Money & Currency in London

The UK uses the pound sterling (£/GBP). Here's the practical guide to handling money as a visitor.

Card vs Cash

London is overwhelmingly card-based — contactless payment is accepted almost everywhere, including on all public transport. Cash is genuinely rarely needed except at some markets and smaller independent traders.

Exchange Rates & Fees

Avoid airport currency exchange counters — rates are consistently the worst available. If you need cash, withdraw from a bank ATM rather than exchanging currency, and check your card's foreign transaction fees before travelling.

Tipping

See our dedicated tipping guide — the short version: 10-15% in restaurants if service isn't already included, optional elsewhere.

Tips

• A contactless card or phone with no foreign transaction fees covers almost everything you need.
• Avoid airport currency exchange — use a bank ATM instead if you need cash.
• Markets and small independent shops are the main places cash still helps.

Chip and PIN vs Contactless

Almost all UK card payments now default to contactless for amounts under £100 — you'll rarely need to enter a PIN for everyday purchases. Larger transactions or first-time card use at a terminal may still prompt for a PIN, so it's worth knowing your card's PIN even if you don't expect to use it often.

Splitting Bills

Most UK restaurants and pubs are set up to split a bill by card across multiple people without difficulty — normal practice, not an inconvenience to ask for.

Tips

• Know your card's PIN even if you plan to rely mostly on contactless.
• Splitting a bill by card across a group is completely normal in the UK — just ask.