British currency

British currency is called Pound Sterling and uses £ sign to identify the pound, for example 20 pounds would be written as £20. The p is used to identify the pence, for example 10 pence would be written as 10p.

The pound (£) is made up of 100 pence (p). The most common coins in use are 1p, 2p 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2, and the most common notes are £5, £10, £20, £50.
There are lots of abbreviations and slang used for the pound, here are some of the most common you are likely to hear:

• When saying aloud an amount of money that consists of pounds and pence, we do not usually say the word pence. For example: £6.50 - "six pounds fifty."
• When saying aloud an amount of money that only consists of pence we shorten the word to p. For example we would say "5p" rather than 5 pence.
• "Quid" = pound(s)
• "Fiver" = £5
• "Tenner" = £10

 

Changing money and exchange rates

Changing money in the UK is quite easy as there are many places in which you can do so, such as the Post Offices, Banks, Bureau de Change kiosks and some Hotels, most of these places can be located in any large town or city and any major form of transportation such as an Airport or Passenger Port/harbour.

To see the current exchange rates please visit Reuter's website

Credit cards

Most major credit cards are accepted in the UK, please look for the corresponding logo on your card at any pay point or ATM. If you are still unsure ask the cashier if they accept your card before paying. You should be made aware if there are any additional charges when using credit card.

Tipping and service charges

It is generally customary to tip waiters/waitresses, taxi drivers and hotels as a way to show your appreciation for their service. If you feel that you haven't received a good service then you are not obliged to leave a tip. 10-15% of the total amount is the preferred amount left for tipping. Please check bills before tipping as there may already be a service charge included in which case it will not be necessary to leave a further tip.