Changing Places toilets: what they are and how to find one

Updated November 2026

Changing Places toilets are larger accessible toilets with extra equipment, for people who can’t use a standard accessible toilet.

Who needs a Changing Places toilet?

A standard accessible toilet doesn’t work for everyone. Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK need more space and equipment, including people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spinal injuries, and many older people. Without a Changing Places toilet, many families have to change a loved one on a toilet floor, or cut a day out short.

What’s inside

How many are there?

There are about 2,665 registered Changing Places toilets in the UK (July 2026), up from just 140 in 2007. Since January 2021, building rules in England have required one in many new large public buildings, such as big shopping centres, sports stadiums, hospitals and theatres.

How to find one

The best place to look is the official Changing Places map, run by the Changing Places Toilet Consortium. It’s the only map they keep up to date. Some Changing Places toilets need a RADAR key, or you may need to ask staff to open them.

On ToiletSearch.uk, toilets with a hoist or adult changing bench have an Adult changing bench or hoist label. OpenStreetMap only records 40 of these so far, so always check the official map before you travel.

Open the official Changing Places map ↗

Sources and further help

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.