!VAR HAGENDOORN

Public Toilets In London

For years I've had a link to the site of the British Toilet Association, which campaigns for better public toilets across the UK. I added this link because at the time it was one of the odder websites around, but also because I think it is a good cause.

When you're out on the street and desperately have to go to the toilet, you realise how few public toilets there are in London, but also in New York, Amsterdam or Berlin. The best thing to do is to look for a McDonald's, a Starbucks or some department store.

One of my golden rules as a street photographer is to always use the toilet when I find one, even if I don't feel any urge to, because you never know when you come across the next opportunity.

When it comes to public toilets Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kyoto and presumably other cities in Japan as well, are paradise. There's always one somewhere in the neighbourhood and they're usually clean and often guarded.

December last year a for profit luxury ladies room called WC1 opened at 439-441 Oxford Street. At first the price was set at 5 pounds (10 USD) but today it charges 1 pound. It's ladies only, but I welcome the initiative.

Links

Londoners Squirm as Public Toilets Grow Scarce at Bloomberg News.