Useful information

Britain’s national currency is pound sterling (symbol: £), which is sub-divided into 100 pence (symbol: p). Notes come in denominations of £50, £20, £10 and £5, and coins in £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p.

You can get British currency in banks, travel agents, post offices and bureaux de change (found on high streets, airports and at major railway stations).

Rates of exchange vary at different bureaux de change so it’s always worth shopping around. Travelex have branches throughout Britain, while Marks & Spencer (a popular department stores in Britain) has bureaux de change in over 100 of its stores. Many Post Offices also offer bureaux de change services. 

Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own pound sterling notes – they look different but have the same value as English notes. You can use English and Scottish money (apart from the Scottish £1 note) anywhere in the UK, but Northern Irish cash can only be used in Northern Ireland.

Tipping is not expected in Britain like it is in some other countries. Workers do not have to rely on tips to live and all staff must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. It’s not necessary to tip but it’s polite to do so if you’ve had good service, and it’s always appreciated. Some bars and restaurants will automatically add a tip or service charge to bills.

It’s normal to tip taxi drivers and it’s customary to round the fare up to the nearest pound. If you choose to tip your taxi driver, a 10-15 percent tip is a nice gesture.

In restaurants, an optional service charge is sometimes added to your total bill (this will be noted on your bill). You can choose whether to pay it or not. If nothing is added and you are happy with the service, a standard tip of between 10-15 is well received. 

In hotels, if a porter takes luggage to your room for you, it is customary to tip them approximately £2. If you order room service during your stay, you can leave a tip at your own discretion.

If you are in any doubt, a tip around of 10 percent is always be appreciated.

Credit, debit and contactless payment cards are widely used throughout Britain, as well as digital wallets on smart phones. Visa and Mastercard are the most common type, while American Express and Diners Club are only sometimes accepted.

Some small shops, markets and cafes may not accept card or digital payments or may stipulate a minimum spend. Accepted cards are usually displayed in the windows so check first, or ask the owner whether they take card or digital payments, beforehand.

You can withdraw cash from ATM (automatic teller machines) commonly called ‘cash points’ from all over Britain and Northern Ireland. Almost every bank has a cash machine while many more can be found in supermarkets, petrol stations, train stations and high streets. Some charge a small fee for cash withdrawals. You should note that foreign cards will incur a currency exchange fee to withdraw money. Check with your bank for details before you travel.

As a security measure, let your bank know you are travelling overseas.

If you run out of funds, it’s possible to have money wired from your country to the nearest British bank. Branches of Travelex and American Express will also do this for you. North American visitors can get cash dispatched through Western Union to a bank or Post Office - you’ll need your passport as proof of identity.

Most towns and cities offer some form of public access to the internet, whether that’s hotel WiFi or complimentary internet access at a café. WiFi is often available at libraries, pubs, museums and even during some longer-distance train journeys. 

Britain and Northern Ireland uses the 900 or 1800 GSM system, so visitors from the United States (where the system is 800 or 1900 MHz band) will need to get a tri or quad-band set. Contact your service provider for more details.

Depending on your network provider, you may be charged for the calls you make and receive, as well as any texts you send and internet you use. It’s perhaps easier and cheaper buy a British SIM card and top it up with credit. This will allow you to use the local mobile networks, though you can only do this if your phone is not locked to a specific network.

The voltage in Britain is 220/240 AC, 50Hz and electrical plugs (plug type G) have three rectangular pins and take fuses of 3, 5, and 13 amps. For any electrical equipment brought into Britain, you’ll probably need an adaptor.  Most hotels will have two-pronged European-style sockets for shavers only.

If you’re not fluent in English, it might be worth making sure you have a translation app on your phone. These handy apps can translate words and phrases using text, voice commands and can even translate text in photographs. Newer Apple devices come with a Translate app as standard, while Android users can download Google Translate.

The weather in Britain can be quite temperamental, so no matter what time of year you visit, it’s a good idea to bring something warm. It’s also worth packing a waterproof jacket – it can rain a lot in some locations. If you’re planning to do a lot of walking or hiking, a good, sturdy pair of walking shoes is an essential piece of kit.

There are several apps that are useful for visiting Britain. National Rail’s app offers train times and journey planning. Google Maps offer route planning, places of interest, food and shopping options. 

For step free travel around London, check out the TfL Go app, while AccessAble offers information on step free routes and navigating attractions across Britain. Other useful apps include The Refill app, which details over 30,000 water re-filling station across Britain.  

Due to its geographical location, Britain typically experiences all four seasons within one year – spring, summer, autumn and winter. The weather in Britain can range from minus temperatures with frost and snow in the cooler months to blue sky and bright sunshine in the summer. No matter the season, rain can also be a regular feature, so it’s always wise to pack an umbrella and raincoat.

GOV UK explains that visitors to the UK are allowed to bring in a personal allowance of goods into Britain for your own use or to gift. This includes restricted amounts of alcohol, tobacco and goods such as perfume and electronics up to £390. You must declare goods if: you go over the personal allowance; if items are banned or restricted (certain food or plants); or if you plan to sell or use the goods for business purposes.

There are several types of food that you are not allowed to bring into Britain, this depends on where you are travelling from. The list of items includes restrictions on dairy, meat, fish and animal products, and restrictions on fruits vegetables, nuts and seeds. Gov UK has a complete list of restricted food items.

Visitors to Britain are allowed to bring with them goods such as perfume and electronics up to a value of £390. This limit is £270 if arriving by private plane or boat. You are allowed to bring separate allowances of tobacco, alcohol and some food produce, though goods must all be for personal use or gifts, and you cannot combine allowances with others.

You must be age 18 or older to purchase alcohol in Britain. Staff in bars, restaurants and shops also have a ‘Challenge 25’ policy where they can ask to see a valid form of photo ID from anyone who looks younger than 25. This is to ensure that no one under the age if 18 is sold alcohol.

Yes, it is easy to find gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian food in Britain. Most restaurants clearly mark gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options on menus, and supermarkets have a great range of options for all diets. Most supermarkets even have specific aisles dedicated to gluten and/or dairy-free products.