Travel money UK 2021: How to pay & how much to bring

The United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — is a popular destinations for Americans. US citizens get an automatic visa for six months to drive over London Bridge, explore Stonehenge and sip tea by the Thames. But how do you pay for your adventures? Can you use US dollars, or should you exchange your money for the British pound? We’ll help you get the most out of your US dollar without spending too much on international transaction fees using credit cards, debit cards and cash.

Our picks for traveling to UK

Our pick for travel credit card

American Express® Gold Card

★★★★★
Finder rating: 4.6/5

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Our pick for multi-currency debit card

Transferwise Multi-currency

★★★★★
Finder rating: 4.5/5

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Our pick for 0% transaction fee debit card

SoFi Money

★★★★★
Finder rating: 4.6/5

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What's in this guide?

Travel card, debit card or credit card?
These are your options for spending money in UK
Compare travel credit cards
UK currency
How the USD compares to the GBP
Find ATMs in UK
Cash pickup services in UK
How much should I budget to travel in UK?
Our latest travel deals to UK

Travel card, debit card or credit card?

Like the US, you can pay for most your your travel with a credit card. You’ll find that most major credit cards are accepted everywhere. Make the most of your money on your travels and find a card that offers travel rewards or a card that’ll waive foreign transaction fees.

It’s good to carry some cash for smaller purchases or to use for tips. You’ll easily find ATMs at banks, stores and gas stations — but try to only use your debit card. You’ll pay steep fees getting a cash advance from your credit cards.

These are your options for spending money in UK

Learn more about using a credit card in UK

Using a credit card

You won’t have any problems using a travel credit card in the UK. Most major credit cards are accepted, but you’ll find it hard to use your Diners Club, American Express or Discover cards at small businesses. Find yourself a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees and offers travel rewards. Carrying a credit card gives you the added benefit of travel insurance and discounts, depending on your provider. For added savings, take advantage of the interest-free period by paying your balance in full each month.

Cards that offer travel perks and waive fees often charge an annual fee, so make sure the fee is worth it before you bring it along on your travels. If you’re ever in a jam, credit cards also offer the ease of cash advances, though we don’t recommend it. You’ll pay high fees and interest rates apply the moment you get your money.

Tip: It’s worth researching credit cards that offer travel benefit and rewards for things you’ll buy anyways like flights and hotel stays.

Pros

Major credit cards widely accepted
Protected by PIN & chip
Accepted worldwide
Interest-free days when you pay your account in full
Some cards offer travel benefits
Emergency card replacement

Cons

Fees and interest for cash withdrawal
Many cards charge 3% currency conversion fees

Debit card being swiped in a POS station

Best international debit cards

Using a debit card

A travel debit card could be a good travel money choice to take to the UK. You’ll have access to cash each time you come across an ATM, without carrying lots of cash on you all at once. Because you’re spending your own money, you avoid interest charges. The Citibank Plus waives the fee for international ATM withdrawals and doesn’t charge a monthly account keeping fee.

Tip: A debit card can be used for in-store purchases, online and for ATM withdrawals in the UK.

Pros

Use at stores and hotels, online and ATMs
Protected by PIN & chip
Spending your own money means avoiding interest charges

Cons

International ATM and currency conversion fees
No access to cash advances

person at laptop with credit card and phone

Prepaid travel money cards

Using a prepaid travel card

The biggest benefit of travel cards is that you can load up to three currencies at once and lock in a favorable exchange rate. If you need more than one currency on your travels, you can save money on the 3% currency conversion fee you’ll pay with other credit and debit cards.

Where you save in the conversion rates you may pay in fees. You’ll pay fees each time you load the card, ATM withdrawals and sometimes even an inactivity fee.

Tip: Banks that provide travel cards make money by applying a higher margin to the exchange rate. You can get a better rate using a debit card or credit card.

Pros

Lock in exchange rate when you convert USD to GBP
Can hold multiple currencies.
Protected by PIN & chip
Emergency card replacement and backup cards
Reloadable online

Cons

Come with lots of fees for loading and reloading, inactivity and ATM withdrawals.
Your name isn’t printed on the front
Businesses won’t accept prepaid cards

Compare cash pickup services in UK

Paying with cash in UK

Pros

Greater payment flexibility
Convenience

Cons

More difficult to manage expenses
Higher risk of theft

Traveler’s checks guide

Using traveler’s checks

Pros

Security
Cash at any bank

Cons

Fees for purchasing and cashing checks
Not accepted by many merchants
Currency exchange rate varies over time

