tonysmith939@gmail.com

Having been a practising guest of Spielplatz circa 1951-1957 the park and its ambience have a positive place amongst my most pleasant recollections. Thanks to the Macaskie family and all that have followed. Tony Smith (Australia)...

02-08-2010

Jayne Hampson

A gem of a place. An oasis of tranquillity within only 1 Km of the M25 motorway (and accessible by public transport too!).

The facilities here are superb and the residents (for about 60 people live here permanently) and members are great people. Our only regret is that we don’t live closer, otherwise we’d join.

Out of the dozen or so clubs we’ve visited in eastern and south-eastern England this one stands head and shoulders above the others as the best we’ve found.

The pool is superb, the grounds and buildings always look well tended and there is an obvious sense of pride taken in the place. The catering is also out of this world!

This really is a club worth visiting, steeped in history as one of the country’s oldest but still forward looking. Certainly not the cheapest, but in our opinion definitely among the best.

21-05-2009

Rob Candlish

Spielplatz is one of the oldest naturist clubs in Britain (established since 1930) and also its only residential naturist community. It is impossible not to be impressed by Spiel (as the residents and members affectionately call it).

4.5 hectares in extent and with facilities including an 18.5 metre x 5 metre outdoor heated swimming pool, two miniten courts, a badminton court and also one for petanque as well as a large sauna and club house including a licensed bar stocking a full range of beverages including locally brewed real ales, a pool table and mini football as well as a restaurant serving excellent meals at very reasonable prices and a comfortable sun lounge

There are also a children’s adventure play area, recently refurbished shower/toilet block and changing room, ample car parking, “Pool View” (a rental chalet available for visitors) and camping pitches for tents and caravans including some with electric hook ups

Spiel enjoys easy access by public transport (frequent daily bus services from Watford and St Albans stop within 500 metres of the gates, How Wood and Bricket Wood Railway stations both within about 3 kilometres).

"No Shadows Fall" by Iseult Richardson (eldest daughter of the founders) is the definitive history of Spielplatz and now back in print again exclusively available from Spiel itself (see its website for details of how to order a copy). When it was first published almost 15 years ago "No Shadows" prompted one reviewer to write “This is as much Iseult’s story as that of the remarkable people who comprise the community we know today as Spielplatz”. There can probably be no more eloquent statement of the attraction of this unique place, for its residents and annual members are indeed remarkable people, and visitors come from all over the world simply to say they have been there and enjoyed its hospitality.

This is undoubtedly the flagship of naturism in Great Britain.

20-04-2009