McDonald's Corporation

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed the toilet but could not go?

We’ve all been at work when all of a sudden you need the toilet. And whilst you often don’t need to panic, the situation is different if you can’t go straight away.

When nature calls, and forces us to make a speedy retreat, most of us can easily break off, unless you’re mid-presentation. But it’s a whole other story for bus drivers – at least if they want to pop to one common place to head to the loo.

For drivers of London’s public transport services, loo breaks have to be taken seriously, because opportunities for relieving oneself are few and far between. In a Reddit forum, a London bus driver happily answered questions from the public about the dos and the don’ts of the job, and one question touched upon this very subject, reports MyLondon.

A reader asked them what we’ve all often thought: “How do you handle bathroom breaks?” The answer? Go to the toilet anywhere – but not in a pub.

The driver said: “We have toilets at either end of the route usually, but if you’re caught short, you can call the controller over the radio and they know of spots across the routes for you to hop out and use – usually a bookies or McDonald’s.

“Interestingly, drivers years ago could use a boozer. However, understandably, people were getting worried when their drivers were hoping out mid route and popping in the pub for 5 minutes, so now we’re forbidden to enter a pub in any uniform.”

The driver also shared pearls of wisdom when responding to other queries from the public. One person asked, “What do you do when a stinky rider gets on?”

The driver responded: “Open the windows and carry on.” Another person asked: “Has anyone ever defecated on your buses?”

“No, however it’s usually a daily occurrence for people to chuck up their kebabs on a night shift after a heavy one,” answered the driver.

And his biggest pet peeve? Motorists attempting to undertake buses before they pull into stops.

The bus driver explained: “Seriously, it’s so dangerous to undertake any vehicle but even more so a vehicle that’s 35-40 foot long and weighs 11 tonnes. My first accident was because some boy racer tried to undertake me and got crunched against the curb whilst I was pulling into a bus stop, we have mirrors but they don’t solve the huge blind spots.

“For cyclists, I’d rather they didn’t go round me at a bus stop because it’s an absolute mission to go round them, and you just end up leapfrogging each other. However, we must share the road so do what you want I suppose.”

Transport for London has been approached for comment.

The sun-soaked British Overseas Territory is a slice of the UK on the southern coast of Spain – and has been a popular holiday hotspot for Brits looking for a break closer to home

With its iconic red phone boxes, traditional full English breakfasts, and a vintage-style M&S, it’s like stepping into a 1970s British high street. But this isn’t a charming village in the English countryside – it’s Gibraltar.

Nestled on Spain’s southern coast, this British Overseas Territory offers all the home comforts of the UK, with just a few hints – such as scorching sunshine and a wandering monkey population – to remind visitors they’re over 1,000 miles from Blighty.

Gibraltar is home to familiar brands like Morrisons, Costa Coffee and Card Factory, while locals enjoy hearty roasts, afternoon tea and other British favourites, according to MailOnline.

Earlier this week, the UK reached a landmark agreement with the EU, securing a ‘fluid’ border with Spain – meaning travellers can cross the land border without checks, paving the way for a long-awaited post-Brexit deal.

READ MORE: Brits swap traditional dates for ‘extreme day trip’ jet-set romanceREAD MORE: British holidaymakers will avoid long airport queues after border deal agreed

However, those entering via land will enjoy seamless travel, anyone flying into Gibraltar from the UK will face two checks – one by local Gibraltarian authorities and a second by the Spanish acting on behalf of the EU, as the land border provides direct access to Europe’s Schengen area, reports the Express.

Despite the updated arrangement, the UK and Gibraltar have been quick to emphasise it does not affect the territory’s sovereignty. Locals still use the British pound and hold UK passports, even though they’re closer to Morocco than Manchester.

Gibraltar could soon be a rising star in holiday destinations, with airlines considering new international routes to the British overseas territory. It promises visitors a unique blend of British charm and Mediterranean flair, as evidenced by countless TikTok expat and local creators.

Meg Leigh, a Yorkshire lass turned Gibraltarian, has been documenting her sun-kissed adventures on TikTok for four years, giving followers a peek into her idyllic life that includes seaside strolls and monkey meet-ups.

In a viral TikTok video, Meg reveals her love for her adopted home: “I wouldn’t move back to the UK. Four years on and I own my house, have a job for life and better quality of life. Three years later and as much as I miss my family & friends, I love my life in Gib,” while cautioning that Gibraltar can be “super expensive” and recommending job security before relocating.

With Rightmove noting an average housing price at a steep £491,867 due to high demand and import costs, residents are feeling the financial impact, albeit tourists remain cushioned from this with no currency exchange worries and duty free shopping for luxuries like jewellery and perfume.

Another popular TikToker, Hannah (@lidbetterlidbetter) from the south of England, is racking up millions of views with snippets revealing her daily existence in this sunny sliver of Britain.

“It’s like the UK but actually in the sun,” she joked in one viral video, showcasing marching bands, traditional phone boxes, and familiar high street brands – not to mention sandy beaches, dolphin-watching excursions, and Gibraltar’s notorious monkeys.

“Welcome to living in the UK but in the sunshine,” she declared in another snippet.

She pointed out that while you’ll come across a McDonald’s, Burger King and Costa, the menus might vary – and that most locals are bilingual, blending English and Spanish in their daily chat.

“It’s small! But a real sense of community and excellent school and health systems,” she continued.

Perhaps the most peculiar feature?

The airport.

Hannah captured the moment cars paused to cross the runway, which oddly cuts through a main road. Traffic is stopped until planes have taken off or landed, before vehicles are given the green light to drive over.

“One of the craziest things about Gibraltar is probably the whole runway, airport scenario. It’s honestly so bizarre,” she remarked.

