Although public restrooms tend to have a bad reputation, the new toilets at the Piccadilly Circus Tube station in London are trying to beat the odds. The quirky design by Hugh Broughton Architects and the mural by London-based artist James Lambert reflect the artsy vibe of the neighbourhood.
In 2022, Westminster City Council started a £12.7 million council project to refurbish eight central London public toilets in collaboration with Hugh Broughton Architects. While the Victoria Embankment and Parliament Street facilities reopened their doors to the public in 2025, the third toilet to have benefited from extensive renovation works has now been inaugurated at the Piccadilly Circus Tube station by the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Paul Dimoldenberg.
“Providing clean and accessible public toilets makes a real difference to people’s experience of our city. The refurbishment at Piccadilly Circus is part of a £12.7m investment programme across eight West End public toilets, and demonstrates the council’s commitment to providing high-quality public facilities for residents and the millions of visitors who come to Westminster each year. By restoring this historic site and enhancing it with contemporary design and public art, the council is improving essential infrastructure and ensuring it reflects the unique character and cultural heritage of the West End”, stated Councillor Sara Hassan, Westminster Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Ecology, Culture, and Air Quality.
Photogenic toilets
The new toilets are located at Exit 1 of the Piccadilly Circus underground station and provide essential amenities for both commuters and tourists. While structural and drainage improvements as well as new fire safety systems were carried out, it is mainly the new aesthetic of the toilets that catches the attention of passersby.
The toilets combine stainless steel doors with terrazzo floors and colourfully tiled walls, while the structural columns were given a playful pink colour. Overall, the architects were able to give the restrooms an Art Deco feel with a modern touch.
In order to complete the design, London-based artist James Lambert added an artwork inspired by Anteros, the Greek god of requited love, featuring winged figures and a central arrow motif, rendered in a bold pink and yellow colour palette.
The toilets are accessible at a cost of 80 pence per visit. Those who want to admire the design will thus have to pay an entry fee to be able to do so. And while many applaud the makeover of the toilets online, some people are less enthusiastic, pointing out the fact that the restrooms might quickly look less appealing and protesting against the cost of a simple toilet visit.
The next of the eight restrooms to be given a complete overhaul is Green Park Station, followed by Carnaby Street, Westminster Bridge, Covent Garden, and Leicester Square.
