Video:Basic Overview of Currency in London
with Nadia ChapmanThe currency in London is the pound sterling, generally called the pound. Watch this video from About.com to get a basic overview of the currency in London.See Transcript
Transcript:Basic Overview of Currency in London
Hi, I'm Nadia Chapman for About.com and I'm here today to discuss England's currency, the pound sterling -- commonly called the pound.
Where to Get Pounds in London
You can get pounds at many places, such as airports, banks, exchange kiosks normally located in very touristic areas. You will soon notice that the exchange rates vary from one place to another. Generally, the best places to exchange money is at the bank or the exchange kiosk, and airports are known to take a bigger profit on the transaction.
Double check with your bank to see if they are affiliated with another bank overseas to avoid paying extra fees when getting money with your ATM card.
What Do Pounds Look Like?
UK currency looks like this. You've got the 1- and the 2-pence coins in copper; the 5, 10, 20 and 50 pence in silver; the 1 pound in gold, and the 2 pounds in silver with a gold edge. As for the paper bills, the 5-pound note is blue, the 10-pound note is brown, the 20-pound note is purple, and the 50-pound notes are red. Keep in mind that you cannot spend euros in England unless you are in some of the bigger chain stores, or at some restaurants or stores at the airport.
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