Today I want to share my picks for the 9 best loos in London. From historic public toilets to fairy-tale restaurant bathrooms, these restrooms are worth a special trip.
Best Loos in London
Of all the things I’ve had to learn since moving to London, the British word for bathroom has been the trickiest. Saying “loo” makes me feel ridiculous, but saying “toilet” feels crass.
After testing out every variation imaginable, I finally embraced my Americanness and stuck with “restroom”.
I steel my nerves against ridicule every time—the Brits think the word is preposterous. But it’s worth it, if for no other reason than to be able to bring you this blog post about the best London loos.
History of London Toilets
It’s been nearly 200 years since the first public toilets in London appeared. They were installed by one George Jennings in the famous Crystal Palace during the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851.
Visitors could pay one penny for a seat, towel, comb, and shoe shine, giving rise to the classic British expression “spend a penny” when referring to going the loo.
In honor of the tradition, I’ve scoured London for the best loos, from those in restaurants to those converted into restaurants. Here’s the result.
Best Pub Loos in London
1. The Castle Pub
I’ll never forget my first trip to the loo at The Castle pub in Angel. What I expected to be a run-of-the-mill pub loo ended up being a veritable Monopoly board in loo form.
The walls were painted with all the proper colors, and the doors even had symbols to suggest which were men’s, which were women’s, and which were left to Chance (get it? get it?).
Best Public Loos in London
2. South End Green
When it comes to historic restrooms, South End Green‘s loos are some of the best examples of Victorian public toilets in London.
As with most things from that era, they’re done in fabulously over-the-top style, complete with wrought-iron curlicues and checkerboard tile floors.
But even more impressive is their ability to attract celebrities who come to the gents’ to partake in activities I won’t mention here.
George Michael, who seemed to get arrested for something embarrassing every week when I lived in the area, is just one of the many who has allegedly come here to do whatever he did to keep getting arrested.
I wouldn’t be surprised if South End Green’s loos were the most chronicled public toilets in London.
Best Restaurant Loos in London
3. Sketch
Back indoors, there’s no denying that Sketch has some of the best loos in London when it comes to restaurants.
The stark white interior, with its egg-shaped stalls and bright colored lights, is almost as famous as the accoladed restaurant’s afternoon tea.
4. Nopi
But Sketch isn’t the only restaurant in London with impressive loos. Nopi in Soho has an Alice-in-Wonderland loo with so many mirrors that it’s almost impossible to find your way out.
Trust me. I got lost in there for long enough that my friends thought they would have to send a search party down for me.
5. Franco’s
Less panic-inducing loos can be just as intriguing, though. Over in St James’s, Franco’s restaurant has some of the best loos in London.
No, they don’t look crazy. But they’re great for a more subtle reason: the soothing sound of the Winnie the Pooh stories playing over the speakers. This makes it another place where I worry a search party is going to come after me.
A close runner up is the famous Chelsea club Maggie’s, where Margaret Thatcher’s speeches are broadcasted in the loos.
Best Re-Purposed Loos in London
6. The Attendant
While South End Green may have the best public loos in London, there are other parts of the city where decommissioned Victorian public toilets have been repurposed into restaurants, cafes, and bars.
They give South End Green a challenge, but in a very different way. One such former loo is The Attendant cafe in Fitzrovia.
Not far from Oxford Circus, it has turned the former porcelain urinals into a clever take on a counter. I was skeptical before I saw it in person, but it actually looks amazing. I’m still not sure I could eat so close to a urinal, though!
7. Ladies and Gentlemen
Up in Kentish Town, the Ladies and Gentlemen bar is also housed in a former public loo.
The elaborate historic ironwork holds up a sign alerting guests to its subterranean presence, and its quirky message board shows the extent to which the bar has embraced its rather unconventional identity.
Runners up for this award go to CellarDoor, a loo-turned-club off the Strand, WC, a toilet-turned-wine bar in Clapham, and the Bermondsey Arts Club, a bar in a former Victorian convenience near Tower Bridge.
8. Restaurant Story
Speaking of which, Restaurant Story by Tower Bridge is another former loo, although one more modern and spacious than many of the others.
Above ground, it has a bright, light interior and award-winning cuisine. I had lunch there once without even realizing the space used to be used for something else.
Best Hotel Loos in London
9. Claridge’s
Moving on from outdoor loos and over to more luxurious ones, the best loo in a London hotel is in Claridge’s.
Steeped in history, the elegant ladies’ room not only has vanity areas with chairs and mirrors, but also a coat check and attendant.
Every time I step inside, I feel like I’m back in Victorian England, which is fitting given that the first public loos hail from that period.
Best London Loos
So there you have the 9 best loos in London. Or should I say restrooms. Whatever you call them, I hope you enjoy exploring them.
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47 Comments on Lady’s Guide to the 9 Best Loos in London
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Ah I knew Sketch would have to be on there! Great other choices though.
Thanks!
I love this article!!! I’ve only been to the loos at the Claridge and while loved them,I felt a little out of place at the same time. So fancy! I’m with you regarding the Attendant Cafe… I’m not sure I would be very happy eating at a urinal!
Glad you agree!
Those loos at sketch are just fantastic! NOPI though is downright confusing!
Yeah! You’ll have to check them out sometime!
My friend’s Mum has a rating system for toilets! So she will love this post so much. I’m off to Sketch this weekend for afternoon tea, so I will have to check out the pods, and report back to her. 🙂
I think hotel loos are always so lovely. The ones in The Savoy got a 10 on the rating scale apparently. Ha ha.
