Currency in The UK - A Full Guide 2024
Planning a trip to The UK? Whether you’re heading there for work or pleasure, you’ll need to know how to pay your way as you travel.
This guide covers all you’ll need to know about the official currency in The UK, where to get it and how to keep your costs down during your trip.
What is the currency in The UK?
The official currency in The UK is the British pound, which is issued and overseen by the Bank of England. If you’re buying your travel money online you may also see the official code being shown - GBP. In stores and restaurants, British pound prices are likely to use the currency symbol £.
Once you’re in The UK you’ll see costs of items shown in GBP and you’ll need to start paying for things in local coins and notes which are often found in the following denominations:
banknotes - £5, £10, £20, £50 and coins - 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2.
Can you officially pay in CAD when you are in The UK?
You’re unlikely to be able to officially transact in CAD in The UK, which is why it’s time to start getting used to GBP and learning more about the currency exchange rates so you’ll know what you’re spending on your trip.
This guide will walk through all you need to know, including Canadian dollar/British pound rates and where best to get your travel money from.
| British pound | |
|---|---|
| Currency name | British pound |
| ISO code | GBP |
| Symbol | £ |
| Subunit | pence |
| Central Bank | Bank of England |
| Best travel cards to take to The UK | Wise |
GBP coins and banknotes
Here’s a full rundown of the GBP coins and banknotes you’ll need to be familiar with when you’re in The UK.
| GBP banknotes | GBP coins |
|---|---|
| banknotes - £5, £10, £20, £50 | coins - 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, |
History of British pound currency
The Pound Sterling, dating back to 775 AD, is the world's oldest currency still in use. It has evolved through centuries, surviving the silver standard, the gold standard, and decimalization in 1971. The Pound reflects the UK's strong economic and political history, maintaining significant global influence.
Is CAD accepted in The UK?
As we’ve seen, the official currency in The UK is GBP. If you carry CAD with you on your trip, you’ll probably need to exchange it before you can spend.
Sometimes when you’re away on a trip abroad you’ll find that merchants will take payments in a selection of major foreign currencies. However, the chances are that where this is offered, you won’t get a good exchange rate for your CAD. Planning smart and convenient ways to spend in GBP when you’re away is likely to mean you save on costs in the end.
Usually, having a few different ways to pay and get cash is the best option for travelers and tourists. That’s because you’ll have a back up plan in case one payment method isn’t accepted for any reason, and you can pick the method that’s best suited to the specific transaction. Having a multi-currency card from a provider like Wise, plus your normal bank debit card, and some local cash in GBP should mean you’ve always got options. You can use your cash for small purchases and tipping, and make low cost payments and cash withdrawals with your multi-currency card, while keeping your bank card in reserve for emergencies.
Use a travel card on your next trip to The UK
Using a travel debit card in The UK is usually cheap, safe and convenient. A few providers in the UK offer multi-currency cards which come with a linked payment account that lets you convert, hold and spend in GBP. That allows you to add a balance in CAD and switch over to GBP to lock in the exchange rate and set your travel budget.
Once you have GBP in your account there are no extra fees to make payments, and you’ll not have foreign transaction charges to worry about, either.
Here’s a quick overview of a couple of handy travel debit cards you may want to order and use in The UK.
Wise travel card
Order a Wise travel card online or in the Wise app, to hold and exchange 40+ currencies and manage your money from your phone. You’ll be able to spend conveniently in GBP - and all currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with no markup.
Card holders get some free ATM withdrawals available every month, and there’s no annual or monthly fees to pay, and no minimum balance requirement.
| Wise pros | Wise cons |
|---|---|
✅ Currency exchange uses the mid-market rate ✅ No foreign transaction fees apply ✅ Free to hold and spend 40+ currencies ✅ Receive payments to your Wise account in a selection of global currencies ✅ No minimum balance or ongoing fees | ❌ Card order fee applies ❌ ATM fees apply once you’ve exhausted your free monthly withdrawals |
What is the currency exchange rate for £ 1 CAD/GBP?
It’s helpful to get to know the live CAD/GBP rate so you can easily calculate how much things are costing you while you’re on your trip abroad. The rate you need to focus on is the mid market rate, which is the one banks and major currency services get when buying and selling currencies. This rate isn’t always passed on to customers. Instead you may find that the CAD/GBP rate you get when exchanging travel cash includes a markup - an extra fee.
Find the CAD/GBP mid-market rate from a currency conversion site or a website like this, so you can keep an eye on the market and compare the rates you’re offered as you travel against the mid-market rate easily.
Should I exchange CAD to GBP before traveling to The UK?
