Nudity in a public place is not, of itself, an offence in English law.

This statement may seem surprising to some people, but it has always been so - and remains the case despite the introduction of a new offence of "Exposure" in the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

English law operates on the premise that you are free to do anything which is not specifically prohibited, but you have to take the consequences of your actions.

If you are simply enjoying social and recreational nudity - whether that be swimming, sunbathing or walking, on a beach or other open space (including your own garden) and doing so with reasonable consideration for others, you have every reason to defend your right to continue should you be challenged by a police officer or a representative of the landowner or local authority.

In this, there is no difference between "official", " traditional", or "tolerated" beaches.

However, if public nudity is intended to cause "harassment", "alarm" or "distress", to "insult", or is thought likely to cause "a breach of the peace" then a offence may be being committed.

How your behaviour is interpreted is likely to depend not only what you are doing, but also on the circumstances in which you are doing it.

Let's put it this way:

If you are in the habit of sunbathing without clothes on a quiet stretch of beach, perhaps one with a long history of such activity, then you are very unlikely to find yourself in trouble. On the other hand, if you attempt to walk naked down your local high street you will, within a few minutes, be coming into contact with the police.