United Kingdom · Currency & payments · 2026/27

Paying for things in Leeds

The UK is the most cashless country of the five we cover — many London cafés, pubs, and even market stalls are card-only or strongly card-preferred. Contactless payments, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are universal, including on all London transport.

£GBP

Cash, cards, and ATM tactics

London Tube + bus + train: tap any contactless card or phone at the gate. Daily and weekly caps apply automatically — don't buy a paper Travelcard.
If two travellers share one Apple Pay device, the second tap reads as a duplicate and the gate locks. One card or device per traveller.
ATMs at supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's), Nationwide, Halifax, Barclays don't charge for foreign-card withdrawals. 'Cash machines' in convenience stores (LINK 'pay-to-use') charge £1.99-2.50.
Scottish and Northern Irish notes are legal currency in England but English shops sometimes refuse them. Stick to Bank of England notes south of Hadrian's Wall.

Tipping — what locals actually do

Restaurants: 10-12.5% is standard. Many London restaurants add a 'discretionary service charge' that is, in practice, expected. You can ask to remove it if service was poor.
Taxis: Round up to the nearest pound. Black cabs handle their own discretion; private hire (Uber, Bolt) tips are added in-app.
Hotels & service: Pubs: tipping bartenders is unusual for ordering at the bar; offering them 'one for yourself' (~£1-2) is the local equivalent.

The travel-card question

Most US debit cards now have no foreign-transaction fees and work flawlessly. Wise / Revolut still win on FX vs your home bank. Amex is widely accepted in restaurants and hotels but rare in pubs and small shops.

Last reviewed 10 May 2026. FX rates are not quoted on this page — they move daily; use Wise’s converter for the live rate.