Free Public Toilets & Major Cities
McDonalds, English pubs, French Cafes, Irish Bars & Train Stations
Find WC facilities across the world in fast food restaurants such as Burger King and KFC. Plus how to avoid the barstaff and take advantage of free entry museums.
One problem that anyone who has done a bit of urban travel will face is the bladder refusing to adhere to the timetable. Scurrying around a strange city and attempting to find an available convenience whilst bursting to go is no fun at all. This isn’t helped by the modern trend to close down public toilets – something that seems to be happening all over the world – or charge an outrageous fee for the privilege of using them.
Bushes, Trees and Deserted Footpaths
Where, then, should the needy go when they wish to exercise their basic human right to go to the bathroom without spending a penny; where can they pee for free? The problem with cities is that there are no handy bushes and trees on deserted footpaths to quickly scurry behind, and the police tend to look down upon public urination. Luckily there are a few tricks to utilise.
Fast Food Restaurants: McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Hungry Jacks...
Up until recently, the best option was always to dart into the nearest fast food restaurant. In most cases the staff are paid too poorly to care who’s rushing in and out, but due to problems with drug users, many have started to lock their toilets. This requires would-be users to ask for a key, which can be horribly embarrassing.
This is still a minority of fast food restaurants, however – in most it’s possible to skip buying grim, fattening food and go straight into the washroom.
Look for McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut and KFC all over the world, as well as Nordsea in Germany, Quick in France, Spizzico in Italy, and Hungry Jacks in Australia.
Train Stations
The most disgraceful part about the clamour to make money out of people needing the toilet is that a lot of train stations now charge to use the facilities there. This is certainly true in London. Never fear – there is another option. Most of the big train stations have a pub or bar – simply use the restrooms in there.
English Pubs, Irish Bars, French Cafes
The third option is often the most socially awkward – strolling into a bar, pub or café without any intention of buying anything there. Many visitors feel so guilty about this that they end up buying a drink. Which, of course, makes them need the toilet again. The secret is to find a place where the toilets are not in view of the bar staff – English pubs and Irish bars across the world are good for this. If the toilet is between the exit door and the bar, simply walk straight in. If it is on the other side and going past the bar is required, make an extravagant show of looking for someone in every corner, and then leap towards the ladies or gents when the act has seemed sufficiently convincing.
As for French café-style establishments, try sitting down at a table, leaving something there to mark the spot, and then going to the WC. When a waiter or waitress arrives order something that is clearly not going to be on the menu, and then politely make excuses and leave when they apologise for not having it.
Museums and Art Galleries
If there is no option but to pay, why not get the relief built into the price of something else? If the need to go comes on whilst near a museum or art gallery that wasn’t on the original itinerary, why not pay up, go in and have a look around once the business is completed downstairs? This way, a toilet break can lead to exciting and unexpected discoveries. Even better – some museums and art galleries (such as the British Museum in London) have free entry.
