Europe
Money, cards and tipping in United Kingdom
GBPPound
Money in United Kingdom
Practically cashless Practically cashless: London buses and many cafés refuse cash. Contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere; keep a little cash for markets and rural B&Bs. US$1 ≈ £0.76 (03 Oct 2026).
Key facts
- Tipping: Restaurants often add a 12.5% service charge; otherwise tip 10–12.5%. No tipping at pub bars; round up taxi fares.
- ATMs: Most cash machines are free; avoid 'pay-to-use' machines in shops and always decline the machine's currency conversion.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work everywhere, including London transport with daily fare caps.
- Price level: about 89% of US prices (World Bank PPP).
Cash or card, by place
| Place | Cards | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| London | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| Edinburgh | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| Manchester | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| Liverpool | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| Oxford | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| Bath | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| Cambridge | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| Glasgow | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| Brighton | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| Scottish Highlands | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| Isle of Skye | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs. |
| York | Practically cashless | Contactless works in nearly all shops, pubs and buses. Keep a few coins for some markets and small stalls. |
| Bristol | Practically cashless | Contactless everywhere, including buses and market stalls. Carry a little cash for the odd small pub or market stand. |
| Lake District | Cards almost everywhere | Cards work in most pubs, shops and cafés. Keep cash for small village shops, farm stalls and some car-park machines. |
| Cornwall | Cards almost everywhere | Cards work almost everywhere; keep some cash for beach car parks, honesty boxes and tiny harbor cafés. |
| Cotswolds | Cards almost everywhere | Cards work in nearly every pub and shop. Keep a little cash for village fêtes, honesty boxes and farm stands. |
| Belfast | Practically cashless | Contactless everywhere. Northern Ireland banks issue their own sterling notes, which can be refused in England; swap for Bank of England notes before leaving. |
| Cardiff | Practically cashless | Contactless everywhere, including buses and market stalls. Carry a few coins for some small stalls. |
| Birmingham | Practically cashless | Contactless everywhere, including trams and buses. Carry a few coins for tiny market stalls. |
| Newcastle | Practically cashless | Contactless everywhere. Carry a few coins for small market stalls and occasional pubs. |
| Leeds | Practically cashless | Contactless everywhere, including buses. Carry a few coins for some small market stalls. |
| Snowdonia | Practically cashless | Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, though a few remote cafés have cash-only days and poor signal. Carry a little cash. |
Quick answers
Do you tip in United Kingdom?
Restaurants often add a 12.5% service charge; otherwise tip 10–12.5%. No tipping at pub bars; round up taxi fares.
Is United Kingdom cashless?
Practically cashless. Practically cashless: London buses and many cafés refuse cash. Contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere; keep a little cash for markets and rural B&Bs.
What currency does United Kingdom use?
The Pound (GBP). US$1 ≈ £0.76 (03 Oct 2026).
Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- US State Department travel advisory
- GOV.UK: Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
- NHS: Visiting or moving to England
- GOV.UK: Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence
- Speedtest Global Index: United Kingdom
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.