Compare travel credit cards

Name	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee
American Express® Gold Card	60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months	4x at restaurants including delivery and Uber Eats; 4x at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 annually (then 1x points) and 3x points on directly-booked flights	$250	Earn up to 4x points on select purchases, a bevy of travel perks, and a welcome offer worth up to $600 with this upper-mid tier travel card. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $750 through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Plus up to $50 statement credit towards groceries.	5x points on Lyft, 2x points on up to $1,000 on groceries until April 30, 2021, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases	$95	Earn a signup bonus worth $750 plus up to $50 statement credit towards groceries with this popular travel card.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Platinum Card® from American Express	75,000 points after spending $5,000 in your first 6 months, plus 10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined purchases in the same timeframe	10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 combined in the first 6 months, 5x points on directly-booked flights or on flights and hotels on Amex Travel. 1x points on all other purchases. Starting January 1, 2021, your 5x points on flights will be capped on up to $500,000 annually (then 1x points).	$550	One of the most valuable premium travel cards, featuring two welcome offers worth up to $4,500, multiple travel credits and unrivaled lounge access. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

Compare up to 4 providers

UK currency

The pound sterling is the official currency of the UK and is the fourth most traded currency in the world. One pound is subdivided into 100 pence and comes in denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes, issued by the Bank of England for over 300 years. All banknotes feature Queen Elizabeth II on the front.

Banknote	Features
£5	The current £5 banknote features Elizabeth Fry, who made her name fighting for improved living conditions for women in European jails. Issued on May 21, 2002.
£10	The back of the £10 banknote is Charles Darwin, the Victorian naturalist who developed the theory of evolution. Issued on November 7, 2000.
£20	The £20 banknote features the Scottish economist, Adam Smith with an illustration of ‘The division of labour in pin manufacturing’. Issued on March 13, 2007.
£50	The new-style £50 banknote entered circulation on November 2, 2011. The note features two Britons on the back — Matthew Boulton and James Watt with steam engine and Boulton’s Soho factory.

The main banks in UK are:

HSBC Holdings
Barclay’s PLC
Royal Bank of Scotland
Lloyds Banking Group

Standard Chartered PLC
Santander UK
Nationwide Building Society

Schroders
Close Brothers
Coventry Building Society

How the USD compares to the GBP

Since the housing crisis of 2007, the USD lost value against the GBP. But ever since the Brexit vote for the UK to leave the European Union in June 2016, the sterling pound has lost purchasing power. The rates are better than ever for US travelers, so lock in your rates with a travel money card or traveler’s checks.

Refreshing in: 60s | Tue, Mar 02, 12:33PM GMT

Find ATMs in UK

Cash pickup services in UK

I want to send

Min. Transfer Amount	Transfer Speed	Online Transfer Fee	Rate	Amount Received	Description	CTA	Details
$1	Within an hour	USD 3.99	73.025	INR 72,733	WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, AOA, ARS, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LKR, LRD, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RUB, RWF, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SOS, SRD, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review
$10	Within an hour	USD 1.99	71.924	INR 71,781	Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers. Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 10.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies ALL, AMD, ARS, AZN, BAM, BDT, BGN, BIF, BOB, BRL, BSD, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KZT, LKR, LRD, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MMK, MWK, MXN, MYR, NIO, NPR, PAB, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SLL, SRD, SVC, THB, TJS, TND, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, XAF, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review
$1	Within an hour	USD 8.00	71.74	INR 71,166	MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.		Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Agent, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer, International Money Order Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AFN, ALL, AMD, ANG, AOA, ARS, AUD, AWG, AZN, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BND, BOB, BRL, BSD, BTN, BWP, BZD, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GIP, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, IQD, IRR, ISK, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, LYD, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MNT, MOP, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SDG, SEK, SGD, SLL, SRD, STD, SVC, SZL, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VEF, VND, VUV, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, XPF, YER, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Read the full review
$1	3 - 5 days	USD 20.00	71.557	INR 70,126	Western Union sends money online to friends and family in 200+ countries around the world.		Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Agent, Bank Account to Bank Account, International Money Order Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email, Branch Available currencies AED, AFN, ALL, AMD, ANG, AOA, ARS, AUD, AWG, AZN, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BND, BOB, BRL, BSD, BTN, BWP, BZD, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CUP, CVE, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, FKP, GBP, GEL, GGP, GHS, GIP, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, IMP, INR, IQD, IRR, ISK, JEP, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KPW, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, LYD, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MMK, MNT, MOP, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SDG, SEK, SGD, SHP, SLL, SOS, SPL, SRD, STD, SYP, SZL, THB, TJS, TMT, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TVD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VEF, VND, VUV, WST, XAF, XCD, XDR, XOF, XPF, YER, ZAR, ZMW Read the full review

Compare up to 4 providers

Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.

How much should I budget to travel in UK?

The UK is one of the most expensive places in Europe to travel. From transportation to hotels and food, you’ll find you’ll spend a lot more on the basics than in many other countries. If you’re looking to travel on a backpacker’s budget, plan for $60 or so per day, about $150 for midrange budget and $400 for you’re looking to live it up. All prices are in US dollars.

