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Free toilets on stations

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Western Sunset

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Something on another group about photography around London stations made me think about toilets!

Is there a list anywhere, of FREE toilets at stations - I'm basically thinking of within London Travelcard Zones 1-6, so both National Rail and TfL.

One you're of a certain age to obtain a Senior Railcard, the presence of free toilets becomes more important if you're out all day.
 
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Mag_seven

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I don't know of a list as such but a couple of the ones that I know:

1. St Pancras International
2. Baker St (LUL)
3. Northwick Park (LUL Met line)
4. Harrow and Wealdstone.
5. London Bridge
 
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TFN

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These are the FREE ones I've seen. I don't go out of Zones 1-3 much but I try.

TfL:
West Ruislip
Ealing Broadway
Wembley Park (not in good comdition imo)
Earl's Court

National rail:
Victoria
London Bridge
St Pancras International
Charing Cross
Heathrow Terminal 5 (Rail)
Bromley South

TfL has a little map that shows the toilet facilities at stations on the regular tube map but I can't seem to find it.
 

matt_world2004

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If you live in greater london and need access to a toilet behind a gateline the freedom pass can be used to make a same station entry and exit.

If you live outside london and are photographing trains in stations and want to access toilets I recommend a paper travel card instead of oyster so you dont get max fared
 

Jensen

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May I tell you a story about "free toilets" at St Pancras? Back in 1980, I'd been working at Radlett Junction as a junior tech involved with the installation of Radlett Junction as part of the BedPan scheme. Night shift and to get home had to catch first train into St Pancras. It was rammed and ended up in guards van (remember them on the old DMU's) and I couldn't understand why people were looking at me a bit oddly. Anyway got off at Pancras and, if I am correct there were toilets on what was platform 1 side (now Eurostar area) as I felt a bit grubby. In the toilets I saw myself in a mirror and I looked like David Bowie from Aladinsane but with fishplate oil all smeared across and up my face. I'd been bolting up various plates and must have smeared stuff up my face. Happy days. And free toilets
 

Dr Hoo

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Fenchurch Street certainly used to be free.
Wembley Central
Sutton (although out of use pending repair last week)
Wallington (being repaired last week)
Norbury
 

Clayton

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They all need to be free. You wouldn’t expect to pay in an airport, would you?
 

tsr

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Many Southern and London Overground stations within the Zones south of the Thames have free toilets. Too many to mention really. Never be afraid to ask the staff as the facilities may be well-hidden or need a key.

Eg. Selhurst’s toilet is at the back of the Platform 1 waiting room and has limited hours due to prior vandalism (bananas flushed down the loo with alarming frequency - yes, really). New Cross Gate used to need a key, but I can’t honestly remember if it still does (Sainsburys is next door anyway!). Norwood Junction has toilets on Platform 1, but if they’re terrible and you’re desperate, you can ask staff about using the unmarked ones on other platforms (no guarantees though). Wandsworth Common has some on the island platform and is near-enough full-time staffed so they are usually open. Etc. Etc.

Regarding lists above - East Croydon’s bogs are usually unmentionable. Useful alternatives are as above, alternatively also at Purley Oaks / Purley.
 

Mugby

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They all need to be free. You wouldn’t expect to pay in an airport, would you?

They are all going to be free in the near future aren't they? I'm sure there was a thread on here somewhere about it.
 

Mikey C

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Cannon Street's toilets are free.

Marylebone's say that there is a charge, but currently you can go through for free.

The interesting thing about London Bridge is that before the rebuild, the free toilets were located on the through platforms (i.e. behind the ticket barriers), whereas now they're in the concourse, which is less handy if changing/waiting for trains but more handy for people in general.
 

DarloRich

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If you live in greater london and need access to a toilet behind a gateline the freedom pass can be used to make a same station entry and exit.

If you live outside london and are photographing trains in stations and want to access toilets I recommend a paper travel card instead of oyster so you dont get max fared

Or just ask a simple question: Excuse me could you let me through the barrier so i may use the toilet!
 

matt_world2004

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Certain TOCs are better than others. Although the last time I used a toilet was in heathrow airport t5 I got searched for suspicious behavour because I walked quickly in and out of the airport. (5 mins between buses) that was an interesting explanation for my boss as to why I missed the bus I was supposed to be on.
 

underbank

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They all need to be free. You wouldn’t expect to pay in an airport, would you?

Same with out of town shopping centres, outlet villages etc. One of the many advantages over the High Street is that you know there'll be toilet facilities which are free and usually clean.

It's the mentality of the captive audience in railway stations - the "like it or lump it" attitude so beloved of state controlled industries.
 

Mikey C

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A random memory, Crystal Palace has toilets, but on the far platform
 

Mojo

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BlythPower

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Willesden Junction Low Level, Herne Hill, Finsbury Park, Clapham Junction, Tottenham Hale, Beckenham Junction, Grove Park, Ilford.
 

tsr

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Forgot to mention the North-East end of the Central Line. Around Leytonstone ish there are quite a few. Although some are clearly very old, have intensive use, or often both!
 

185143

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Certain TOCs are better than others. Although the last time I used a toilet was in heathrow airport t5 I got searched for suspicious behavour because I walked quickly in and out of the airport. (5 mins between buses) that was an interesting explanation for my boss as to why I missed the bus I was supposed to be on.
Really?? Surely "I'm a bus inspector (in uniform I assume?), here's my ID, I was desperate for a p155" should have been sufficient! Certainly not suspicious...
 

matt_world2004

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Really?? Surely "I'm a bus inspector (in uniform I assume?), here's my ID, I was desperate for a p155" should have been sufficient! Certainly not suspicious...
I was out of uniform looking at people free riding beyond the free fare zone but ID checks and a bag search.
 
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