Gender-Neutral Bathrooms in London: Where Girls' Groups Feel Safe and Welcome

Walking into a busy nightclub in London shouldn’t mean holding your breath until you find a bathroom. For many girls’ groups - whether they’re cis women, trans women, nonbinary folks, or just tired of unsafe spaces - the bathroom is the first real test of whether a venue truly welcomes them. In 2025, more London venues are getting it right. Not because it’s trendy, but because people demanded better.

Why Gender-Neutral Bathrooms Matter for Girls’ Groups

It’s not just about having a toilet. It’s about safety, dignity, and belonging. A 2024 survey by LGBTQ+ London Collective found that 68% of women and nonbinary people avoided certain clubs because they didn’t trust the bathrooms. Some reported being questioned, stared at, or even kicked out for using the wrong one. Others simply waited until they got home, risking health issues from holding it too long.

Gender-neutral bathrooms fix this. They remove the gatekeeping. No more asking for ID. No more being told you don’t belong. Just a clean, quiet space with stalls, sinks, and maybe a mirror - no labels, no drama.

For girls’ nights out, this changes everything. Groups can split up without worrying. Someone can go alone without fear. A trans woman doesn’t have to choose between safety and socializing. A nonbinary person doesn’t have to explain themselves to a bouncer. And cis women? They finally get to relax.

Where to Find Them in London

London’s nightlife scene is scattered, but the best venues are making this easy to spot. You don’t need to dig through websites or call ahead. Look for clear signage - a simple icon of a toilet with a circle around it, or the words “All Gender Toilet” in plain text. Here are five places where girls’ groups are already making this part of their routine.

• The Glory (Camden): A long-standing queer hub with multiple all-gender bathrooms, fully accessible, and staff trained to redirect anyone who questions them. The staff don’t wait for complaints - they proactively point people to the right door.
• Stag & Hounds (Shoreditch): A basement bar with a reputation for loud music and even louder inclusivity. Their single-stall bathroom is labeled “Everyone,” with a lock on the inside. No one gets turned away.
• Wiltons (Soho): A historic venue that upgraded its restrooms in 2023 after a group of trans women organized a sit-in. Now, it’s one of the most cited spots for safe bathroom access in central London.
• The Joiners (Islington): A live music venue with a gender-neutral bathroom on the ground floor and another on the upper level. The owner installed them after hearing from regulars who’d been harassed at other clubs.
• Club Kali (Brixton): A Black-led queer space that doesn’t just have gender-neutral bathrooms - they’re the only bathrooms. No male/female signs. No exceptions. The message is clear: everyone belongs here.

These aren’t just token gestures. They’re part of a culture shift. Staff at these venues are trained to handle bathroom-related conflicts before they start. Signs are posted near entrances. Door staff know the policy by heart. And if someone tries to cause trouble? They’re asked to leave.

What Makes a Bathroom Truly Inclusive?

Having a sign on the door isn’t enough. Real inclusion means design, policy, and attitude all line up.

Design matters: Single-stall rooms are best. They’re private, quiet, and don’t require anyone to share space with strangers. But if a venue has multi-stall bathrooms, they must be fully unisex - no locked doors, no gendered signage. The same goes for sinks and mirrors.

Policy matters: Staff should be trained to respond calmly if someone complains. Not by defending the policy, but by redirecting: “This is a safe space for everyone. Let’s keep it that way.” No debates. No exceptions.

Attitude matters: The most inclusive venues don’t treat this as a PR move. They don’t post rainbow flags and then ignore bathroom complaints. They listen. They change. They follow up. One bar owner in Peckham told me, “We didn’t do it because it was the right thing. We did it because our regulars told us it was the only thing that mattered.”

What to Look For When You Arrive

Not every venue is transparent. Here’s how to spot the real ones:

1. Check the entrance - is there a sign near the door? If not, ask a staff member. If they hesitate, walk out.
2. Look for locks on the inside. A bathroom without one is a risk.
3. Notice how staff respond. Do they smile and point? Or do they look confused? Trust your gut.
4. Check the floor plan online. Many venues now list bathroom locations on their website or Instagram.
5. Ask your group. If someone says, “I don’t feel safe,” take it seriously. Don’t push them to try it anyway.

These aren’t just tips - they’re survival tools. In a city where nightlife can be unpredictable, knowing where you’re safe is half the fun.

Why This Isn’t Just About Bathrooms

Gender-neutral bathrooms are a symptom of a bigger change. They’re proof that London’s nightlife is finally starting to listen to the people who’ve been left out for decades. This isn’t about politics. It’s about basic human needs: privacy, safety, and respect.

When a girls’ group walks into a club and doesn’t have to whisper about the bathroom, that’s when the night truly begins. The music gets louder. The laughter comes easier. The connections deepen. That’s the real magic of inclusion - it doesn’t just make spaces safer. It makes them better.

And in 2025, London’s best clubs aren’t just staying open. They’re becoming places where everyone can truly let go.

What’s Still Missing

Not every venue has caught up. Outside of Soho, Camden, and Brixton, many clubs still rely on outdated gendered bathrooms. Some still have signs that say “Ladies” and “Gents” - and nothing else. Others have gender-neutral options, but hide them in back hallways, as if they’re ashamed.

There’s also a gap in accessibility. Many all-gender bathrooms are on upper floors without elevators. Some don’t have grab bars or wide doors. That’s not just exclusion - it’s negligence.

Progress isn’t perfect. But it’s happening. And the people pushing for it aren’t waiting for permission. They’re bringing their friends, leaving reviews, and supporting venues that get it right.

How You Can Help

You don’t need to be an activist to make a difference. Here’s what you can do tonight:

• Choose venues with clear gender-neutral bathrooms. Your money matters.
• Leave a review on Google or Instagram: “Great vibe, and the bathroom was inclusive - thank you.”
• If you see someone being questioned at a bathroom, speak up. Say: “They’re welcome here.”
• Tag venues on social media that still don’t have inclusive bathrooms. Ask them why.
• Bring a group. The more people who show up, the harder it is to ignore.

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about power. When you choose where to spend your time, you’re voting with your feet. And right now, the best clubs in London are the ones that let everyone in - no questions asked.