When The London Society launched Lootopia, our aim was simple: to encourage London to see public toilets as essential civic infrastructure rather than an optional extra. Since then, we’ve explored everything from the commitments secured from the mayoral candidates, to the launch of the British Toilet Association’s Legalise Loos campaign, the installation of a Changing Places toilet at the National Portrait Gallery, and why toilets, drinking fountains and benches are all part of the small pieces of infrastructure that make London more inclusive, accessible and enjoyable.
The latest meeting of the Public Conveniences Partnership, held on 21 July 2026, provided further encouragement that momentum continues to build.
The Partnership brought together representatives from the Greater London Authority, Transport for London, Westminster City Council, Camden, Haringey, Age UK London, the Royal Parks, the Royal College of Art, Toto and others. While much remains to be done, the breadth of organisations now involved demonstrates that access to public toilets is increasingly being recognised as an issue that reaches far beyond local authority budgets. It affects health, accessibility, active travel, tourism, high streets and, ultimately, whether people feel confident leaving home in the first place.
One presentation, from Vanessa Harrison at the Greater London Authority, explored the Mayor’s Walking and Wheeling Action Plan. As London encourages more people to walk, wheel and spend time in public spaces, the supporting infrastructure becomes ever more important. Safe crossings, places to rest, drinking fountains and public toilets all help remove barriers that can otherwise prevent people from travelling confidently around the city.
The second presentation, from John McGeachy of Age UK London and Dr Gail Ramster of the Royal College of Art, introduced new guidance for Community Toilet Schemesthrough The Places We Go project. Community Toilet Schemes enable members of the public to use toilets in participating cafés, pubs and other businesses, helping to extend provision where dedicated public conveniences are limited.
The new guidance provides practical advice for councils and partners wishing to establish or strengthen these schemes, covering everything from partnership working and accessibility to signage, promotion and public confidence. It represents an important step in helping boroughs learn from one another rather than each developing their own approach independently.
For The London Society, this represents another positive step forward. Through Lootopia, our We Need to Talk About Toilets discussion, our Sanitation in the City walking tour and our continuing work alongside partners, we have consistently argued that public toilets should be planned alongside other forms of civic infrastructure, not treated as an afterthought.
If you’re involved in local government, planning, accessibility or community organisations, the Royal College of Art and Age UK London will be hosting a free webinar on Community Toilet Schemes on 7 October. The session will explore the new guidance in more detail and share practical examples of how successful schemes can be developed and promoted. If you have an interest in improving public toilet provision, it promises to be well worth attending.
None of these developments will solve London’s shortage of public toilets overnight. However, they demonstrate that practical work is continuing, partnerships are strengthening and, perhaps most importantly, the conversation is gradually shifting from whether public toilets matter to how London can deliver them more effectively.
At The London Society, we’ll continue to champion practical solutions, celebrate examples of good practice and work alongside partners who share our ambition for a more inclusive London.
Campaign Progress
Recent milestones for The London Society’s Lootopia campaign include:
Progress may be incremental, but it is progress nonetheless. We’ll continue to keep members updated as the Lootopia campaign develops.
