How to Get Free Water Refills in the UK with the Refill App
- The Penny Pincher Team
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Here's how the award-winning Refill campaign can keep you hydrated as well as reduce the harmful tide of plastic waste
Buying drinks while you’re out adds up fast. A bottle of water here, a coffee there, and suddenly you’ve spent more on liquids than on lunch. With prices creeping higher, staying hydrated can quietly drain your budget.
That’s why the Refill app has become such a handy hack: it saves you money and helps slash single-use plastic waste.
What is the Refill App?
The Refill app is a free tool that points you to refill stations across the UK and abroad.
Whether you’re looking to top up your water bottle, grab a coffee with your own cup, or cut down on packaging for lunch, the app makes it easy.
Over 330,000 refill points worldwide.
More than 5,000 stations across London alone.
Supported by big names like Costa Coffee, Morrisons, Starbucks, and McDonald’s, alongside thousands of independent businesses.
In short, it saves you money and reduces plastic, simple as that, so its a great app to have on your phone!
The Key Features of the Refill App
1. Free Water Refills
No need to spend £1.50 - £2 on bottled water every time you’re out. With the Refill app, you can walk into participating cafés, restaurants, gyms, shops, and even petrol stations, hand over your reusable bottle, and get it topped up with tap water for free.
The network is bigger than you might expect — it’s not just independents, but also high-street names like Costa Coffee, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Morrisons, Nando’s, and Premier Inn, plus local health centres and leisure centres.
💡 Example: Thames Water installed over 100 fountains across London in partnership with the Mayor. Each fountain dispenses up to 441 litres of water a week, the same as nearly 900 plastic bottles. That’s free hydration for Londoners, and thousands of pounds collectively saved.
💡 Penny Pincher tip: A family of four on a day out could easily spend £12–£15 on bottled drinks. With the app, those refills cost £0, meaning you’ve covered the price of a reusable water bottle in just one trip.
2. Coffee on the Move
The Refill app isn’t only about water, it also helps you save on your daily caffeine fix. Many partner cafés give discounts on hot drinks when you bring a reusable cup, rewarding you for cutting waste and costs at the same time:
Morrisons: 25p off hot drinks.
Caffè Nero: bonus loyalty stamp.
Pret A Manger: 50p off hot drinks.
If you’re buying coffee regularly, this perk adds up fast. A daily coffee could mean £100+ in yearly savings, all thanks to using the same app that finds your free water refills.
3. Lunch on the Go
Refill isn’t just about drinks. Some participating cafés and takeaways let you bring your own lunchbox for food to-go. That means:
Less single-use packaging.
A small discount at some places.
Bigger portions in some cases, since you control the container size.
💡 Money angle: Even saving just 50p per lunch a few times a week could add up to £60+ a year, and that’s before factoring in the packaging waste you avoid.
4. Plastic-Free Shopping
The Refill app doesn’t stop at water bottles and coffee cups. It also helps you track down shops that support refill stations for everyday essentials like:
Groceries – cereals, pasta, rice, oils, and spices.
Household products – washing-up liquid, laundry detergent, and cleaning sprays.
Health & beauty – shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hand soap.
Instead of paying for new packaging every time, you bring your own container and only pay for what you need.
💡 Money angle: Bulk refills are often cheaper than buying branded bottles or boxes. For example, refilling laundry liquid can be 20–30% less than buying new. Over a year, that could save a household £100+, depending on usage.
UK Examples You’ll Spot on the Refill App
The Co-op has trialled refill stations in several stores, offering cereals, rice, and cleaning products packaging-free.
Morrisons has introduced refillable laundry and cleaning stations in some branches.
Holland & Barrett runs refill stations for nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and even personal care products like shampoo and body wash.
Asda launched its “sustainability store” concept, with refill aisles for pasta, rice, tea, and even household brands like Persil and PG Tips.
Independent zero-waste shops are listed in towns and cities across the UK, letting you top up essentials without paying a premium for plastic.
💡 Penny Pincher tip: These aren’t just good for the planet, they’re good for budgets too. A switch to refill rice, pasta, and laundry products alone could knock £200 a year off the average family shop while cutting single-use plastic at the same time.
Where Can You Use the Refill app?
Even outside big cities, the coverage is impressive.
In my area, I can refill at:
Costa Coffee • McDonald’s • Starbucks • Caffè Nero • Morrisons (including petrol stations) • Nando’s • Asda • Holland & Barrett • Bill’s • Dunelm • Beefeater • Premier Inn • Brewers Fayre • plus local health centres and gyms.
Look out for the blue Refill window sticker, indicating that free refills are available at that location.
London and Beyond
Refill is particularly strong in London:
34 local schemes across Greater London.
Partnerships with 15 councils.
100+ public fountains installed since 2019 by Thames Water and the Mayor of London.
But it’s not just London. The scheme is expanding through councils and boroughs nationwide, and internationally too.
Going abroad? Open the app, check refill points in your destination, but always confirm local water safety rules first.
Why Businesses Should Get Involved
Becoming a Refill point is completely free, and you don’t need to be a café or restaurant to take part. Gyms, shops, offices, leisure centres, libraries, salons, almost any type of business can sign up and be listed on the app.
For businesses, the benefits go far beyond just offering a bit of tap water:
Increased footfall – People using the app will come through your doors who might never have visited otherwise. Once inside, there’s a good chance they’ll make a purchase, whether it’s a coffee, a snack, or even a retail item.
Improved brand reputation – Joining the Refill movement shows your business supports sustainability and community values. That’s a big selling point for eco-conscious customers who increasingly choose businesses that align with their values.
Connection with a growing eco-community – With over 330,000 refill stations worldwide, Refill has become a recognised sustainability badge. Being part of it can help position your business as forward-thinking, responsible, and part of a much bigger network.
💡 Bonus perk: Listing on the Refill app is a form of free advertising. Instead of paying for marketing to attract foot traffic, your business is automatically promoted to thousands of nearby app users looking for refill points.
And remember, you don’t have to be a food or drink outlet. Even businesses like banks, shops, or offices can offer water refills. It’s a small act that boosts community goodwill and can turn passers-by into paying customers.
👉 Register your business as a Refill station here.
Bonus Apps and Tools
Water-Map: Another app showing fountains, cafés, and restaurants with refill points worldwide. I discovered five fountains within a mile of my house using it, ones I’d never noticed before.
Local council sites: Some councils run their own refill schemes or map local fountains. Worth checking if you’re travelling.
The Refill app is more than just a hydration hack; it’s a way to save money, reduce waste, and make travel days cheaper.
Whether you’re on a family day out, commuting, or travelling abroad, downloading the app could save you hundreds over the year while cutting your reliance on single-use plastic.
Grab a reusable bottle, look out for the blue sticker, and hydrate for free!
You can download the app from the Refill website for free and find your nearest refill point to help reduce plastic pollution and save money on costly drinks while out and about.