RADAR Key Guide: Accessible Toilet Access for Disabled Travellers

What Is the National Key Scheme?

The National Key Scheme (NKS) was set up by the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (now Disability Rights UK) in 1981. The idea was simple: fit a standard lock to accessible toilets across the country, and give disabled people a key. This keeps the facilities clean, available, and free from misuse, while ensuring the people who need them can get in.

The scheme has grown steadily over four decades. Today, over 10,000 NKS-locked toilets are installed in shopping centres, pubs, railway stations, parks, motorway services, hospitals, and public buildings across the UK. They're identifiable by the distinctive lock on the door, usually alongside the blue wheelchair-accessible sign.

How to Get a RADAR Key

You can buy a RADAR key from Disability Rights UK for around £6 (prices occasionally change). You can also pick one up from many local councils, some Shopmobility schemes, and occasionally from tourist information centres.

There's no formal application process or proof of disability required when buying online, though some local authority schemes may ask. The system operates on trust. The key is a standard shape, so once you have one, it works everywhere.

Who Should Get One?

The NKS is intended for anyone with a disability that means they need accessible toilet facilities. That includes, but isn't limited to:

• Wheelchair users
• People with mobility impairments who need grab rails or extra space
• People with bowel or bladder conditions (Crohn's disease, colitis, IBS)
• People with stomas
• Parents or carers of disabled children
• People with hidden disabilities who need a larger, private space

If you have a condition that makes finding and accessing a toilet urgent or difficult, you qualify. You don't need a wheelchair to need a RADAR key.

What You'll Find Behind a RADAR Lock

Standard NKS-locked toilets are wheelchair-accessible facilities: a larger cubicle with grab rails, a lower sink, an emergency cord, and enough space to manoeuvre a wheelchair. Quality varies. Some are spotless and well-maintained. Others are used as storage cupboards by whoever manages the building. That's an ongoing frustration with the scheme, but most are in reasonable condition.

The lock itself is always in the same position and uses the same key. Turn it one way to open, the other to lock from inside. It becomes second nature quickly.

Changing Places Toilets

Standard accessible toilets work for many disabled people, but they're not enough for everyone. If you need a hoist, a height-adjustable changing bench, or a carer to assist you, a standard RADAR toilet won't have the space or equipment.

That's where Changing Places toilets come in. These are larger facilities (at least 12 square metres) equipped with:

• A ceiling track hoist (or mobile hoist)
• An adult-sized, height-adjustable changing bench
• Enough space for the disabled person plus up to two carers
• A centrally placed toilet with space either side
• A privacy screen or curtain

There are now over 2,000 Changing Places toilets in the UK, up from just 140 in 2012. Since 2021, new large public buildings (cinemas, shopping centres, stadiums, hospitals, transport hubs) are legally required to include one. You can find them using the Changing Places map.

Most Changing Places toilets use a RADAR lock, so your existing key will work.

Tips for Travelling with a RADAR Key

A few practical things that make life easier:

• Carry your key on a lanyard or keyring attached to your bag. Fumbling in pockets when you're desperate isn't fun. Keep it accessible.
• Plan your route with toilet stops in mind. Our Toilet Finder lets you filter for RADAR-locked toilets specifically, so you can map out where they are before you travel.
• Railway stations are reliable. Network Rail stations almost always have RADAR-locked accessible toilets, and they're generally well-maintained.
• Motorway services. Every motorway service station in the UK has accessible toilets. Most use RADAR locks.
• Get a spare key. They're cheap. Keep one in your bag and one at home. Losing your only key when you need it is genuinely stressful.

The "Can't Wait" Card

If you have a condition that means you need to use the toilet urgently (bowel disease, bladder conditions, etc.), you can also get a "Can't Wait" card from Disability Rights UK. It's a credit-card sized card that you can show to staff in shops, restaurants, or other venues to explain that you need to use their toilet urgently. It's not a legal document, but most staff will help when they see it.

Finding RADAR Toilets Near You

Disability Rights UK publishes a guide to NKS toilet locations, but the most practical way to find them is with our Toilet Finder. You can filter the map to show only RADAR-accessible toilets and see what's available in any area. Useful for planning trips, checking a new area, or just finding the nearest one when you're out.