If you live in the UK, you’ve probably noticed that many disabled/accessible toilets have locks on them which can only be accessed with a special key. Those keys are known as RADAR or NKS keys.
RADAR stands for Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (now Disability Rights UK), and NKS stands for National Key Scheme.

RADAR locks and keys were introduced in 1981, to keep accessible toilets free and clean for disabled people.

Where to get a RADAR key

Anyone with a disability can purchase a RADAR key online from places like Blue Badge Company, Disability Rights UK, or even Amazon (may not be genuine, despite the claims). They may also be provided by some local councils, and they are often offered as perks or membership benefits by some services and charities. I have multiple keys, both genuine and not, and they all work fine.

Where you can use a RADAR key

The RADAR key scheme is used by over 400 local authorities and gives you access to over 10,000 accessible toilets throughout the UK. You can locate RADAR key toilets near you by using the Great British Public Toilet Map and toggling on the RADAR key filter on the left.

Please remember that not all disabilities are visible!