Cotswolds tourists warned as public toilets permanently close

Charlbury is a small Cotswold market town in the Evenlode valley, about six miles north of Witney, with a population of around 2,800.

Set on the edge of historic Wychwood Forest and linked to Oxford and London by its own railway station, it has become an increasingly popular base for visitors, with a walkable centre, festivals and plenty of countryside on the doorstep.

Hospitality spots such as The Bull, a Michelin‑rated pub‑restaurant on Sheep Street, and The Bell, a seventeenth‑century coaching inn, have helped drive year‑on‑year interest in the town.

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The sign on the former toilets in Charlbury. (Image: Newsquest)

Charlbury also sits within easy striking distance of Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton and his pub The Farmer’s Dog near Burford, adding to its appeal for holidaymakers.

When visiting the popular spot, most tourists use the Spendlove Car Park behind the Co-op shop, given its free three-hour and 10-hour spaces.

There are also public toilets next to the area, but these have been shut, leaving none nearby for visitors to the town.

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The former toilets in Charlbury. (Image: Newsquest)

Closed at the end of March, a notice from West Oxfordshire District Council can now be found where the door used to be.

The sign’s message reads: “These toilet facilities will permanently close on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

“This toilet is closing so that funding can be focused on improving and maintaining the busiest public toilets across West Oxfordshire.

“The Council is investigating over £500,000 to upgrade and modernise these key facilities, helping to ensure they are reliable, accessible and fit for long-term use.”