When was the last time you were out and about in London? What did you do? How long were you out for? || How often do you go out?
Tell us about the last time you were out and needed the loo! || When was the last time you used a public toilet? Tell us about the experience!
Are there enough public toilets in London? What's your go-to public toilet?
What's your experience with locating and using them? When you need the toilet in public, how do you go about finding one?
Out of the following:
signs
asking for directions
wandering around
using an app
googling
asking a friend
Extras
What's your favourite toilet joke?
Have you ever been uncomfortable asking for the toilet code?
Have you ever left a public toilet because it was too dirty?
Have you ever been at a public toilet and realised you needed change to use it?
What are your thoughts about using public toilets that are not free?
Do you ever plan ahead to see where you could use the toilet?
Have you ever had or known someoen who has had a UTI? Describe the experience!
White male, 25, in East London, works at a publishing company (experience dread)
Qs
Yes, iphone 7 or 8
This morning, soent all morning since 11am, courtyard of a church reading a book, had to pee ALSO poop, went to an EAT (EAT, pret, leon), EAT looked toiletless, came out, peered into PRET, AFRAID OF ASKING DONT WANNA BOTHER THEM, went to LEON, ordered fries to use the toilet, probs could have asked but was scared, there was a demand, only one toilet, anxiety enducing. || every damn day, i live alone so i like to go out || on a weekend, spend all afternoon and a bit of the morning out, on a weekday, after work 5-10 ish
another one! usually i sneak into pubs: walk in, act like i am looking for someone, pretend i found them, use the loo, leave, feel like i am being watched, usually pret or pubs
museums, art galleries have the cleanest, nicest public toilets, not fround floor, not top floor, tate
no, in fact, who uses the actual public toilets, they are gross, homeless people in actual public toilets, they are not well-kept enough
complete casfuck innit, no signs, are there, i find them by chance or i look for a pub
wander around
not in this city, didnt look up any apps or anything
did look in Auckland!
Extras
knock knock who's there europe europe who? no, you're a poo!
yes, extremely uncomfortable, did it in NY in a pizza hut, lady was unwilling to give the code straight away, homeless man got in straight after him
no, my standards are very low, even pooping, you can create a rim of toilet paper, not if disgustingly dirty
yes but then i just won't pay, i refuse to pay
never
no, i live in the moment
Anna! with the foldable pad "ridiculous", never had one myself, known someone, painful when they peed
Questions about us?
will it be free?
will it be available on the web app
will toilets be ranked in terms of cleanliness?
info about code or free?
Would you actually use it?
Rarely, can usually find a pub, maybe for tourists or Anna
White female, 24, West Sussex, lives in Stoke Newington, work at PPC account executive (digital marketing)
deep
yes, yes
today, met charlie for lunch, cycled home, out for an hour and a half, then cam ehere to space4
pretty much every day, to go to the shops as well
happens to me a lot, i have to go to the toilet every time befor ei leave the house because it has happened to me so many times, at victoria park last summer, no toilets anywhere, had to sneak into a pub
last weekend, the council look after it / went to the pub yesterday, basically i always go to the toilet
council toilet: it was great, celan ,conveniently located, lots of it because queues, 10/10, not difficult to find but sister knew where it was
not enough, always go to a pub, can always sneak in without being noticed
do you feel uncomfortable? yes, i get very panicky
use google, but that hardly ever works, they pick out some public toilets, not awlays great, usually just pick a pub
i don't ever ask someone, ask a friend, google it, if no toilet comes up, search for a cafe or
extras
no
yes, not in london, in other countries, in festivals
yes, i never have any change, so very troublesome, beg or ask someone, or use toilet on the train
i guess they'll be cleaner, but lot of public toilets are clean, so that's silly, i never have cash, so very inconvenient
i just go, i never just think
yes, most my friend to be honest, painful
would use an app if it existed!!! i drink so much, i have to pee all the time
Black male, 25, lives in Canning Town, works as data analyst
deep
Si, [holds up smartphone]
Rockclimbing in Mile End. It’s in Mile End. Barbecue afterwards.I was in their area, so I guess I travelled to them. A bit of a loner, so probably once a month/a week. Roughly.
After Codebar. I was trying to use the loo. The venue only had one toilet. Thought I’ll hold it. Got to the station, too confident. Two stops into my journey, ten to go. Overestimated my holding abilities. Got all the way to my station, had to sprint home. Called my sister. open the door, clear the way. I made it, but it was life or death.
