Anna

This is a genuine question. I am taking my first trip out of the country to London at the end of April. I have some health problems that require me to use the restroom/toilet/bathroom very frequently. Can you tell me what the situation with <BR>public toilets are in London? ARe they easy to find and are there many? We will be <BR>sightseeing and I wonder how quickly I can get to one nearby? What about when you <BR>are traveling on the tube? Are there public toilets in the tube areas also? Any info will be greatly appreciated, so please be <BR>honest and give details! This well help me <BR>with my anxiety of visiting a faraway place with my health problems. I really want to be <BR>able to take this trip to London, so need as <BR>much info as possible. Thank you for your help. (I know women, especially, will understand my concern here.) <BR> <BR>

jhm

Not many tube stations have bathrooms, contrary to what you would think/expect, although in the bigger stations that are also train stations (Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, Paddington), you will not have a problem. There are some public toilets, particularly around the West End theater district/Leicester Square area.

elvira

Every museum has toilets, as does every historical site. Every restaurant and pub has a bathroom (sometimes they are for 'patrons only', so buy a coffee), every train station has bathrooms. Some larger underground stations have them, but you can't count on being near one that does. All the big stores have them. <BR>I'm not one of those people who can hold it for hours (nanoseconds is about it), so I use every toilet that presents itself. And, bless them, McDonald's and Burger King have free toilets, and they are everywhere. <BR>There are also public toilets in odd locations around the city; never been in one, so I can't tell you the quality.

Tammy

Just to be on the safe side, make sure and always have spare change. You never know, there might be an available toilet, but you may have to pay a minimal fee.

Ryan Scribbs

My sister always walked into any pub or restaurant and said "Where's the loo, Luv"! She was pointed in the right direction with a smile everytime!

julie

Well, if you walk about well dressed, and go in to any hotel, you can escort yourself to the LOO with no eyebrows raised. We availed ourself of the facility in the Savoy many times...also had high tea there, by the way, and it was really nice. I have the same condition, so try not to drink much in the a.m., limit fluid intake till the p.m. and plan ahead. Some of the "loo's" in the pubs are a little "tatty" as they say in England, so talk some handiwipes, and avoid using any public towel (yes, they do still exist.) Also, many of the restaurants in the old part of London have the toilets at the bottom or top of a flight or two of stairs, so judge the placement of the "loo" before you sit down. A good hint: The churches have nice loos, if they are open.

elaine

I have some websites for you <BR>http://zeus.slais.ucl.ac.uk/toilets <BR>that one lets you type in a location and will tell you about nearby public toilets in London <BR>also for more general info <BR>http://www.great-britain.co.uk/ <BR>A%20to%20Z/toilets.htm <BR>and <BR>www.ricksteves.com/0600wc.htm <BR> <BR>

Shanna

Never had a problem with finding a loo in London or southern England for that matter. In fact, I remember remarking, how civilized, they were everywhere. So easy to spend a penny. And my recollection is that most public WCs are clean because they have a lady who works there.

kate

Pubs (short for "Public House") are supposed to allow anyone to use their facilities free of charge. It's some ancient law. Some pubs in central London however put up signs that toilets are for use by patrons only, which I'm sure is illegal. But pubs are generally so busy that I defy anyone to stop you sneaking through. <BR> <BR>You will see in some streets in the centre some stone boxes which are pay-toilets (20p I think). My ex-husband actually designed these about 3 years ago, so they are quite new and VERY clean (the entire inside of the toilet gets washed each time it is used - you could eat off the floor). <BR> <BR>If I ever need to go I will head for a pub, public toilet, mainline train station, department store or Burger bar. No shortage of any of these.