Located in the Tower of London’s New Armouries Building, which dates back to 1663-64, the new facility is recognised by Muscular Dystrophy UK as being inside the oldest public building registered on the Changing Places UK Toilet Map.
The Changing Places toilet – installed by Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity which cares for this iconic landmark - will provide essential access needs to a range of visitors, from those with muscle-wasting conditions, to people who live with learning disabilities or have experienced major physical trauma. It also meets the very latest accessibility requirements, including a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench and wash basin, ceiling hois and a peninsular toilet with drop-down hand rails.
Preethi Narasimhan, Project Manager, Tower of London said
The installation of a Changing Places toilet at the Tower of London builds on Historic Royal Palaces’ commitment to accessibility, and demonstrates that even this most challenging of historic settings isn’t a barrier to offering all our visitors the facilities they need to explore and enjoy this magnificent landmark.
Robert Burley, Director of Campaigns, Care and Support, Muscular Dystrophy UK said
We warmly welcome the announcement that the Tower of London has installed a Changing Places facility. This is a much-needed step in the right direction to making tourist attractions more accessible to all and tackling the exclusion that disabled people face. Everyone has the right to use a public toilet when they need to and Changing Places toilets are a lifeline for more than a quarter of a million disabled people across the UK. Having access to one of the 1,524 Changing Places toilets across the country can make a world of difference for people with conditions like muscular dystrophy, ensuring greater independence and making planning days out much easier.
Further information
The Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. The charity helps everyone explore the story of how monarchs and people have shaped society, in some of the greatest palaces ever built.