Prince Harry’s “Spare” Tops Britain’s Favourite Toilet Reads

Prince Harry’s memoir Spare has emerged as Britain’s top choice for reading on the toilet, according to new research. Released in January 2023, the autobiography leads the list of books Brits prefer to flick through during their bathroom breaks.

Following Spare, Toby Young’s How to Lose Friends and Alienate People secured second place, narrowly beating George Orwell’s 1984 and Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch rounds out the top five, with Katie Price’s Being Jordan and Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code also featuring prominently.

Jane Austen’s timeless Pride and Prejudice ranks eighth, just ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson’s My Autobiography and Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’ Diary. The study, commissioned by toilet roll brand Cushelle, revealed that in addition to reading, many people also scroll through news, read magazines, or even take phone calls while in the bathroom.

Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings, involved in the study, explains, “The toilet is one of the few places where people feel detached from social demands and expectations. This leads them to gravitate towards immersive, conversational, or even provocative books. Spare hits the mark perfectly — it’s easy to dip in and out of, emotionally engaging, and told through personal storytelling. Plus, the title cleverly hints at ‘spare time’ — a precious commodity.”

The study also found that Brits visit the toilet around six times daily, spending over five minutes per session—amounting to a full seven days a year spent in the bathroom. Interestingly, many use these moments as an escape: nearly one-third of parents admit to pretending they “need to go” just to get a break from their children, while one quarter seek privacy from their partners, and 22% avoid workplace colleagues.

Hemmings added, “Modern life is overwhelmingly noisy—digitally, socially, emotionally. The bathroom offers a rare, culturally respected space to pause and reset. It makes sense that people extend their bathroom visits; they’re taking valuable moments for emotional regulation, not just physical relief.”

Building on this insight, Cushelle introduced what it calls the world’s first fully flushable magazine, Porcelain. Printed entirely on soft Cushelle toilet tissue with flush-friendly ink, this 30-page publication allows readers to enjoy, tear, and flush each page individually. Copies are distributed through giveaways on popular Instagram channels like Loos of London and Wilfred Webster Official.

Regionally, Aberdeen claims the title of Britain’s ‘biggest bathroom city,’ with residents visiting the loo an average of 6.3 times per day. Cambridge locals savor the longest bathroom time, spending an average of six minutes each visit.

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