Money in the United Kingdom: cash, cards and tipping
What holds for the whole country, in one place: where a card is enough and where it is not, where to change money, whether to tip, and the taxes nobody mentions until the bill.
The currency is the British Pound (GBP). £1 ≈ $1.33 · rate of October 6, 2026
Where a card is enough
Only the places a source speaks about. Where it says nothing, neither do we.
| Where | How you pay |
|---|---|
| Small shops | Card or cash, it depends From the source |
| Markets and stalls | Card or cash, it depends From the source |
| Trains and subway, short rides | Card From the source |
| A phone wallet from home (Apple Pay, Google Pay) | Works in most places From the source |
From the source means we read it where it is set: the operator, the bank, the city or the statistics office. Reported means a guide or the press says so and we have not seen the original. Where sources disagree we show both figures and leave the price out of every sum.
Where to change money
The cheapest route is usually an ATM and a card that does not charge for converting; whether yours does is up to your bank. These are the places that change cash.
- Airports
- Banks
- Exchange counters
Scottish banknotes are valid across the UK, except the £1 note.
Tipping
| Restaurants | Optional |
|---|---|
| Hotels | Optional |
| Taxis | Optional |
Taxes and charges
- Consumption tax: 20%.
- Lodging tax varies from city to city: each city page has its own rule.
Rules that change on a known date
London bus fares go up
From November 1, 2026, a bus or tram fare costs £1.85 and the bus and tram daily cap £5.55. The fares on this page are the current ones.
What each city costs
Per person per day, mid-range, for two travelling together. Without accommodation, flights or the airport transfer, so the cities can be compared.
If something goes wrong
The numbers and where to go, as the official source publishes them.
- Police
- 999
- Fire and ambulance
- 999
What applies to any trip: before you go, and if you lose your card
SourcesWhere every figure comes from
Every fact on this page carries its source. Reviewed: October 2026.
This page tells you how much to take. The app keeps count of what you spend.
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