	Budget	Midrange	Expensive
Accommodation	Dorm bed $30 per night	Double room $80 per night	Boutique hotel room $200 per night
Meals	Market-stall lunch $3 Supermarket sandwich $3.50 – $4.50	Two-course dinner w/ glass of wine $60	Three-course dinner in top restaurant w/ wine $150
Activities	Many museums Free	Theatre ticket $30	Top theatre ticket $80

^{_{*Prices are approximate and are subject to change.}}

Case study: William's experience

William Eve

Interview with William Eve about UK travel money options

We interviewed Will, a finder.com user, about his latest trip to the UK. He told us about his experience using credit and travel money cards.

What money tips do you have to anyone traveling to this country?

Pay attention to how much you spend on food and alcohol. Will says eating out and drinking in London and other parts of the UK is extremely expensive. He gives this advice for keeping costs low: “Hunt out good pub meal bargains and shop at Tesco and Sainsbury’s for your other meals. Try to avoid drinking coffee out.”

Will also recommends AirBnB, especially if you’re traveling as a group. Hostel dorm beds were upward of £35 a night.

Case study: Roslyn’s experience

Roslyn McKenna
Publisher

I visited the UK with friends in October 2018. I used my Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card just about everywhere because it has no foreign transaction fees and gives a flat cashback rate on everything. I also brought a few hundred dollars for small transaction amounts and exchanged it in the London Heathrow airport at a fair rate.

The only issue I encountered was the new scanning credit card machines. I’d made sure I had the newer chip-and-PIN card when I traveled to Japan, but I didn’t know the UK had already switched over to newer scanning chips. My card was declined at several places, like at Tesco supermarkets because it was a foreign card that could only be inserted or swiped.

If you’re going abroad, it’s helpful to get a solid cashback card with free foreign transactions that uses the most up-to-date payment style.

Compare travel insurance policies

Our latest travel deals to UK

Hotels.com

Special offers on London hotels

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Try our new Sunday Brunch Cruise and enjoy London's riverside landmarks while sipping on a glass of sparkling wine.

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Trafalgar Tours

London tour packages

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Trafalgar Tours

Delights of London and Paris tour

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London Pass

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Expedia.com

Flight deals to London from just $251 return

Available select dates from January to May 2020, fly to London with Air Canada, British Airways, American Airlines, Delta and other airlines from just $251 return.

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Expedia.com

Compare rates at London hotels from just $10

Book hotels, hostels, apartments and more within London, with rates starting at just $10 per night.

Last verified 21 Nov 2019

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Expedia.com

Save up to 40% on London day tours, attractions and London activities

Browse more than 400 things to do in London, including Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tours, hop-on/hop-off bus passes, London Eye, and day trips to Stonehenge, Bath, Windsor Castle and other destinations in England.

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Booking.com

Find cheap hotels in London from just $53 per night

Compare prices at London hotels in Southwark, Wembly, Central London, Westminster, Docklands, Canary Wharf and other parts of London to get the best rates with Booking.com

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London Pass

Enjoy access to 80+ London attractions including the Tower of London. Huge Savings vs. gate prices

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CheapTickets

Deals on London food tours

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Viator, a TripAdvisor Company

Deals on London food, wine and nightlife

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Viator, a TripAdvisor Company

Top London bar and pub tours

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Viator, a TripAdvisor Company

Afternoon tea in London

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Access 80+ locations with a discounted London Pass

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Viator, a TripAdvisor Company

Transfer deals from London airports

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Cheap flights to London

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Kyle Morgan

Kyle Morgan is a writer and editor for Finder who has worked for the USA Today network and Relix magazine, among other publications. He can be found writing about everything from the latest car loan stats to tips on saving money when traveling overseas. He lives in Asbury Park, where he loves exploring new places and sipping on hoppy beer. Oh, and he doesn't discriminate against buffalo wings — grilled or fried are just fine.

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Travel money guide: UK

If you're traveling to the UK, learn the best way to carry and spend your money overseas.

Travel Money Type

Compare

Locations

Compare More Cards

Sign up & start saving!

Our picks for traveling to UK

What's in this guide?

Travel card, debit card or credit card?

These are your options for spending money in UK

Using a credit card

Pros

Cons

Using a debit card

Pros

Cons

Using a prepaid travel card

Pros

Cons

Paying with cash in UK

Pros

Cons

Using traveler’s checks

Pros

Cons

Compare travel credit cards

Compare up to 4 providers

UK currency

The main banks in UK are:

How the USD compares to the GBP

Find ATMs in UK

Cash pickup services in UK

Compare up to 4 providers

How much should I budget to travel in UK?

Case study: William's experience

Interview with William Eve about UK travel money options

Case study: Roslyn’s experience

Read more on this topic:

Our latest travel deals to UK

Kyle Morgan

More guides on Finder

Ask an Expert

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