Because The UK sees many tourists from the UK every year you might find you’re better off if you exchange your currency when you get to The UK rather than worrying about getting your cash sorted out before you leave.
Get familiar with the exchange rates offered locally to you, and online, so you can decide whether it’s worth switching some funds in advance of travel, using a card to pay while you’re away, or converting cash on arrival. Both in the UK and in The UK, steer clear of exchanging currency at the airport. A captive market means that CAD/GBP rates are often worse in the airport than in city centers.
When you’re in The UK you’re going to need GBP in cash for some of your spending - particularly when tipping or making smaller value purchases. Buying your GBP travel money in advance can get you better CAD/GBP exchange rates, and saves you wasting precious time shopping around for a good deal once you arrive in The UK.
Tips for exchanging money in The UK
Cards are widely accepted in The UK, but you’ll still need to watch the exchange rate given when making a transaction from CAD to GBP. Some merchants offer to let you pay in CAD instead of GBP, but this will usually mean paying more because of dynamic currency conversion costs.
Best place to exchange currency in The UK
You can get your GBP in The UK in a couple of ways.
You’ll be able to use a travel debit card from a provider like [wise-affiliate-name-links] to make convenient payments and cash withdrawals and to convert funds online.
Or if you prefer an offline solution you can carry some cash in CAD to exchange when you arrive. Currency exchange providers are often in airports and hotels, although the exchange shops in a city center are likely to be cheaper overall.
How to pay in The UK?
You’ll need to have GBP to spend in The UK. However, generally having a few different payment methods is a good plan. That means that if a merchant won't accept one, you’ve got a back up. It’s also reassuring to know you have a different way to pay if you were unlucky enough to have a card or some travel cash stolen. Here are your key payment options in The UK.
1. Debit or credit card
Card payments can be helpful in shops, restaurants and hotels but there will be places where cash is also important. Order a travel card from a provider like Wise for cheap and fast transactions, including card payments and cash withdrawals as and when you need travel money in GBP.
2. GBP cash
Cash is widely used in The UK, so it’s worth having some with you at all times. You may want to exchange money to GBP before you leave, but it’s also usually convenient to make ATM withdrawals locally once you arrive in The UK.
You’ll usually find you can use a card to make payments in The UK, but carrying some cash in GBP is also reassuring. It’s often easier for tipping and making smaller purchases, plus you’ve got a nice backup if your card is ever out of action for some reason.
It’s a smart idea to have both a card and some cash in GBP when you’re in The UK. Some merchants will prefer cash, but having a card for higher value payments and in busier more tourist places is also convenient. Consider using a travel card from a provider like Wise alongside your cash for flexibility.
Paying for the trip in CAD
If you’re paying for things in The UK with a CAD bank card you might find a foreign transaction fee is added. This pushes up your costs when you spend in a foreign currency, and can be tricky to calculate.
Travel debit cards don’t always work this way. When you make purchases in The UK using the [wise-affiliate-name-links] card you can either choose to convert your account balance to GBP in advance in the Wise app, or just leave your balance in CAD and let the card handle the transaction when you pay. You’ll always get the lowest available fee and there are no extra foreign transaction charges.
Conclusion - Currency in The UK
You won’t be able to pay in CAD when you visit The UK - so learning about the currency you need is essential. Whether you decide to use a travel debit card from a service like [wise-affiliate-name-links], or stock up on GBP in cash in advance, knowing the mid-market exchange rate can help you get the best available deal. Use this guide to learn all you need to know about the options, rates and fees for exchanging CAD to GBP, and make your money go further while you’re away.
The official currency in The UK is GBP. You can’t usually pay in CAD in The UK, so you’ll need to plan in advance to get your travel money sorted. Consider ordering a travel debit card from a service like Wise, for low cost conversions to GBP and convenient spending and withdrawals - and remember that knowing the CAD to GBP mid-market exchange rate is essential to check you’re getting a fair deal on currency exchange.
FAQ - Currency in The UK
What is the currency in The UK called?
The official currency in The UK is the British pound. You may also see the code GBP and the currency symbol £.
What's the currency in London?
The official currency in London is the British pound. You’ll only be able to spend in GBP while you’re there.
What is the old The UK currency?
Today the currency in The UK is the British pound. If you’re worried about currencies changing, why not get a travel debit card from a service like [wise-affiliate-name-links] which will automatically pick the currency needed in your destination when making a payment - with no penalties or inflated fees.
What is the best currency to take to The UK?
You’ll only be able to spend in GBP while you’re in The UK. Carrying some money in cash and using a travel debit card from a service like [wise-affiliate-name-links] is usually the best way to spend while you’re away from home.