A woman bought a McDonald’s meal while she was on holiday in Turkey but she was totally floored by price. She couldn’t believe how much money the meal set her back

A woman who jetted off to Turkey on holiday was left floored when she bought a McDonald’s meal. The holidaymaker, known as Emzie, said she was gobsmacked when she was handed the bill after she snapped up a meal at the airport.

She said the price of a McDonald’s meal is “ridiculous” at Antalya Airport, as it was “nothing speical” when compared to offerings at UK stores. Emzie posted about the incident on TikTok as she couldn’t believe how much money it cost her to purchase a few burgers, and many people agreed that the prices seemed to be more expensive than you’d expect.

In the clip, she said: “What can I say? McDonald’s at Antalya Airport – crazy prices. They want €20, which is roughly about £18, for a Big Mac meal – that’s a regular size.

“We got two triple cheese burgers, a medium Coke and a medium Fanta, and in total in English that was £37.00. There’s nothing special about it.”

Emzie said she didn’t think the meal was worth the hefty price tag, and people shared their personal views in the comments too. Many couldn’t believe their eyes after they saw the receipt, and the video prompted hundreds to comment.

One person said: “We paid £94.” Another wrote: “I spent €85 there for me and my two kids.”

A third also replied: “Omg – they are disgusting prices.” Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “How can anyone afford to pay that or want to pay that? It’s actually insane.”

However, despite people sharing similar experiences, others were quick to point out that they didn’t think she should have bought the food if she considered it too expensive.

Someone else chimed in with: “Can’t buy it and the complain. You saw the prices before buying.” Another added: “Just don’t buy them?”

One more also wrote: “Don’t buy it then. Eat before you leave the hotel. Most drivers in Turkey stop on the way to the airport at a diner or shop.”

Even though people had varied views, some have been raisng concerns about rising prices in Turkey lately. There are reasons why inflation has hit the popular holiday destination, according to reports.

Why is Turkey becoming so expensive?

There are a few reasons why prices are said to have shot up in Turkey. Statista shared some advice.

The website reads: “Domestic producer price indices have been continuously rising, which has directly resulted in a price increase in all consumer goods and services. Accordingly, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in all commodity groups increased extremely since 2022.

“In the same year, the food and non-alcoholic beverages category had one of the highest inflation rates in the CPI. This particularly affected Turkish consumers, as these products accounted for the highest share of household expenditure in 2023.

“Since 2020, food prices have increased significantly around the world, and Turkey is no exception. Although inflation has started to slow down recently, food prices in Turkey continue to go up steadily, increasing by 48.6 percent in November 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year.

“It is not surprising that food inflation has not simmered down, as the producer price index (PPI) of agricultural products followed a constant increasing trend in the country over the past few years.”

However, it’s noted the country is also taking steps to help boost tourism, including addressing rising prices, making tourist offerings more diverse and investing in infrastructure. The Government is said to be working to reduce inflation, and some people are also promoting niche tourism areas like spas and health care.

McDonald’s has been asked to comment.

A woman and property expert recently shared her experience after visiting a McDonald’s eatery in Monaco – and was surprised by how different it is compared to the UK

A woman from Yorkshire has given us a glimpse into what it is like to visit McDonald’s in one of the world’s poshest countries – and how the menu differs. When we jet off abroad, most of us are keen to sample the local grub and steer clear of eateries we can easily find back home, but it is always intriguing to see how our favourite big brands adapt their menus to cater to local tastes and traditions. Monaco is synonymous with luxury – think swanky restaurants, the Grand Prix, yachts and being the priciest city globally for property. Despite the lack of fast food giants in the country, there are two McDonald’s outlets – one in Monte-Carlo and the other in Monaco-Ville.

Property guru and entrepreneur, Abi Hookway, enjoys giving her Instagram followers a peek into how the other half live and sharing money-saving tips on her page @abi_hookway, where she has an impressive following of 475,000. Recently, she took us inside the McDonald’s in Monaco-Ville.

As she walked in, she remarked: “This looks like we could be in the UK,” but she quickly spotted some notable differences on the menu.

Abi was taken aback as she explored the fast food joint and noticed a bakery cabinet at the front of the counter, brimming with mouth-watering baked treats like donuts, cheesecake, muffins, cookies and macarons.

“My McDonald’s in Yorkshire doesn’t have this does it, wow,” Abi exclaimed. She was chuffed with the meal deal offering three burgers, chips and a drink for just six euros, but felt the rest of the menu didn’t live up to her high expectations.

“I was expecting like millionaire, gold…it’s letting me down a bit,” she reflected. Nonetheless, she was over the moon with being able to order macarons in a branded box, an iced coffee with a dollop of cream which arrived in a recyclable plastic cup and cherished being able to sit outdoors courtesy of the substantial seating area.

Upon sampling the potato wedges, Abi declared: “We need to have these in the UK.”

Intrigued by Abi’s video, one viewer pointed out: “Also the same food in Portugal with the dessert cabinets.”

Echoing the sentiment, someone else posted: “They have these desert cabinets all over Germany McCafé.”

Another person commented, expressing their affinity for the crockery: “I love the cups and bowls. Would be great to reuse at home. I wish the UK had the same.”

There exists a smattering of unique McDonald’s locations around the globe, with the “most beautiful” one sitting pretty in Rome, Italy.

Just minutes away from the iconic Spanish Steps, this particular McDonald’s greets visitors with what appears to be a sculpture of Venus herself.

The world’s largest McDonald’s eatery is in Orlando, Florida. There is also what’s deemed the “poshest” outlet in Long Island.

Furthermore, New Zealand’s got a McDonald’s that serves up its food from a retired airliner, while, in Germany, you can even grab a McDonald’s meal from a floating restaurant.