Hugh Broughton Architects have been appointed by Westminster City Council to refurbish eight central London public toilets, ensuring that residents and visitors to the borough have access to new and improved facilities. The project brings together architecture, engineering and art to deliver a holistic vision for equitable space in the heart of the capital and comprises the refurbishment of facilities at Victoria Embankment, Parliament Street, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Carnaby Street, Westminster Pier, Covent Garden and Leicester Square.

There is a clear demand for public toilets across London and many councils struggle with the costs surrounding maintenance and issues around antisocial behaviour. To address this issue, the council is creating a series of inclusive facilities that demonstrate high-quality design and enshrine as much civic pride as the Victorians displayed when they first started looking at a proper sanitation system for the general public in the 19th century.

The facility at Victoria Embankment re-opened in March 2025

A shared material palette will be kept consistent across the sites with ‘Westminster Blue’ tiles offset by lighter tones on the floor and ceiling. From the three-in-one integrated sinks through to the anti-fingerprint linen and platin finish on the metal cubicle doors, the facilities have been designed and built to be robust and long lasting.

Whilst the material palette is consistent, the artist James Lambert has been commissioned to distil the unique London character of each location through the playful juxtaposition of location specific histories, design details and iconography, as well as shine light on the hidden, the overlooked or previously under-represented.

Site specific artwork animates each location

The facility at Victoria Embankment was the first facility to be re-opened in February 2025. The transformed site now includes refitted women’s and men’s facilities, an onsite attendant, as well as disabled access and a Changing Places toilet. The building welcomes visitors with a large artwork inspired by the nearby sphinx statues, as well as reference to the London Underground and Victoria Embankment Gardens.

The second site to be completed is located underneath Parliament Street, linked via subway to Westminster Underground Station. This is a major thoroughfare and will likely be one of the busiest facilities in the borough. The entrance to the toilets is announced via a major new public artwork, featuring abstracted motifs that reveal the character of the area.

Repeated Big Ben icons and regimented toy soldiers evoke both national symbolism and a sense of whimsy, while graphic hands recall acts of pointing, voting and protest – from tourists to suffragettes. The work scales the energy of the site like a circuit board – charged, directional and magnetic – visually linking Parliament Street to Westminster Underground Station via the pedestrian underpass.

The Parliament Street toilets have been carefully designed for continued maintenance with a lighting scheme that will make the subterranean facilities feel bright and safe. The architectural material palette – prioritising durability and longevity – continues in the same manner as its predecessor. These toilets are an early adopter of the new Part T building regulations that specify the size and layout of toilet facilities, with minimum cubicle sizes now much larger than the previous minimum requirements. The facilities feature ambulant cubicles, as well as enlarged cubicles including baby changing facilities in both male and female toilets.

The next site to be delivered is located within the Grade II Listed Piccadilly Circus Underground Station, serving commuters and travellers alike. It will feature artwork that gives homage to Anteros’ arrow, as well as entertainment hubs from the past, including music halls and Sega World.