Sat Lav Public Toilet Finder

Public toilets in the UK: a visitor guide

Whether you are visiting the UK for the first time or travelling somewhere unfamiliar, public toilets are usually available in larger towns, cities, transport hubs and popular visitor areas. Availability can vary a lot by place, time of day and who manages the facilities.

Sat Lav helps you find nearby mapped toilets across the UK, with walking distance, estimated time, accessibility details, baby-changing information, RADAR key details, charges and opening status where available.

Looking for the closest toilet right now? Find public toilets near you.

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What visitors to the UK should know

Are public toilets free?

Many public toilets in the UK are free to use, especially those in shopping centres, museums, galleries, libraries, larger supermarkets and some council-run facilities. A smaller number of toilets charge a modest fee, particularly in transport hubs, tourist areas or privately managed locations.

Compared with some European countries, paying to use a toilet is not usually the default expectation across most of the UK, but it is still worth carrying a payment card or a small amount of change when travelling.

Where can you usually find toilets?

Public toilets in the UK are often found in town and city centres, railway stations, shopping centres, public parks, libraries, leisure centres, museums, galleries, service stations and major tourist attractions.

Pubs, cafés and restaurants usually have toilets for customers. Some businesses may allow non-customers to use them, but this varies, and it is polite to ask first.

Accessibility and RADAR keys

Many UK toilets include accessible cubicles, although the quality, space and reliability of access can vary. Some accessible toilets are kept locked and require a RADAR key, part of a national scheme that helps disabled people access locked accessible facilities.

Sat Lav shows accessibility information and RADAR key requirements where they are known. Unknown details are left as unknown rather than guessed.

Baby changing and family facilities

Baby-changing facilities are common in larger shopping centres, department stores, museums, family attractions and motorway service areas. Smaller public toilets may not always provide them.

Opening hours

Opening hours vary widely. Toilets inside buildings usually follow the opening hours of that building, while standalone public toilets may close in the evening. Motorway service areas and some larger transport hubs often provide toilets around the clock.

Practical tips

  • Large cities usually have more options, but the nearest toilet may be inside a station, shopping centre, museum or department store rather than a standalone public toilet.
  • Smaller towns may rely more on libraries, community buildings, parks, supermarkets and council facilities.
  • Motorway service areas almost always have toilets and are generally free to use.
  • Department stores and larger supermarkets are often useful places to look for customer toilets.
  • If a toilet is inside a pub, café or restaurant, it is usually intended for customers.
  • Opening information is not always published, so it is sensible to check more than one nearby option when possible.

Common questions

Are public toilets free in the UK?

Many are free, especially in shopping centres, museums, galleries, libraries, larger supermarkets and some council-run facilities. Some toilets charge a modest fee, especially in transport hubs, tourist areas or privately managed locations.

Can I use toilets in pubs and cafés?

Usually yes if you are a customer. Some pubs, cafés and restaurants allow non-customers to use their toilets, but this varies. If in doubt, it is polite to ask first.

Do I need cash to use toilets?

Most public toilets are free. Where a charge applies, contactless payment is increasingly common, but it can still be useful to carry a small amount of change when travelling.

Are there toilets at UK train stations?

Many larger railway stations have toilets, although availability, charges and opening hours vary. Smaller stations may not have public toilets.

What is a RADAR key?

A RADAR key is used by many disabled people in the UK to access locked accessible toilets. Sat Lav shows RADAR key requirements where this information is known.

What if a toilet is closed?

Opening hours can vary, and some toilets may close temporarily for cleaning, maintenance or local reasons. Sat Lav displays known opening information and allows the community to report problems where supported.

Browse by city

Planning ahead? Browse public toilet guides for some of the UK's most visited cities, or use the app for live nearby results based on your current location.

Built for quick decisions

Sat Lav is designed for the moment you actually need the information: where the toilet is, how far away it is, and what is known about access.

  • Nearby public toilets on a live map
  • Walking distance and estimated time
  • Accessibility, baby-changing and RADAR key details when known
  • Charges and opening status where available
  • Recently verified information where available

UK coverage at a glance

Sat Lav maps public toilets across the UK, including large cities, towns and many smaller communities.

Where information is available, the app can display:

  • Accessibility information
  • Baby-changing details
  • RADAR key requirements
  • Charges and opening status
  • Recent community verification

Download Sat Lav to find nearby toilets using your current location.

Where Sat Lav gets its information

Sat Lav combines public toilet data from open sources with updates and verification from people using the app. In the UK, this includes data from ToiletMap UK alongside community updates and corrections.

Public toilet data is often incomplete or inconsistent, so Sat Lav avoids guessing. If opening hours, charges, accessibility details or baby-changing facilities are not known, they are shown as unknown rather than assumed.

View Sat Lav coverage or read more about the data.