But still, if you're shopping, and not close to a department store, pub (that looks busy enough to slip in and head straight for the loos), or one of the aforementioned shops, and you need a touch-up, or simply somewhere to sit for 10 minutes, you're pretty much out of luck.

From today, however, ladies in London have a place to relax after they lunch. WC1 is billed as 'the world's first ever multi million-pound ladies only ultra-luxurious powder room, loo and retail retreat', and offers hand cream and fresh towels in every oversized loo, deep seats for a quick shut- eye, and fresh flowers and music throughout. So basically a posh version of the 20p turnstile train station loos.