Best Public Toilets in Bristol — Free, Accessible & Listed Victorian Urinals

Bristol has approximately 264 publicly accessible toilets — including 155 wheelchair accessible and 237 free facilities — making it one of the more comprehensively served English cities outside London. Bristol City Council closed 18 council-operated public toilets and replaced them with a Community Toilet Scheme that has gained international recognition, though disability campaigners have criticised gaps in accessible provision. Use our Bristol toilet finder to find what's open near you.

Key Toilet Locations in Bristol City Centre

Bristol Temple Meads station: accessible facilities on the main concourse
Bristol Bus & Coach Station, Marlborough Street: public toilets
Cabot Circus shopping centre: accessible, baby changing
The Galleries shopping centre, Broadmead: accessible facilities
Bristol Central Library, Deanery Road: free, accessible
City Hall, College Green: Changing Places toilet
SS Great Britain museum, Great Western Dockyard: accessible facilities

Bristol's Community Toilet Scheme

After closing 18 council-operated toilets, Bristol City Council created its Community Toilet Scheme — paying local businesses to open their facilities to the public without requiring a purchase. Participating venues include:

Broadwalk Shopping Centre, Knowle
Create Centre, Hotwells
Windmill Hill City Farm
Greenway Centre, Southmead
Fishponds Library
Various cafés, pubs, and restaurants displaying the scheme's window sticker

The Labour administration has defended the scheme, but Disabled Women Take Action and Bristol Women's Voice have argued it leaves disabled users without adequate options in some neighbourhoods — particularly for those who cannot use non-dedicated accessible facilities.

Bristol's Three Grade II-Listed Victorian Urinals

Bristol has a remarkable piece of toilet heritage: three Grade II-listed Victorian cast-iron urinals, all made at W. MacFarlane's Saracen Foundry in Glasgow in the 1880s — and all still in active use:

Blackboy Hill (Clifton): rectangular design with Moorish-style perforated panels and glass roof — the most ornate
Horfield Common: circular design
Mina Road Park, St Werburgh's: circular design

A fourth example is displayed as an exhibit beside the SS Great Britain museum. These structures are among the rarest surviving examples of their type in England.

Accessible Toilets and Changing Places in Bristol

Bristol targets at least 70% of its publicly accessible provision being wheelchair accessible. The primary Changing Places toilet in the city centre is at City Hall. A RADAR key costs £5 from Disability Rights UK; Bristol City Council's accessibility team can advise on local NKS sites.

Baby Changing in Bristol

Cabot Circus and The Galleries both have baby changing facilities. Broadmead's retail zone also has provision. Use our Bristol baby changing finder for the nearest option.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Bristol's Community Toilet Scheme work?

The council pays participating businesses an annual fee to open their toilets to the public without requiring a purchase. Look for the scheme's window sticker, or use our Bristol toilet map to find participating venues near you.

Are there accessible toilets in Bristol city centre?

Yes — Cabot Circus, Bristol Temple Meads, and City Hall all have accessible facilities. The Changing Places toilet at City Hall is available for those who need a hoist and adjustable bench. Use the accessible filter on our Bristol accessible toilet finder.

What are the listed Victorian urinals in Bristol?

Three Grade II-listed cast-iron urinals from the 1880s survive in Bristol: at Blackboy Hill, Horfield Common, and Mina Road Park. All are still in use and are recognised by Historic England as significant heritage structures.