Money and Shopping

Money Banks Taxes and Costs Discounts and Concessions Opening Hours Shopping Travel Advice Accommodation Town Guides

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Currency The British currency is the pound sterling - £ which is divided into 100 pence - p. Coins and notes come in the following denominations: Coins Notes 1p and 2p (copper) 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p (silver) £1 (gold) £2 (gold and silver) £5, £10, £20 and £50, each denomination has its own size and colour Note: Scottish banks issue their own notes, including in £1 denominations. In England and Wales shopkeepers may refuse Scottish notes, but they are legal tender - if you have any problems, exchange them at a bank. You will, no doubt, hear the slang term 'quid' meaning pound sterling. To sound like a native, take note: 'quid' does not become plural, as in five quid (not quids).

Changing Money Most banks and major post offices will be able to change money for you. And in the larger cities you will find bureau de change offices, usually in places like train stations or travel agencies. But be careful. Commission rates and fees vary from one bureau de change to another and in cities like London charges can often be extortionate. Check the rates and fees before you change your money, and remember that it is often worthwhile to shop around. The cheapest rates are often at the bureau de changes at international airports (but this is not guaranteed). After that, banks are usually your best bet for reasonable charges - changing money or cheques in hotels should be a last resort as they are normally relatively expensive.

Carrying money There are no exchange controls in Britain, so you can basically bring in as much cash as you want and there are no limits on the amount of travellers cheques you can change. The safest way to carry money is in travellers cheques as they protect you, to some degree, against theft. Make sure that you keep a record of your cheque numbers and the ones you have cashed in a place separate from the cheques themselves. In the UK, travellers cheques are rarely used for everyday transactions, so you will often have to change them at banks regularly in advance of your need. The exceptions are some places that frequently come into contact with people using travellers checks (such as major tourist sites in areas like London) who may be able to change them for you, but always check first. This does make travellers cheques a little inconvenient, but they are still worth it for the safety aspect. Major credit cards (eg Mastercard, Visa, Diners Club and American Express) are widely accepted and they can also usually be used to withdraw cash from automated teller machines (ATMs). However, you will need a 4-diget Personal Identification Number (PIN) in order to use ATMs in the UK, so make sure that you know yours and that it will be compatible - if you haven't got one, ask your bank to issue one and check which network to use. Cash is by far the most convenient way to carry money, but it is also the most risky - if it is stolen it is gone for good. Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to have a small amount of cash on you, in case you can't get to a bank for a day or so. Whatever way you decide to carry your money, take precautions. Make sure that you keep it out of sight of would-be thieves - carry it in an inside pocket, or consider investing in a money bag or pouch to carry it under your clothes. And take extra care in crowded areas. Use common sense and you should be fine.

Money Banks Taxes and Costs Discounts and Concessions Opening Hours Shopping Travel Advice Accommodation Town Guides

Shop Opening Hours General opening hours for shops are 9am-5.30pm Monday-Saturday. However, in the larger towns you will probably find shops open late some evenings (usually Thursday or Friday), and that more and more are opening on Sundays albeit with reduced hours. The exceptions are supermarkets, which tend to be open 7 days a week with longer opening hours - usually until 8pm or 10pm most evenings, with reduced hours of 10am-4pm on a Sunday. Some in larger towns now open 24 hours, but it is worth checking first. Also, the large out-of-town shopping complexes on the outskirts of many cities tend to have extended opening hours, but again it is advisable to check first. In addition, many petrol stations are open 24 hours (but not all) and these often have small shops attached where you can pick up essentials. As you head out of the larger towns and cities, you will probably find that some rural shops still follow the tradition of an early closing day (usually a Wednesday) when the shops close at 1.00pm, so make sure you are well prepared. On public holidays you will find that some shops open and some shops do not - so don't count on being able to get what you want. But as a general rule banks will be closed, most supermarkets will be open (although with reduced, Sunday opening hours), and in larger towns many shops will open.

Shopping The UK is not renowned for being a place to go for cheap shopping, but while you visit you might find that for some items you can find relative bargains. For example, if you have a passion for antiques you will prices may well be cheaper than at home. And if you are a fan of a particular UK chain store (for example Laura Ashley or the Body Shop) prices will generally be cheaper in Britain. Products to look out for include woolens, cashmere, British china and glassware, antiques, and British brand names such as Barbour, Filofax and Doc Martens. Almost every town and city in the UK will have a main street, often called the High Street, where you should head for if you want to go shopping. You will ususally find branches of high street stores such as Boots the Chemist, Marks and Spencer, Woolworths and Debenhams. There will also probably be some smaller specialist shops. You may also find some towns that as a whole specialise in a particular product. For example some towns are full of antique shops, whilst others may specialise in second hand books. And if there are lots of potteries or glassworks in the area the town will probably be full of shops selling crockery or glassware. Remember that if you plan to go on a massive shopping spree, you may be subject to duty charges or excess baggage fees. So find out what charges you will be subject to, plan your budget in advance, and stick to it!

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