Born From a Cold, Desperate Search for a Toilet
Where To Wee started with a simple question: why is it so hard to find a public toilet in the UK?
The Spark
Where To Wee started with a frustration our founder knows all too well. As a WordPress developer and entrepreneur living in the UK, finding a public toilet when you're out shouldn't be this hard – but it is.
Picture this: You're out in the cold, miles from home, and you desperately need the loo. You look around. Nothing. You check your phone. The results are outdated, closed, or paid facilities you can't access. Our founder found himself asking a corner shop owner if he could use their toilet. He said yes, thankfully, but the whole experience felt unnecessarily stressful.
And it kept happening. Again and again.
"Is It Just Me?"
We started asking people – friends, colleagues, anyone who'd listen. "Do you find it hard to find toilets when you're out?" Without exception, everyone had stories. The panic at a train station. The "customers only" rejection at a café. The 50p they didn't have at a paid facility.
But we wanted data, not just anecdotes. So we went to where honest conversations happen: Reddit.
"We all know the UK severely lacks public toilets"
— r/AskUK"Why are public toilets so hard to find in the UK?"
— r/london"I'm visiting London – where can I actually find a toilet?"
— r/uktravelsThis wasn't a niche complaint. It was a universal frustration that people had simply accepted as "just how it is." Even the BBC covered it – reporting on calls for greater access to public toilets across the country.
The Data That Changed Everything
As developers, we think in systems and data. So we did what any curious problem-solver would do: we researched the market. What we found was eye-opening:
That's over 1.5 million searches every month from people desperately trying to solve the same problem we'd experienced.
Building the Solution
That's when the idea crystallised. What if there was a single, reliable place to find every public toilet in the UK? Not just the council-run ones, but the ones in shopping centres, supermarkets, train stations, parks – everywhere.
And more importantly, what if it was community-powered? Users adding toilets, rating cleanliness, confirming accessibility features, flagging closures in real-time.
Where To Wee was born.
We're not just building an app – we're building a movement. Because access to a toilet isn't a luxury. It's a basic human need. And in 2025, no one should have to panic trying to find one.
What We Stand For
Accessibility First
We prioritise accessibility information because everyone deserves to know if they can use a facility before they arrive.
Privacy Matters
We don't require accounts or track your movements. Your location data stays on your device and is only used to find nearby toilets.
Community Driven
Our database grows through user contributions. Every rating, review, and new toilet submission helps others in need.
Our Data
Our toilet database is compiled from multiple sources:
- OpenStreetMap – Community-maintained geographic data
- Local Council Data – Official public toilet locations
- User Submissions – Toilets added by our growing community
- Verified Locations – Shopping centres, train stations, and more
We regularly update our database and verify information through user reports and ratings. If you find incorrect information, please let us know!
Get in Touch
Have questions, feedback, or want to partner with us? We'd love to hear from you.
Press & Media
Writing about Where To Wee? Download our press kit with the full founder story, brand assets, and key statistics.