Traveling to the UK: Is cash still used?

Hi fellow travelers,

I’m an old-school cycle tourist, traveling by bike... and I’ll be heading to England, Scotland, and Ireland in September. I was wondering if cash is still used in supermarkets, grocery stores, and generally—do people still use cash in the UK?

Thanks for your replies, happy travels!

Hi, yes, you can pay with cash in all shops. Small exception in some restaurants. Always ask first.

Hello Real question 😊 I’m not really answering it, but I’ll share my thoughts from last March.

The challenge isn’t necessarily being able to pay with cash... It’s the extra cost. For example, in some transportation, it’s better to pay by card than cash to get a lower fare. So, I went with a card. And what I noticed in March was that card fees were pretty reasonable... Just something to factor in with the exchange rate.

Have a great trip

There’s an alternative—using a different bank card. In my case, I use Revolut, an online bank that offers a prepaid card. You can track your spending on an app and top it up remotely. Banking fees are minimal. I’ve been using it for about ten years now on my trips across Europe and the UK.

Thanks Syluella for your replies... best wishes, and have a great trip...

Thanks for your message, Gefanj... all the best and happy travels...

Hi, I just got back from a week-long trip to the UK. Everywhere (restaurants, shops, museums, etc.), they accept either cash or card. Have a great trip!

Hello fellow travelers,

I’m an old-school cycle tourist, traveling by bike... and I’m heading to England, Scotland, and Ireland in September. I was wondering if cash is still used in supermarkets, grocery stores, and in general—do people still use cash in Great Britain?

Thanks for your replies, happy travels...

Hello José, cash is used in every country in the world—it’s actually the only payment method that can’t be refused. A merchant can refuse card payments or checks, but never cash payments.