Using a credit card in England

Taking a trip to England? You’ll find that credit cards are widely accepted throughout the UK. American Express is less popular than Mastercard and Visa, but you shouldn’t have any problem using an ATM or paying with these credit cards in London — or any other large cities in England.

Prefer to carry cash? There are many ATMs across the island. Though, keep in mind credit cards often charge high fees for cash advances, so consider bringing along your debit card for cash.

If you’re taking along a variety of cards, debit cards and cash, read our full guide on spending money while traveling in UK.

Which credit card issuers are accepted in the United Kingdom?

You’ll find American Express is accepted throughout the UK, but mostly in large cities. Mastercard and Visa are more widely accepted and popular as they are also accepted in villages and smaller vendors.

If you have an Amex card and want to make a cash withdrawal, you’ll find most ATMs accept Amex cards. For Discover cards, look for Cardtronics, Moneycorp, Travelex and Yourcash ATMs. Discover is also accepted though the Diners Club Network, which isn’t widely supported in the UK. Discover cards used to be more widely accepted in large cities around England, but acceptance rate has greatly declined in more recent years.

	Merchant acceptance	ATM acceptance
Visa	High	High
Mastercard	High	High
American Express	Medium	High
Discover	Low	Low

Potential credit card fees in the United Kingdom

When you use your card to pay for goods or services in England, you could incur two types of fees:

• Foreign transaction fees. These can be up to 3%, depending your card — which means you could pay up to $60 in fees when you spend $2,000 on your card.
• Currency conversion fees. There’s a payment option called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), which lets you pay in US dollars instead of the local currency. Although it’s convenient to know the price in US dollars, the DCC has poor exchange rate and higher fees.

Can I incur both fees on a single transaction?

Yes. But you can avoid this if you get a travel card without foreign transaction fees and decline DCC when it’s offered.

Compare travel cards for use in the UK

If you use your credit card often when traveling abroad, a travel card could help you save on foreign transaction fees. Many cards offer no foreign transaction fees and travel rewards, but often come with an annual fee. Consider how often you’ll use the travel rewards to make the annual fee worth it.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Minimum credit score 670
Annual fee $95
Purchase APR 15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer APR 15.99% to 22.99% variable
Rewards 5x points on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and 2x points on all other travel purchases
Welcome offer 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.

American Express® Gold Card

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Terms apply, see rates & fees

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Minimum credit score 670
Annual fee $250
Purchase APR See Pay Over Time APR
Balance transfer APR N/A
Rewards 4x at restaurants including delivery and Uber Eats; 4x at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 annually (then 1x points), 3x points on directly-booked flights and 1x points on other eligible purchases
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The Platinum Card® from American Express

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Terms apply, see rates & fees

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Minimum credit score 670
Annual fee $695
Purchase APR See Pay Over Time APR
Balance transfer APR N/A
Rewards 10x points at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the US on up to $25,000 combined in the first 6 months, 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 5x points on directly-booked flights on up to $500,000 annually, then 1x points after that and on other eligible purchases
Welcome offer 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in your first 6 months, plus 10x points at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the US on up to $25,000 in combined eligible purchases in the same timeframe

Compare even more credit cards

Compare credit cards

Chip and PIN credit cards

With the goal of combating credit card fraud, the United Kingdom was one of the first countries to implement Chip and PIN cards back in 2006. This original initiative is why this type of card is widely accepted throughout England today.

You’re not necessarily out of luck if you have a chip card that doesn’t have a PIN. Many merchants will still accept cards without them, so you shouldn’t have a problem paying with it.

Is it safe to use my credit card in the United Kingdom?

Yes, it’s safe to use your credit card in the United Kingdom. But just as when traveling to any other country, make sure you:

• Use an ATM inside a bank. This way, you’ll know that the ATM doesn’t have card-skimming devices attached to it. And if for some reason your card is stuck in the machine, you’ll can retrieve it quickly with the help of a bank employee.
• Take two credit cards. This is particularly useful if you lose your primary card or if it’s blocked. With a backup card you’ll avoid losing access to your money if you lose your card.
• Keep you card in sight. Whenever you pay with your card, make sure you keep an eye on it.

How to prepare before traveling to the United Kingdom

• Get a credit card without foreign transaction fees. Paying up to 3% fee for every transaction quickly adds up. Consider getting a travel card without foreign transaction fees and save money on your travels.
• Mastercard and Visa are universally accepted. But in the UK, you’ll find that American Express is popular.
• Get a backup card. And keep it in your hotel room safe. If something happens to your primary card, you won’t be left without money.
• Get some cash. In the UK, you can use your card just about anywhere. But if you want cash for taxis or incidentals, you can make a cash withdrawal from an ATM. Just be mindful of additional fees for cash advances when using your credit card.
• Inform your bank that you’ll travel to the United Kingdom. For transactions made abroad, your bank could block your card. Avoid this by informing your bank of your travel plans.
• Get your bank’s phone number. This can be handy if something happens to your card. You can likely resolve any issues with a phone call.

Should I use my credit card to get cash in the United Kingdom?

Paying with your card in most places in England shouldn’t be a problem. But if you want to have cash, you can make a withdrawal from an ATM, called cashpoints. But be careful — you could pay up to 5% for cash advances, and you’ll incur a higher cash advance APR.

One way to avoid these fees is by using a debit card for making cash withdrawals, since they usually don’t have a cash advance fee or APR. This can help you manage your money by limiting your credit card use, and accidentally overspending.

Bottom line

When you travel to the United Kingdom, know that you can safely use your credit card for payments and cash withdrawals. The only thing to be wary off are the fees. To avoid foreign transaction fees, opt in for a travel card. And if offered to pay in US dollars, decline to avoid poor exchange rate and high fees.

If you need to make cash withdrawals, consider getting a debit card. They usually come with no cash advance fees and you won’t have to face a cash advance APR.

See more guides on using a credit card in other countries.

Frequently asked questions

• How can I send money to the United Kingdom?

  Check out our money transfer page to find the fastest and most affordable way to send money to the UK.

• What is the currency used in the United Kingdom?

  United Kingdom uses the pound sterling, commonly referred to as pound. It has the currency code GBP and the symbol £.

  If you make a cash withdrawal, you’ll find banknotes of $5, $10, $20 and $50 are the most frequently used.

• What is the exchange rate between the US dollar and the pound?

• Which banks operate in the United Kingdom?

  In the UK, you’ll find many banks, including:

  • Bank of England
  • Bank of Scotland
  • Bank of Ireland
  • HSBC
  • Barclays

  You can also find foreign banks, including:

  • Citibank UK
  • Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited

  Contact your bank to ask if they have partnership with any of the UK banks. If they do, you could avoid some fees on things like ATM cash withdrawals.