Where to Find Toilets as a Delivery Driver UK: Your Rights & Best Locations

If you're a delivery driver, courier, or HGV driver, you know the struggle: you're on a tight schedule, miles from home, and you desperately need the loo. Finding a toilet shouldn't be this hard — but with public toilets closing across the UK, it's become a daily challenge for drivers everywhere.

The good news? You have legal rights to toilet access, and there are plenty of places you can find facilities if you know where to look.

Your Legal Right to Toilet Access

Since November 2017, businesses that receive deliveries are legally required to provide you with access to toilet and handwashing facilities. This isn't optional — it's the law under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has made this crystal clear:

"When a visiting delivery driver visits non-domestic premises as part of their work, the duty holder/employer at that workplace must — and not should — provide access to welfare facilities." — Health and Safety Executive

What This Means for You

• No time limits — There's no minimum time you need to be on site. The "2-hour rule" some businesses claim is a myth.
• All delivery locations — Warehouses, depots, retail stores, offices — anywhere you're delivering to.
• Handwashing too — They must provide soap and running water, not just the toilet.
• Food delivery matters — If you're delivering food, hygiene is even more important.

What If You're Refused Access?

Unfortunately, some businesses still refuse drivers access. If this happens to you:

1. Know your rights — Politely remind them of the legal requirement
2. Report to HSE — You can report non-compliant businesses at hse.gov.uk
3. Tell your union — Unite and other unions actively campaign on this issue
4. Report to your employer — They may be able to raise it with the customer

Best Places to Find Toilets as a Driver

While you have rights at delivery locations, you'll also need toilets during your route. Here are the most reliable options:

🛒 Supermarkets (Best Option)

Large supermarkets are your best bet. They're usually open long hours, have clean facilities, free parking, and you can grab a snack while you're there. Look for:

• Tesco Extra and Superstores
• Asda (often 24 hours)
• Sainsbury's
• Morrisons
• Lidl and Aldi (smaller but usually have toilets)

🍔 Fast Food Restaurants

McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and Costa are usually good options. They're used to drivers popping in, and many are open late or 24 hours.

⛽ Petrol Stations

Most petrol station forecourts have customer toilets. Larger ones like BP, Shell, and Esso services tend to have better facilities than small independents.

🚉 Train and Bus Stations

Major stations have public toilets, though some charge a small fee (usually 30-50p). Stations with barriers may require a ticket to access platform-side facilities.

🏛️ Public Facilities

Libraries, leisure centres, shopping centres, and council buildings often have public toilets. Our Toilet Finder tool shows all of these.

🏥 Hospitals

NHS hospitals have public toilets and are often open 24/7. They're not ideal for regular use, but good to know about for emergencies.

Planning Toilet Stops on Delivery Routes

The best strategy is to plan ahead. Before you start your route:

1. Check our Toilet Finder — See what's available in your delivery area
2. Note reliable locations — Save the best spots to your phone's maps app
3. Time your stops — Plan breaks at logical points in your route
4. Know the 24-hour spots — Essential for early morning or late night shifts

If you use our Route Optimiser to plan your deliveries, you can cross-reference with the Toilet Finder to identify convenient stop points along the way.

Special Considerations

♿ Accessible Toilets

If you need accessible facilities, our Toilet Finder lets you filter for wheelchair-accessible toilets. Many are locked with a RADAR key — you can buy one online for around £5 from Disability Rights UK.

🚺 Female Drivers

Female drivers face additional challenges, particularly with facilities that are poorly maintained or in isolated locations. Supermarkets and shopping centres tend to offer the safest and cleanest options.

🌙 Night Shifts

For overnight driving, 24-hour options are limited. Your best bets are:

• 24-hour Asda and Tesco stores
• 24-hour McDonald's and motorway services
• Hospitals (A&E departments)
• 24-hour petrol stations

Health Matters: Don't Hold It

It might be tempting to limit your fluid intake to reduce toilet stops, but this is bad for your health. Dehydration can cause:

• Poor concentration (dangerous when driving)
• Headaches and fatigue
• Kidney problems over time
• Increased risk of urinary tract infections

The NHS recommends drinking 6-8 glasses of fluid per day. Plan your toilet stops — don't avoid drinking water.

Similarly, "holding it in" for extended periods can cause:

• Urinary tract infections
• Bladder stretching
• Chronic constipation
• In extreme cases, serious medical conditions

Use Our Free Tools

We've built free tools specifically to help UK delivery drivers:

Summary: Know Your Rights, Plan Your Stops

As a delivery driver in the UK:

• ✅ You have a legal right to toilet access at delivery locations
• ✅ Report refusals to the HSE — it's against the law
• ✅ Supermarkets are your friend — reliable, clean, and driver-friendly
• ✅ Plan ahead — use our Toilet Finder to know what's available
• ✅ Stay hydrated — your health matters more than saving a few minutes