Spielplatz: Years of Naturist History Hiding Near London

Sometimes I spend so much time looking across Europe for my next naturist adventure that I forget just how much is sitting on our own doorstep. Spielplatz, tucked away at Bricket Wood near St Albans, is one of those places.

Behind the gates is an established naturist community surrounded by woodland and landscaped grounds, with a history stretching back towards an extraordinary milestone — Spielplatz celebrates its centenary in 2029.

Suddenly, this isn’t simply somewhere I want to visit. It’s somewhere I want to understand.

I’d make a day of doing almost nothing, which, as travel plans go, sounds glorious. There’s a heated outdoor swimming pool, clubhouse and bar, Jacuzzi, sauna and sporting facilities, with plenty of space simply to settle down and enjoy being outdoors. But what intrigues me most is that Spielplatz isn’t pretending to be a glossy holiday resort. People actually live here. Visitors are stepping into an established naturist community where generations of people have made naturism part of ordinary everyday life.

That’s something a hotel brochure simply can’t manufacture.

And here’s the important bit if I’ve now tempted you: arrange your visit before you travel rather than simply arriving at the gate. Spielplatz is a private naturist community near Bricket Wood, between St Albans and Watford. If you’d like a day visit, contact them beforehand to arrange it and confirm the current visitor information. If you fancy staying longer, ask about the camping and accommodation options available for your dates. You can contact Spielplatz directly on 01923 388265 or use their official website at spielplatz.co.uk. The location is surprisingly accessible too, with the M1 and M25 nearby and rail connections in the surrounding area.

Perhaps that’s why Spielplatz appeals to me today. I’m not chasing the cheapest flight or the hottest beach. I want to visit somewhere that has a story. Imagine the friendships, conversations and ordinary summer afternoons that must have unfolded there over almost a century. I’d love to wander through the grounds, hear some of those stories, take a swim and eventually find myself a sunny patch of grass.

Sometimes the best journeys aren’t about how far you travel — they’re about finally discovering somewhere remarkable that was quietly there all along.