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Public toilets in London

Here's a guide to everything you ever wanted to know about toilets in London, from where to find a public toilet to London’s snazziest loos!
A photo of a toilet sign with female, male and disabled icons on a brick wall in London
Find public toilets for all dotted around London. Credit: Shutterstock. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

Restroom, comfort station, bathroom, lavatory, WC – whatever we call it, when we need a London loo, we really need one…

How to find public toilets in London

The fastest route to the nearest public toilet can be found on the Great British Public Toilet Map.

Apps such as Flush, Toilet Finder and Toilets4London also map out locations of public toilets in London.

Take a look at Transport for London’s public toilet information for a comprehensive list of toilets at London Underground and National Rail stations and toilets by London borough. 

Check out this guide for information on accessible toilets in London.

The City of London also maintains a helpful list of public toilets in the Square Mile.

Where to find free toilets in London

A photo of the entrance to public toilets at a London station with icons for men, women. disabled and baby change facilities 

London's National Rail stations have public toilets which are free to use. As part of the City of London’s Community Toilet Scheme, the facilities in many shops, restaurants and bars are available to use without having to buy anything.

You can also find public bathrooms in museums and art galleries across London, and they are often free to enter.

If you are not near somewhere with free access, most pubs, cafes and fast food outlets have toilets for customers.

Public showers in London

London's airports and National Rail stations are the most likely places to find a public shower. Some are accessible only with a first-class ticket, but both Paddington and King's Cross rail stations have public showers for £5. Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow airports have lounges with showers that are accessible for a fee.

London's best toilets

Some of London’s restaurants and bars have made their toilets a destination in themselves.

  • Walk carefully to avoid bumping into a mirrored wall in the blingtastic loos in Yotam Ottolenghi’s Nopi.
  • Freshen up in style at Chinese restaurant Park Chinois, where the glamorous bathrooms feature taps shaped like golden swans.
  • The Princess Louise pub in Holborn has some of London’s best restored Victorian urinals.
  • For a loo with a view, visit The View from The Shard.
  • No "best lavatory in London" list would be complete without mentioning the futuristic bathroom at Sketch. Step into your egg-shaped toilet "pod" where you may hear birdsong or the sounds of NASA announcing takeoff.

Reinvented toilets of London

There are other reasons for visiting Victorian public conveniences in London – they are now bars and cafes!

  • Step into The Attendant in Fitzrovia, a restored Victorian public toilet reimagined as a coffee bar and cafe.
  • Head for cocktails and live music at Cellar Door, a former lavatory in Covent Garden. And fear not, their own toilets aren't quite as risqué as they first appear – the transparent glass frosts over when you lock the door.
  • Take the stairs down to Bermondsey Arts Club, an ex-public lavatory now featuring outstanding cocktails and live music.
  • "Spend a penny" at WC in Clapham Common and enjoy excellent wine and charcuterie in a quirky converted loo.

Toilet tour in London

Brush up on your toilet knowledge on one of the London Loo Tours. Choose from three walking tours which take you through the murky history of politics and public loos in London, alongside offering practical tips on finding a toilet when you're in need. 

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