Where can I go to the toilet?!

[PoptartPoptart]

In London?
We are going into central London at the weekend but I am a bit concerned that as all restaurants and bars will be closed there will be nowhere to go to the toilet!
We are going late afternoon/evening so the shops will be shut.
Help!

Yeah I live in London - all me gyms are open for business

Surely if the OP only lives 30 mins drive from central London, she has buses and taxis where she lives too? It can hardly be the depths of the countryside unless she's travelling by helicopter.

I don't understand why this totally non-essential trip can't wait. We're not supposed to be travelling when it's Tier 3. Use some common sense and stay home. Sounds like the OP just wants a jolly to look at the pretty lights of London and is using GCSE work as an excuse.

Once you leave London there is nothing

I'm sure his GCSE coursework doesn't need to be done the last weekend before Christmas during a pandemic.

London buses and taxi's can be seen in quieter areas, some places have open tube tracks you can see onto if you Google search where to see this. You can see the river taxi's from quiet areas.

Why do you need to go into Shaftesbury Avenue rather than somewhere quieter?

@snookercue

Once you leave London there is nothing

Yup. Pure wasteland. I once heard tell of a bus but that was just fancy talk.

Why are people saying Peter Jones will be open? All the shops are closed.

OP it's a nightmare. During the last lockdown in Oct we drove into central London to pick something up and I too have a weak bladder so was a bit of a nightmare. Ultimately I managed to wait until I got home.

The toilets in our local Tier 3 McDonalds are open. (Drive in & Takeaway)

I don't understand why this totally non-essential trip can't wait. We're not supposed to be travelling when it's Tier 3. Use some common sense and stay home. Sounds like the OP just wants a jolly to look at the pretty lights of London and is using GCSE work as an excuse
Nope, you’re wrong. I have no interest in the ‘pretty lights of London’
We are going this weekend because I have an operation on my bladder scheduled in early January (hence the toilet question!) and I’ll be unable to get out and about for awhile. His coursework is due in February so this is our only chance to do it.
I didn’t mention all this in my op because it’s not really relevant... I was simply asking for some advice about toilets!
But thanks to all those who have given helpful advice.
To those who had nothing to offer except judgement and being snippy (and the delightful poster who decided to make themselves feel superior by correcting my spelling) - I hope you have a happy Christmas

Non essential shops are open in tier 3, you may choose not to, but it’s ok to shop and a 1/2 hour drive is presumably somewhere in greater London. I would have thought one of the large department stores would be a good bet

@StanfordPines

It’s crazy that he is required to do this for his GCSES.

What GCSE is it?

Photography I’m guessing...

Why do you need to go with him? If he's doing GCSE's then he'll he 15/16 so why can't he go with a couple of kids from his class?

*be

@SebastianTheCrab

Why are people saying Peter Jones will be open? All the shops are closed.

OP it's a nightmare. During the last lockdown in Oct we drove into central London to pick something up and I too have a weak bladder so was a bit of a nightmare. Ultimately I managed to wait until I got home.

No they aren’t

Do any of the people making random claims on this thread actually live in London?!?

Shops here are all open, as are most public loos. Department stores, big shops like M&S and stations are your best bets. The main London terminals no longer charge for loos.

I believe education is one of the reasons allowed for travel and people saying just take photos in the suburbs er, think of the backgrounds, Christmas lights, big interesting buildings.....good luck OP hope he gets some good shots. The amount of work needed for art qualifications is poorly understood by most people, you just can't leave it to the last minute.

@ElizaLaLa

Why do you need to go with him? If he's doing GCSE's then he'll he 15/16 so why can't he go with a couple of kids from his class?

Because thats not allowed in tier 3, for a start.

@Queenoftheashes I live in London. I've received emails from a gym and two yoga studios telling me they're closing again.

@UrghThisIsHardis teacher is not going to appreciate your son going against government guidance. He is 15 he can go alone once London is out of tier 3, or if on a deadline take different photographs. I cannot believe how selfish you are being. His potential GSCE result does not trump others safety.

Apologies- just seen he wouldn't be indoors! Ignore that.

I'm assuming the OP is driving him to keep him off public transport, sensible IMO.

Christ alive there are some worthy people on here trying to outdo one another in how obnoxiously they can tell this poster that their trip is non-essential. I can only assume that they think that whoever shouts the loudest on Mumsnet reminding others that LONDON AND 34MIL OF THE ENGLISH POPULATION ARE IN TIER 3 will be awarded a special OBE from the Queen in the New Year Honours List... Presumably for Services to Pious Forum Posting in a Pandemic.

Poor @PoptartPoptart has explained why the trip is essential, she’s also explained that it’s really just a walk outside, which even in Tier 3 is completely allowed. She’s trying to do the right thing in helping her son with his education, again something you’re allowed to travel for in Tier 3. She’s also made it clear that he’s 15, so she’s not comfortable sending him alone and that she’s about to undergo surgery so is slotting this in between Christmas and getting operated on. Give the poor woman a break, she’s taking her son out to take some photos for his GCSE photography portfolio, not throwing a party for his whole GCSE photography class!

For what it’s worth @PoptartPoptart I think that your educational endeavours with your son sound far safer than what I assume he has been doing all week every week since September (ie being in close confines with other students and staff in his school for eight hours a day without so much as a mask between them) so crack on. Well done for being kind enough to drive him up there when you’ve clearly got a whole load of other shit going on; you’re making it clear to him that you value his passion and enthusiasm for an arts-based subject. As an arts subject teacher I can safely say that we need more parents like you.

Have fun, I hope that your son takes amazing photos and I hope that you find somewhere to have a wee.

Hope your son manages to get some great pictures OP, and good luck with your operation as well. I have a weak bladder so I would want to make sure about the loos too!

If its SOOO important & essential, and op is driving, why don't they go on Christmas day when it will be as empty as possible? Public transport & buses and taxi's still run then.

Excellent post @LassFromLeedsWithALustForLife.

Travel John's from Amazon and wear a long skirt....