Mooching around toilets has long been a hobby for us here at All In London, and so we thought: why not put the years of research to good use?
So that's exactly what we've done...
From one-time public toilets which have since been refurbished into swish cafes, to venues which have put as much of the budget into the lavs as they have the dance-floor and bar - we've put together a list of London hotspots which put the toilets centre-stage.
The toilets at Sketch are basically saying ‘welcome to the future’ with their sleek white curves and snow storm look. They’re amazing because just like every other room at Sketch, they feel special. And how many toilets feel special? Not many. Welcome to the future – in fifty years they’ll all look like this.
For pure privacy the ground floor toilet at the back of the men’s shoe department is second to none. Tucked away from sight – and sound – the male and female toilets give you your own slice of the department store to do your business in peace. Plus if you’re a shoe freak, you can almost smell all that good leather wafting around the place!
One of our favourite Hackney restaurants is strangely all about the toilets. The vague, ancient Egyptian theme that runs through the whole venue goes into explicit overdrive in the toilets. Going to the ‘john’ surrounded by ancient pornography never felt so normal.
If you’re caught short in the West End then the key place to look for first is the old reliable department store – that’s right, we’re not all about good looking loos, we’ve got the practical side covered too! If you’re in the vicinity then Selfridges is a good stop to make. There are multiple floors, multiple toilets and a well-to-do clientele that probably baulks at the idea of using public toilets – which means no queues.
If you want to spend a penny in a little style then surely aiming straight for the mouth of Mick Jagger is pretty stylish? Er, what!! Yes, that actually sounds more perverted than it is. You won’t really be peeing on a Rolling Stone; you’ll be peeing into a porcelain urinal shaped like the ruby red lips from the Rolling Stones’ logo. Phew.
While the toilets at The Princess Louise in Holborn have a mad ‘ye olde’ style going on, they also seem so old that they appear to have become quite the cutting edge design display. Prints, tiles, marble and stained glass all help to make an attractive toilet experience that will get you drinking quicker for a swift return visit.
The Attendant Café actually used to be a toilet itself. The repurposed space now houses a delightful little café that incorporates (properly cleaned and sterilized) old fixtures from its former use. This is surely the most chic public toilet left in London?
Cellar Door is another London venue that got its big break as a public toilet. However, it left that ugly stain on its resume behind years ago… didn’t it? Or not. Having transformed itself into a dapper subterranean cabaret club in Aldwych it only went and put in some incredible toilets to remind us of where it all began. These ones are nifty. The clear glass door will scare a few would-be toilet breakers but once locked, the glass will soon frost over and leave you with a misty mask behind which to do your thang. Just don’t forget to lock.
Everyone’s talking about the view from the Shard toilet but what nobody is talking about is the view from the toilet at Sushi Samba. So we’ll just go ahead and do so. Sushi, hard liquor and a massive great height? Chances are you’re going to need some bathroom action during your visit. Enjoy. The views are outstanding and the fixtures and fittings divine.