World's best nudist beaches

For 1 km of sand, clothing is optional at the most popular naturist beach in Britain - in fact nude sunbathing has been happening down there since the 1920s. The designated naturist area of Knoll Beach is part of the National Trust's managed seashore on Studland Bay, a beautiful four kilometre coastline. They've recently expanded the beach's “buffer zone” for greater privacy for those on the beach and those walking past.

Did you know? Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ was filmed on Knoll Beach!

The first public naturist beach in the UK was opened in Brighton on April 1, 1980. Eileen Jakes, a local councillor and seaside landlady, came up with the idea in the late 1970s. And at the time, it caused quite a stir. But after it was approved, Brighton's then deputy Mayor, Alfred Feld, said: "It is a bold move ... but we feel we are just moving with the times."

These days, the beach is one of the best known nudist beaches in Britain. It's really close to the centre of Brighton, and easily accessible by foot, bus and even tourist train.

You have to be quite committed to get to this beach. There’s only one way and it's via a pitch black tunnel through a mountain in the Cinque Terre National Park. Once there, you'll find a small, secluded, black pebbly beach well out of the way of prying eyes.

A nice thing to do while you're there is climb up the brick staircase to the village of Corniglia, an ancient Roman hamlet. Much of the area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so there's lots more nature to see while you're there.

With its countless small bays, Croatia is considered an insider tip among naturists. If you are looking for a cheap clothes-free holiday, you will find it two kilometres south of Vrsar in the Koversada Naturist Park in Istria.

Nudist culture has been practised and celebrated here in the Adriatic’s best-known naturist centre ever since the 1950s. Alongside its artificial sandy beach, sheltered bays with gently sloping sun terraces invite bathers to sunbathe without their clothes.

Cap d'Agde is the queen of all nudist resorts. You'll find around 40,000 people stripping off here every summer, earning it the title of “the world’s biggest nude town”. In this unique destination, you can do your shopping, have a haircut, and choose some fish for dinner - all in the buff. This makes Cap d'Agde a must-visit for those planning holidays to France and looking for an experience that combines the charm of French culture with the freedom of naturism.

The area is just west of the Riviera and Montpellier, and has been linked to naturism since it opened in the 1960s.

Abricó is the only nudist beach in the city of Rio, a popular destination for winter sun holidays. Nudists have been frequenting this spot since the 1940’s, but it has only recently been officially recognized. Now, with proper legislation in place to protect those who wish to fully undress, you can dare to bare without fear of possible prosecution.

This makes Abricó an ideal choice for those seeking to enjoy the freedom of naturism combined with the allure of a winter sun getaway.

Despite its reputation as a land of opportunity, nudism is not widely practised in the US. Nevertheless, naturist fans don’t have to forego their preference for clothes-free bathing. North of Miami, one of the most beautiful naturist beaches in the United States sprawls along the shoreline of the Atlantic Coast.

Officially labelled a beach where clothing is “optional", Haulover Beach in the Sunshine State boasts fine white sand, picnic facilities and beach bars – a place with that ‘pure Florida’ feeling!