Find Public Toilets Near You: The Complete UK Guide

Whether you're a delivery driver spending long hours on the road, a parent with young children, or someone with a medical condition that requires quick access to facilities, finding a public toilet when you need one can be surprisingly difficult. Our free Public Toilet Finder makes it easy to locate toilets across the UK.

Why Finding a Public Toilet Can Be So Difficult

Over the past decade, the UK has seen a significant reduction in public toilet provision. Local councils, facing budget pressures, have closed many traditional public conveniences. According to the British Toilet Association, the UK lost nearly half of its public toilets between 2010 and 2020.

This creates real problems for:

• Delivery drivers and couriers – Spending 8-12 hours a day on the road with limited options
• Taxi and private hire drivers – Similar challenges, especially during busy periods
• Parents with young children – When nature calls, you can't negotiate with a toddler
• Elderly people – May need more frequent access and struggle with mobility
• People with medical conditions – Including IBS, Crohn's disease, diabetes, and pregnancy
• Tourists and visitors – Unfamiliar with the local area

How Our Toilet Finder Helps

Our Public Toilet Finder aggregates data from OpenStreetMap to provide comprehensive coverage of publicly accessible toilets across the UK. Here's what makes it useful:

📍 Location-Based Search

Use your current GPS location to find the nearest toilets instantly, or search by any UK postcode. We show walking distance and estimated walking time to each facility.

♿ Accessibility Filters

Filter results to show only toilets with:

• Wheelchair access – Essential for wheelchair users and those with mobility aids
• RADAR key access – Locked accessible toilets that can be opened with a National Key Scheme key
• Changing Places – Larger accessible toilets with hoists, adult-sized changing benches, and space for carers

🚼 Family Facilities

Parents can filter for toilets with baby changing facilities – a crucial feature when travelling with infants.

🆓 Free vs Paid

Some public toilets charge a fee (typically 20p-50p). Our tool shows which toilets are free and which ones charge, so you're never caught without change.

🕐 Opening Hours

Where available, we show opening hours and indicate whether a toilet is currently open. Many public toilets have restricted hours or close overnight.

Types of Public Toilets in the UK

Traditional Public Conveniences

Council-run toilet blocks, often found in town centres, parks, and transport hubs. These are becoming rarer but are usually well-maintained where they still exist.

Community Toilet Schemes

Many councils now operate Community Toilet Schemes, where local businesses (cafes, shops, pubs) allow public access to their toilets. Look for the Community Toilet Scheme sticker in windows.

Supermarket and Retail Toilets

Most large supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons) have customer toilets. Shopping centres also typically have toilet facilities.

Transport Hub Toilets

Train stations, bus stations, and service stations usually have toilets, though some may charge a fee. Station toilets may require a valid ticket to access.

RADAR Key Toilets

The National Key Scheme (NKS) provides a standard key that opens around 9,000 locked accessible toilets across the UK. RADAR keys can be purchased from disability organisations or online.

Tips for Finding Toilets When You're Out

1. Plan ahead – Check our toilet finder before you leave
2. Know the supermarkets – Large supermarkets are reliable options
3. Carry change – Some toilets require 20p-50p coins
4. Consider a RADAR key – Opens thousands of accessible toilets nationwide
5. Ask nicely – Many cafes and pubs will let you use their toilet if you ask politely
6. Download our tool – Save our toilet finder to your phone's home screen for quick access

For Delivery Drivers and Couriers

If you're working as a delivery driver, you face unique challenges. Our tool is designed with you in mind:

• Quick location-based search that works on mobile
• Shows walking time so you can factor in break time
• Works offline once loaded (useful in areas with poor signal)
• Free to use, no sign-up required

Data Sources and Accuracy

Our toilet data comes from OpenStreetMap, a collaborative mapping project. This means:

• Data is crowd-sourced and regularly updated by volunteers
• Coverage is generally good in urban areas
• Some rural areas may have gaps
• Temporary closures may not always be reflected immediately

We update our database regularly to ensure accuracy. If you find incorrect information, you can contribute corrections to OpenStreetMap directly.

More Useful Tools

Check out our other free mapping tools:

• Food Hygiene Ratings – Check restaurant hygiene scores before you eat
• Radius Map – Draw circles on a map to see what's within a certain distance
• Route Planner – Plan multi-stop routes for deliveries