Yesterday the London Loo Alliance staged a coordinated action across the Transport for London (TfL) network to mark World Toilet Day and demand greater accountability for public toilet access across the capital.
Campaigners gathered at two key stations – Seven Sisters, and Turnpike Lane between 10:00 and 16:00 to inspect progress on TfL’s £15 million toilet upgrade programme and highlight areas where improvements are still urgently needed. The day also marks the one-year anniversary of both the London Loo Alliance and TfL’s commitment to invest in toilet infrastructure.
TfL’s five-year programme, announced in late 2024, pledged £3 million annually to install new free-to-use, accessible toilets and refurbish existing facilities across the Tube and Overground. Stations like Seven Sisters have already seen new installations, but campaigners say the pace of delivery must accelerate and there should be more consultation with the public about the location of new toilets to be delivered in the later stages of the investment programme.
At each station, campaigners staged stunts and briefings to draw attention to the issue. At Seven Sisters, the local group Loos for Islington was joined by Assembly Member Caroline Russell to shine a spotlight on the new facilities while calling out the lack of step-free access. At Turnpike Lane, campaigners supported the Loos for Haringey initiative advocating for new toilet provision in the area.
Adam Gabsi, Co-Chair of Inclusion London, said:
“Every Londoner deserves the dignity of a usable toilet. Without them, Disabled Londoners are excluded from workplaces, public spaces and community life. On World Toilet Day, we’re calling for a London where everyone can go out with the confidence that they can go when they need to.”
John McGeachy, from Age UK London, who coordinate the London Loo Alliance said:
“More toilets on the transport network can unlock public transport for lots of people that had previously been prevented from making the journeys they wanted to make. The investment is a great thing, but it is crucial that the public and organisations led and working with people more likely to be affected by a lack of toilets, have the chance to contribute to the next stages of this work.”
The London Loo Alliance is calling on TfL to publish transparent progress updates and commit to expanding the programme to more stations, especially in underserved boroughs.
