National Portrait Gallery acquires Victorian public toilet for £3 million

The National Portrait Gallery in London has acquired a former Victorian public restroom located beneath a kiosk from the 1980s for approximately £3 million. Originally constructed in 1890 and shut down in the 1970s, it featured 12 male cubicles, five female cubicles, and 13 urinals. With funding from Len Blavatnik, the facility will be incorporated into the museum's exhibition offerings, complete with a distinct entrance. Director Nicholas Cullinan intends to tear down the kiosk and refurbish the 140-square-meter space for exhibitions, subject to approval from Westminster Council. The main building is set to reopen on June 22, 2023, following renovations exceeding £44 million, which include a new entrance and an expanded collection. The kiosk will be part of the exhibition program this summer.