Last time in public toilet:
probably at Las iguanas. I have never used an actual public toilet. Actually, I take it back. Liverpool St station. Something to factor in: whether the toilets require payment, because I had to fucking pay 20p and I was really pissed up.
Would you go further to go to a free one? No, because you’re usually really desperate. There is a change machine, but it’s just a hassle.
Most times I’ve needed a toilet out and about, it’s not planned.
I guess it would be nice to have more in stations. Pubs are really good. Not the cleanest. restaurants are good.
Do you care if they need you to be a customer?
I may buy a drink, but they don’t normally care.
Just kinda hope I find one. No technique. Looking for the man sign, the lady in a skirt.
Wandering is not efficient. Ask someone. Look out for signs. Pray to the heavens above that I f
I didn’t know an app existed. But if I knew it existed,
People sometimes don’t really know what they’re talking about. Would not google. I would use an app where it says the nearest toilet is 5 minute that way.
extras
Shit, it’s 20 to five.
I don’t like those. It’s a bit weird. I almost had a fight with a mcdonalds security guard coz he didn’t let me use the toilet.
do you ever use disabled
All the time.
Ive seen some filthy fucking toilets. Out clubbing and stuff, sometimes I’ve just said NOPE.
I was thinking on the way home from codebar, if I don’t make it, where could I go? Was gonna call Samatar and ask if he knew anywhere, since I was in his area.
Asian male, 25, lives in Malaysia
Yes
Three years since I no longer live in London. On my last day in London, I went to the parks and a restaurant. I was out for the whole day. I went out multiple times a week. Maybe more than three times per week.
I remember that I was out in Trafalgar Square and there is a public toilet there.
No. The public toilet in Trafalgar Square. Otherwise, I would look for a mosque.
I think it is incredibly difficult to find public toilets in London. They are almost non-existent. Sometimes the best option to go to a restaurant, get some food and use the toilet.
USER RESEARCH
Opening questions
Deeper/specific questions
Extras
White male, 25, in East London, works at a publishing company (experience dread)
Qs
Extras
Questions about us?
Would you actually use it? Rarely, can usually find a pub, maybe for tourists or Anna
White female, 24, West Sussex, lives in Stoke Newington, work at PPC account executive (digital marketing)
deep
extras
would use an app if it existed!!! i drink so much, i have to pee all the time
Black male, 25, lives in Canning Town, works as data analyst
deep
Si, [holds up smartphone]
Rockclimbing in Mile End. It’s in Mile End. Barbecue afterwards.I was in their area, so I guess I travelled to them. A bit of a loner, so probably once a month/a week. Roughly.
After Codebar. I was trying to use the loo. The venue only had one toilet. Thought I’ll hold it. Got to the station, too confident. Two stops into my journey, ten to go. Overestimated my holding abilities. Got all the way to my station, had to sprint home. Called my sister. open the door, clear the way. I made it, but it was life or death. Last time in public toilet: probably at Las iguanas. I have never used an actual public toilet. Actually, I take it back. Liverpool St station. Something to factor in: whether the toilets require payment, because I had to fucking pay 20p and I was really pissed up. Would you go further to go to a free one? No, because you’re usually really desperate. There is a change machine, but it’s just a hassle.
Most times I’ve needed a toilet out and about, it’s not planned.
I guess it would be nice to have more in stations. Pubs are really good. Not the cleanest. restaurants are good. Do you care if they need you to be a customer? I may buy a drink, but they don’t normally care.
Just kinda hope I find one. No technique. Looking for the man sign, the lady in a skirt.
Wandering is not efficient. Ask someone. Look out for signs. Pray to the heavens above that I f I didn’t know an app existed. But if I knew it existed, People sometimes don’t really know what they’re talking about. Would not google. I would use an app where it says the nearest toilet is 5 minute that way.
extras
Asian male, 25, lives in Malaysia
Yes
Three years since I no longer live in London. On my last day in London, I went to the parks and a restaurant. I was out for the whole day. I went out multiple times a week. Maybe more than three times per week.
I remember that I was out in Trafalgar Square and there is a public toilet there.
No. The public toilet in Trafalgar Square. Otherwise, I would look for a mosque.
I think it is incredibly difficult to find public toilets in London. They are almost non-existent. Sometimes the best option to go to a restaurant, get some food and use the toilet.
Out of the options, I would say signs