Can we have a Lovely Loos of the UK thread?

[MmeLindt]

Following on from the disabled loo thread, I thought it might be nice if we shared our knowledge of decent loos, and why we like them.

Probably not much use to you lot, but if you go to Morzine Avoriaz, there is a cafe called Berits and Brown on the main street. They are very child friendly, with baby changing in the small toilet, big bin for nappies, nice smelly soap.

Am I the only person who gets a little thrill when she goes into a Nice Loo?

TheBreastMilksOnMe, may I add one more vital point to your list:

16. PLENTY of cubicles and an orderly queuing system.

No matter how fragrant and stylish the convenience, it's just impossible to relax if there are only two cubicles and you can hear the next customer breathing and shuffling their feet outside...

I'm a big fan of the National Gallery and National Portrait Galleries bathrooms - clean, free and generally lovely. Great if you're caught short in central London.

One of the WORST was in Marseille in a bar - the floor was flooded, there was one loo for men and women and it absolutely stank of piss. And the toilet seat was broken. Horrific.

I used to use the ones at the Ritz in London (why suffer at McDonald's?) They're really comfy, with fresh towels and hairspray, etc, to hand. I never checked out the Baby Room, but it must be safe to assume it's lovely! Or you could use the vanity table in the Ladies.

I liked southeastastra's tale about the Ritz's disappearing cleaning lady!

The secret loo in the Forbidden Corner in Yorkshire...

I wouldn't like to wee in there, or change a baby, but the gents at the Philarmonic Rooms in Liverpool are fabulous looking, if a bit whiffy. If you're female you can ask the bar staff and they'll let you pop in for a look after checking there's no one in there.

Anywhere that has enough space to be able to get a small child in and out easily with you, without having to say "mind your head" on the loo roll dispenser.

Was thinking about asking Mumsnet to start a campaign on this one.

At the moment my least favourite loos are the ones at the visitor centre at Lulworth Cove. Any woman on her own who wasn't a size 10 or lower would struggle.

Toilets at John Lewis in Edinburgh. I call them "a poo with a view".

Incredible view, family loo including mini loo, four changing mats with sinks to wash hands and other emergencies, private area to breast feed, water and glasses and a bottle warmer.

It has been a life saver when DS was little and desperately in need of feed and change. Very central in the St James Centre.

We went to Althorpe the year it was opened. A very sad day in parts :( but I do remember being especially impressed by their toilets. Lovely, clean and very smart. What she would have wanted maybe :) Has anyone been there lately?

Bar in St Albans by the Alban Arena has all lollipops, handcreams etc by the toilets, but if you try to take one an attendant pops out & yells 'They're not free, you know!'

Oooh, secret loo, tell us more Framey!

The ones at Mudeford Sandspit (by the beach huts) claim to be Loo of the Year but I would dispute that. They are in a shack and were dirty and smelly and quite revolting. Do not trust Loo of the Year signs

Also, National Trust ones at Studland are not great if you have your hands full. There is nothing fun about fishing a bucket and pil of sand toys out of a well used composting toilet

Sadly, I have no recommendations.

Good news, Loo Lovers. OliviaMN has agreed to move this out of chat (did not mean to disturb you in the evening Olivia)

So. Day Out Recommendations? Or Other Subjects?

Not sure if anyone has mentioned the loos in the new St David's 2 arcade in Cardiff. Exceptional facilities including family toilet rooms with one adult and one child loo in the same cubicle (great for mums with boys, dads with girls or me with a buggy!) Also great p&c parking in same building.

The decorated men's loos at The Philharmonic puc in Liverpool (I went in for a peek )

Metquarter in Liverpool has lovely clean loos too.

You know Portaloos are normally dire beyond words?
When Princess Diana died, and people were queuing to sign the book of condolence - they put some very plush portaloos along the Mall. Proper porcelain loos and sinks, toilet paper, even a small arrangement of silk flowers. Very comfy.
Someone important obviously asked a minion to organise toilet facilities for the hordes and they simply used the first name from their contact list - probably normally used for garden parties or similar (I like to imagine).

Westfield shopping centre, London - very nice baby facilities.

Tintagel. Soo clean and spacious.

The loos in the car park at Broadway in the Cotswolds were so surprisingly nice that even DH felt the need to comment on them!

I was surprised at Liverpool Street Station the other day to discover that their accessible loo/baby change type area actually had these posh breastfeeding chairs. I do hate feeding facilities mixed with loos so it lost a few marks for that, but I was just so amazed that a railway station of all places had actually bothered to think about mums and babies properly!

The loos in the Metrocentre get my vote. They have lots of them, in various locations, lots of family toilets, plus large cubicles in the ladies and gents. As well as the family toilets there's large baby change rooms and the one time I needed to use the disabled toilet because I had DS2 in his buggy and the family toilets in the section I was in were out of order, I noticed that they have automatic doors. They're all reasonably clean, too.

There is also a separate baby feeding room, so you don't have to go into the toilets if you need privacy. M&S and boots also both have baby feeding rooms and M&S there has a baby change room with a cubicle containing low toilet, specially for small children, so I don't have to take my large, 6 year old (still not dry in the day) into the ladies' when it's busy.

second the metro centre (though I hate theplace itself)

We find it very easy with the kids. We have a long-ish drive to get there, but there's no roads to deal with, once we're inside and that makes for a much easier shopping trip than, say, Middlesbrough. (which has dire loos)

The loos at Abul Simbal (don't know who to spell) in Egypt are the worst. Had to wade through inches of diarrhoea (can spell that) to get to the most awful toilet and then had to tip the 'attendant'!

When I was little I was suddenly desperate in the street so my auntie popped me into the loo in the Savoy Hotel. I remember being so impressed I went home and told mum there was golden water coming from the tapes. Looking back, maybe there was a serious mix up with the plumbing.

er...from the taps.

Piccolinos restaurants are usually great.