The Duke of Sussex’s memoir has topped a chart of the UK’s favourite toilet reads
Prince Harry’s memoir Spare has been voted Britain’s number one book to read on the toilet. According to new research the autobiography, which was released in January 2023, is the nation’s number one choice to flick through on the toilet.
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People by Toby Young came next, slightly ahead of 1984 by George Orwell and A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby completed the top five porcelain page turners, with Being Jordan by Katie Price next, followed by Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code
Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice came eighth just nosing ahead of My Autobiography by Sir Alex Ferguson and Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding. The survey commissioned by toilet roll brand Cushelle, also found people like scrolling for news on the toilet, reading newspapers or magazines and even take phone calls and Facetimes.
Behavioural Psychologist, Jo Hemmings, who was involved in the study, said: “The toilet is one of the few places where people feel briefly removed from demands and social expectations, so they often gravitate toward books that are immersive, conversational or even a little provocative. A memoir like Spare fits that perfectly, it’s easy to dip in and out of, emotionally engaging, driven by personal storytelling – and no coincidence that it’s title could also be interpreted as precious ‘spare’ time!”
According to the study, Brits visit the toilet six times a day, spending just over five minutes per session – that’s seven full days a year. And we admit making nine trips to the loo a week purely to get away from it all. Nearly a third of parents confess they sometimes pretend they “need to go” just to flee their children, while a quarter use the bathroom to escape their partner and 22% duck out to avoid work colleagues.
Jo added: “Modern life is overwhelmingly noisy – digitally, socially, emotionally. People are overstimulated and under-rested. The bathroom, uniquely, is a space where boundaries are culturally respected. Behind a closed door, you have permission to pause. It’s no coincidence that people extend their bathroom visits – whether by desire or subconsciously. They’re not just relieving themselves; they’re taking a precious moment for emotional regulation.
“Cushelle has tapped into a brilliant cultural insight. We are desperately seeking those lost few minutes of privacy, and the idea of a fully consumable, single-use, guilt-free distraction is a stroke of genius.”
Regionally, Aberdeen was crowned Britain’s biggest bathroom city, with residents visiting the loo an average of 6.3 times a day. Meanwhile, Cambridge residents spend the longest per visit, clocking in at six minutes each time.
Cushelle unveiled what it claims is the world’s first fully flushable magazine. The 30-page publication, titled Porcelain, is printed entirely on Cushelle’s soft toilet tissue with flush-friendly ink, meaning readers can read it, tear it, use it and flush it with each page designed to be flushed individually.
Copies are available through giveaways on the Loos of London, Wilfred Webster Official, Corys World and Lauren Raker Instagram channels.
The Top 10 Favourite Loo Reads:
1. Spare – Prince Harry (10%)
2. How to lose friends and alienate people – Toby Young (9%)
3. 1984 – George Orwell (9%)
4. A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking (8%)
5. Fever Pitch – Nick Hornby (7%)
6. Being Jordan – Katie Price (7%)
7. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown (7%)
8. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen (6%)
9. My Autobiography – Sir Alex Ferguson (6%)
10. Bridget Jones’ Diary – Helen Fielding (6%)
