of bodies creating a human mandala, a drone soaring skywards to capture the choreographed image.
It’s like any kind of summer festival – except that most of the people are naked.
Welcome to Nudefest.
British Naturism’s annual event, which I created, began in 2007 on a caravan and camping park in Cornwall. The owners saw the value of the ‘buff pound’ at a less-than-full-capacity time of the year and provided guests with somewhere to stay whilst they enjoyed a nude night at the world-famous Eden Project (yes, that Eden Project). There were a few activities, including a late-night disco – if you’ve never experienced the euphoria of dancing with no clothes on, then add it to your bucket list – and Nudefest was born.
Andrew Welch, a spokesman for British Naturism, attended this year’s Nudefest (above) in Somerset, an event that he founded in 2007
Nowadays, it takes place in Somerset on a sprawling campsite with up to 700 people enjoying a week in the (fingers-crossed) sunshine. Guests come from all over the UK and overseas, too.
So, what is Nudefest and what can you expect? It’s quite a revelation to newcomers to social nudity that it’s just like any other outdoor summer event.
There’s nothing that happens that you don’t see in thousands of places around the country, or even the world, for that matter.
If it’s warm enough, people dispense with their clothes – which is different, I grant you – but breeds the most unbelievably relaxed, happy, body-positive atmosphere.
Since guests are part of the same like-minded community, there is a feeling of togetherness and mutual understanding – and the knowledge that we’ve all opted to be there simply to have a cracking time.
So, what is Nudefest and what can you expect? ‘It’s quite a revelation to newcomers to social nudity that it’s just like any other outdoor summer event,’ says Andrew
Andrew enjoying Nudefest
Venue owners, vendors and performers often say we are the best crowd they deal with.
It’s (almost) impossible to run out of things to do.
There are activities all day, every day, including craft sessions, workshops and talks, guided foraging walks, yoga, fitness and meditation sessions, sports and games including a run around the site each morning and a volleyball match each afternoon, massage sessions, wood-fired saunas and hot tubs, life-drawing (no shortage of models), circus show, visits to local cider farms and a naked walk to celebrate World Naked Hiking Day, holi-paint skirmish, and a 25-metre-long slip-and-slide to help you rediscover your inner child.
There’s plenty of opportunity for simply doing nothing, sunbathing on the grass, chilling out with friends, or people-watching.
Nudefest takes place in Somerset on a sprawling campsite. Around 700 people from the UK and overseas attend
A Nudefest attendee strolls past a ‘bums on towels’ sign
BN’s charity partner, British Heart Foundation, set up a stall and talked to guests about their excellent, necessary work. ITV’s Lorraine show with presenter Lucie Cave broadcast live one morning, interviewing a few of our ladies.
Lorraine Kelly’s take from the studio was disappointingly clichéd, but you can’t argue (pardon the pun) with the exposure.
It’s not a music festival but music looms large (or perhaps that should be ‘loud’) with live music every night, ranging from bands playing classic tunes from the 60s, 90s and noughties, pop songs from across the decades on request from duelling pianos, toe-tapping shanties from the energetic, multi-nationality Old Time Sailors, a superb ABBA tribute band, and the Last Orders Pub Party featuring one of our own.
The music also included a ‘disco’ ceilidh, karaoke, pop quizzes and Nudefest favourites the Magic Teapot (they always look forward to shedding their clothes themselves) where tea and music is available from early to late – don’t just listen, join in!
Andrew writes: ‘People who have never been often ask if it is essential to be nude. Well, that’s the general idea, but no’
‘There’s plenty of opportunity for simply doing nothing, sunbathing on the grass, chilling out with friends, or people-watching,’ writes Andrew
We were also treated to a wide variety of acoustic music from talented performers – some were guests, some came specially to perform – including singer-songwriter Anna, at her first Nudefest and first time performing without clothes.
‘I just thought it was the right time to do so,’ she told me, ‘and I’ll absolutely do it again!’ We laughed our socks off (hang on…) on Comedy Night with joke-meisters off the telly, including Laura Lexx and Javier Jarquin, who received a standing ovation before uttering a single word, stepping on to the stage completely starkers.
People who have never been often ask if it is essential to be nude.
Well, that’s the general idea, but no. The British weather often dictates that and because of cloudless days the temperature in the evenings was cool.
By the time you strut your stuff on the dance floor you’ve probably taken it all off, as have all the groovers around you. Weird? No, context is everything, and the presence of people still with some covering on doesn’t matter, nor stand out.
Do you as you choose.
Having a good time is the important thing.
Over the years there’s been an increase in partial or total flesh-baring by non-guests – behind the bar or food stall, from band members and other performers. There’s no ‘them and us’, if people are inspired then why not, even if they are working?
One Nudefest attendee said: ‘You can talk to anyone without fear of prejudice. You run much less risk of upsetting someone here with a different point of view, you are just valued for your love of life’
There are activities all day, every day, including craft sessions, workshops and talks, guided foraging walks, yoga, fitness and meditation sessions
It’s not a music festival, but there is live music every night, Andrew reveals
It’s easy to assume that being naked for a whole week is the main attraction, but I spoke to many guests and not one mentioned it as the reason they were there.
Jeremy told me: ‘I love Nudefest for the opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones.’ Richard ‘likes how well-run it is, with fantastic events’. Charley has been coming for three years and thinks ‘it’s really inclusive with people feeling safe here’. Fiona loves ‘the freedom and the companionship’.
Once a guest, Anthony had a new perspective working/making music in the Magic Teapot and ‘had caught up with people’. He added: ‘It’s very sociable and accepting, respectful as well.’
A naturist for only two years, Steve said: ‘It’s a social leveller and you get to meet all sorts of people – and the highlight is being able to share it with my wife.’
Geoff was more philosophical: ‘You can talk to anyone without fear of prejudice. You run much less risk of upsetting someone here with a different point of view, you are just valued for your love of life.’
Andrew Welch is a spokesman for British Naturism. Nudefest will return in July 2025, but British Naturism (bn.org.uk) runs a variety of events throughout the year, indoors and outdoors.