Bath's public toilets are run by a contractor called Healthmatic on behalf of the council, and almost all of them cost 20p, payable by coin or contactless card and phone. The two most useful for a day in the centre are Charlotte Street Car Park, open 7am to 8pm, and Shaftesbury Road, open 7am to 6pm. If you need a free option, look for a genuine Changing Places facility or use the toilet inside wherever you're already visiting.
None of this is glamorous, but it's the kind of question that ruins an afternoon if you don't know the answer, so here's the honest, current picture.
How the system works
Bath and North East Somerset Council doesn't run its public toilets directly. Sixteen sites across the area are operated by a company called Healthmatic, with a handful more run by parish councils and community groups in outlying villages. Every Healthmatic site takes 20p per visit, and the readers accept contactless cards and mobile payment (Apple Pay and Google Pay both work), as well as coins. Each site has at least one disability-adapted cubicle, baby changing facilities and a sharps disposal bin.
Where to find one in central Bath
| Location | Area | Typical hours | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Street Car Park | City centre, near the Podium and Waitrose | 7am to 8pm | 20p |
| Shaftesbury Road | South of the centre, near Widcombe | 7am to 6pm | 20p |
| Royal Victoria Park (children's play area) | West of the Royal Crescent | 7am to 5pm | 20p |
| Sydney Gardens | East side, by the canal and station | 7am to 4pm | 20p, plus a free Changing Places facility |
| Henrietta Park | Bathwick, near Pulteney Bridge | 7am to 4pm | 20p |
| Parade Gardens | Riverside, next to the Abbey | 7am to 4pm | 20p |
| Alexandra Park | South Bath, hilltop viewpoint | 7am to 4pm | 20p |
| Alice Park | Lansdown, north Bath | 7am to 5pm | 20p |
These are the sites Healthmatic lists as council-managed public toilets; hours can shift with the seasons, so if you're relying on one late in the day, it's worth checking the council's live map before you set off. If you're spending the afternoon in the Circus and Royal Crescent or walking the river near Pulteney Bridge and the weir, the Royal Victoria Park and Henrietta Park toilets are the closest options either side of the centre.
Park and Ride sites
If you're driving in and using one of Bath's Park and Ride sites, all three have toilets timed to the bus service: Lansdown, Newbridge and Odd Down are generally open from around 6am to 9pm Monday to Saturday, with a later start on Sundays and public holidays. They open roughly 15 minutes before the first bus and close 15 minutes after the last, so don't leave it to the very end of the day. See our Park and Ride guide for the full timetable picture, or our honest parking guide if you're driving into the centre instead.
Free options
Genuinely free public toilets are rarer. The clearest example is the Changing Places facility at Sydney Gardens, built for people who need a hoist, an adult-sized changing bed or extra space, and free to use. Because it's inside the park and unstaffed, you call Healthmatic on 01249 823143 for the door code, either in advance or on the day; the number is also posted on the door itself. Beyond that, your most reliable free option is a toilet inside somewhere you're already spending money or time, such as a cafe, a department store, or a museum you've paid to enter.
If you need a toilet urgently
If you live with a condition such as IBS, Crohn's or a bladder condition and need to ask ahead in shops, cafes and other businesses that aren't normally open to the public, several UK charities issue a Can't Wait Card or an app for exactly this: the IBS Network, Age UK, Crohn's & Colitis UK and the Bladder & Bowel Community all offer versions. It's worth setting one up on your phone before you travel, since staff recognise them.
The honest takeaway
Carry a 20p coin or your contactless card, know that Charlotte Street Car Park and Shaftesbury Road are your two most central, longest-opening options, and use the park toilets when you're already out that way. If you're planning a full day out, our things to do in Bath guide and Bath with kids guide both route you past several of these locations naturally.
Prices, locations and hours checked against Bath and North East Somerset Council's official listing, September 2026. Confirm live opening times on the council's site before relying on a specific location late in the day.