Changing Places toilets and the Radar key: planning days out around toilets
If the person you care for needs a hoist and a full-size changing bench, a standard accessible toilet is not enough. Changing Places toilets fill that gap, but there are not many of them. Here is how to find them, how to get in, and what to check before a day out.
The short version
- A Changing Places toilet has a height-adjustable adult changing bench, a ceiling track hoist, a toilet with space on both sides and room for up to two carers.
- There were 2,665 registered Changing Places toilets in the UK in July 2026, according to the House of Commons Library.
- Find them on the Changing Places map, which shows how to access each one.
- A genuine Radar key opens more than 9,000 locked accessible toilets. Disability Rights UK sells it for £5 without VAT for disabled people, plus £1.75 postage.
What a Changing Places toilet is
A Changing Places toilet is designed for people who cannot use a standard accessible toilet on their own, often because they need to be hoisted, changed lying down, or helped by more than one person. The Changing Places campaign describes the main features as:
- a height-adjustable, adult-sized changing bench
- a ceiling track hoist, so nobody has to lift the person by hand
- a toilet placed away from the wall, with room on both sides for a wheelchair or carer, and grab rails
- at least 12 square metres of space, enough for a wheelchair to turn and for two carers
- a washbasin with clear space underneath, and in many cases a shower
The campaign estimates that around a quarter of a million people in the UK need these facilities. Without one, the House of Commons Library notes, many disabled people have to be changed on a toilet floor, or cannot go out at all.
How many there are
The House of Commons Library reported 2,665 active registered Changing Places toilets in the UK in July 2026, up from around 140 in 2007. Disability Rights UK’s Radar key page gives a slightly higher current figure. Either way, coverage is patchy, and you cannot assume a big attraction, shopping centre or hospital will have one.
In England, building regulations guidance has expected Changing Places toilets in new public buildings above a certain size, or those having a major redevelopment, since 1 January 2021. That will add more over time, but it does not cover older buildings. The government’s £30.5 million Changing Places fund for English councils paid for 483 new toilets before it closed on 31 March 2025.
Finding one before you go
The Changing Places map is the place to start. Each listing shows the facility’s features, opening hours and how to get in. Opening hours matter: a toilet inside a shopping centre or leisure centre is only open when the building is.
If a venue says it has a Changing Places toilet but it is not on the map, ask for details. Some venues have a larger accessible toilet with a hoist or bench that does not meet the full standard, which may or may not work for you.
The Radar key
Many accessible toilets are locked to stop misuse. The National Key Scheme, set up in 1981, uses a standard lock that opens with a Radar key. Disability Rights UK runs the scheme and says the key opens more than 9,000 accessible public toilets, as well as Changing Places toilets fitted with the lock and some accessible countryside gates.
Disability Rights UK sells the official key for £5 to disabled people buying it VAT-free for their own use, or £6 with VAT, plus £1.75 postage per order. It only sells the key to people who need the toilets because of a disability or health condition. It warns against cheap copies, which may not work or may break in the lock.
Not every Changing Places toilet uses a Radar lock. Some are opened by staff, some use a code, and some are open during opening hours. The map listing should tell you which.
What to ask a venue in advance
A quick call or email before you go can save a lot of stress. Useful questions:
- Do you have a Changing Places toilet, and is it on the official map?
- Where is it, and how far is it from the entrance, the café and the main attractions?
- Is it open the whole time the venue is open? Does it need a Radar key, a code or a member of staff?
- Does the hoist work, and do I need to bring my own sling?
- If you do not have one, what is the nearest one, and what other adjustments can you make?
Other help with toilets
The Access Card has a symbol for urgent toilet needs. Nimbus says venues that use the card treat it as meaning urgent access to a toilet without question, and that all Access Card holders have access to accessible toilets.
Some equipment designed for disabled people can be bought without VAT when it is for a disabled person’s own use. See our page on VAT relief on disability equipment for the rules.
If you want a Changing Places toilet in your area, tell your council and the venues you use. When the government closed its fund, it said councils are best placed to decide on toilet provision locally, so local pressure matters.
Related entitlement pages
- Access Card (Nimbus) — A widely used access and companion card for venues, theatres and attractions, showing the adjustments you need.
- Max Card — A discount card for families of children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities, giving free or cheaper entry at participating days out.
- Blue Badge — A parking badge that lets you park closer to where you need to go, as a driver or passenger.
- VAT relief on disability equipment and adaptations — No VAT on many products and some building work designed or adapted for a disabled person’s personal use.
Organisations that can help
These are listings from our directory. They are not a recommendation, and they may not cover your area.
Disability Rights UK
National disabled people's organisation. Its own helplines cover personal budgets and direct payments, and disabled students in post-16 education in England — not general social security benefits advice. Opening hours are limited; check the website.
Benefits advice and welfare rights
Contact
National charity supporting families with disabled children and young people, including a free helpline and information on benefits, education and care.
Benefits advice and welfare rights
Equality Advisory and Support Service
Free service providing advice on discrimination and human rights issues in England, Scotland and Wales. It can help you understand your rights and next steps; it is not a solicitor firm.
Community care and discrimination
Frequently asked questions
Is a Changing Places toilet the same as an accessible toilet?
No. A standard accessible toilet is designed for people who can use it fairly independently. A Changing Places toilet also has an adult-sized changing bench, a ceiling hoist and room for up to two carers.
Where can I buy a Radar key?
Disability Rights UK sells the official key. It costs £5 for disabled people buying it VAT-free for their own use, or £6 with VAT, plus £1.75 postage per order.
Do all Changing Places toilets open with a Radar key?
No. Some do, and others are opened by staff, use a code, or are open whenever the venue is. Check each listing on the Changing Places map.
Do new buildings have to include a Changing Places toilet?
In England, building regulations guidance has expected them in new public buildings above a certain size, or those having a major redevelopment, since 1 January 2021. Older buildings are not covered.
This guide is part of our Days out, cinema and carer concessions if you are disabled guide. You might also want: The CEA Card explained, Days out with the Max Card, Access Card and companion tickets.