Nice! I hope you enjoy the ones at Sketch!
“Loo” is the kind of word my mum uses, so I just can’t. I’ve clearly watched too much American TV because sometimes I say “bathroom” and this leads to people gleefully asking me how my bath was. I know too many annoying people 😉
Haha, you and me both!
haha, how useful! I have my fav loos for when I am out and about, but they’re not as pretty as these. 🙂
Yeah, these are pretty amazing!
:))) great!
Thanks!
Haha! Never thought I’d be so interested in a post about loos – it really is a silly word! I’ve been to a few of these places including Sketch but not been to the loo at any of these places – obviously don’t drink enough water!
Haha, yeah, they’re worth a trip!
The Attendant looks amazing, I hope they gave it a good scrub before opening 😉
Suze
I was hoping Claridge’s would be on your list! I was so blown away by their restroom (yes, I’m an American) that I just had to take a picture in the stall. Then I was confused when the attendant had started the sink water for me. So fancy!
Yeah, it’s a lovely one!
Love this post! Had to skip quickly by the urinals though as even the thought gave me the heebeegeebees.
Haha, I’m glad I’m not alone!
I’ve actually embraced “toilet” since moving to Europe. I’ve found that many people don’t understand me when I ask for the restroom and agree with the Brits that “bathroom” is kind of a ridiculous word. My Latvian teacher told me that she used to be a tour guide and was bewildered the first time an American tourist asked her if they could stop at a bathroom. She wondered why the tourist hadn’t taken a bath at the hotel that morning. LOL!
Haha, that’s funny! I don’t think I will ever be able to use the word “toilet” in polite company, but maybe someday I will be able to say “loo” without feeling too ridiculous!
Such a funny post. I’m not wild about eating in a former public convenience either, but I do love that word “curlicue”.
Also, not in London, but the Tickell Arms near Cambridge plays Blackadder in their (very nice) loos. I have no idea why, but I like it.
That’s great! I like the idea of hearing Blackadder in the loo!
Not that I’m a frequenter of public toilets, but probably the nicest I ever used was in a bar called PG Kings by the Empire State building in New York. They were pink and white marble and I was told by the manager that they had once been installed in the Waldorf Astoria.
Wow, that’s great!
If there’s one thing I miss about the UK, it’s being able to find public toilets so easily. Belgium has a serious lack of public toilets, as does NYC which I found out the Christmas time!
Yeah, London has an amazing number of them!
Most impressed that there’s another weirdly spelled Kerri here, having just posted my reply and thought – I didn’t write that! Two if us! in one comment section …
Yeah, what a coincidence!
Ha ha ha! I know what you mean about the word ‘loo’ but in reverse – I was just in the States over Christmas and asked a waitress for directions to the loo, please. She was most confused! I remembered the word ‘restroom’ and all was serene … I had no idea that loo didn’t transfer across the pond …
Wow, that’s funny! I kind of thought most Americans would know that Brits use the word “loo”, but I guess not!
Awesome. I like london. a blend of art and effectiveness
Yeah!
Loo, Toilet, Restroom, any word is acceptable for me. But, the first time i heard the word Restroom, i thought people go in small isolated rooms to sit and relax and maybe read the newspaper. Turns out that that’s exactly what they do, but with an extra deal with it! You know what i mean. Never knew Restroom was an American word. Nice to learn something new 🙂
Haha, that’s funny!
Brilliant – smiling all the way through as I read this – gonna share on Twitter right now!
Thanks!
Hello; I’m a bit late to the conversation.
When I lived in London I was advised, very nicely, by another expat, that the word “toilet” is not used in polite company. Like you, I was not comfortable using the word “loo.” We discovered that by asking for “the ladies'” or “the gents,'” everyone knew what we were talking about, and everyone saved face. Try it out sometime.
I was given a list (this was pre-Internet days) of public loos that were suitable for breastfeeding. That list was like The Holy Grail for us new mothers.
Thank you for this most interesting post. It was really fun to read. Regarding The Attendant? Nope. Never. Not ever.
Thanks for the tips, Nancy! Sounds like you got some good advice when you lived here!
Lavatory.
Thats what we grammar school ladies were taught to say. Followed by the Ladies or the Gents. My grandma always said WC (Water Closet) – she had lived France. My grandad would say where is the Throne Room and my grandma would wince!
In London no one is embarrassed by the use of Toilet. Its written on the door and the signage is marked Toilet ➜
Bathroom does my head in, I have wondered why the person would want a bath now and Restroom I have heard a receptionist say “we don’t have restrooms but there is a window seat you can rest over there”.
Haha, nice! I still think the word ‘toilet’ is seriously crass.
I’m coming late to the game, but I’ve so enjoyed your articles. I lived in NYC for 15 years and the vast majority of “toilettes” (the term I use) are either up or downstairs so I thought about publishing a guide of potties on the same floor as the restaurant, pub, club, theater, shop, etc.😉I live in the South now and we have “powder rooms”, which I think is a funny expression. I’m headed to London in a couple of months so I guess I’ll find out if the up and down “loos” are the rule there too.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the blog!
I like the ones at the V & A as well, to the Right of The Gamble Room (if facing, to the Left if in The Gamble) ~ Anyway, search them out, they are lovely, 100% tile!
Thanks for sharing!