Cash usage
Cash is accepted but represents a smaller share of everyday payments than cards.
Country money guide
United Kingdom Currency Guide
Learn how the British pound is used in the United Kingdom, then open a dated reference-rate conversion.
Currency overview
British Pound in United Kingdom
Monetary framework
The United Kingdom uses the British pound as its official currency.
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GBP converter
GBP1.3587 USD1 GBP = 1.358659 USD
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Currency facts
GBP at a glance
CurrencyBritish Pound
ISO codeGBP
SymbolGBP
Minor unitPenny
Decimal places2
Central bankBank of England
Currency typeOfficial currency
First issuedThe current decimal system began in 1971
Money usage guide
Local money guide for the United Kingdom
Official use
The United Kingdom uses the British pound as its official currency.
Payment environment
Contactless card and mobile wallet payments are common across most cities.
Cash and payment habits
Cash, cards and local payments
Card acceptance
Debit and credit cards are widely accepted.
Mobile and contactless payments
Contactless payment is common in retail and public transport.
ATM availability
Many bank ATMs are free, while independent operators may disclose a charge.
Tipping practices
Service charges may already appear on restaurant bills; check before adding a tip.
Exchange tips
Planning a conversion
Before exchanging
Compare card provider spreads and cash exchange fees before converting larger amounts.
Optional terminal conversion
When offered a choice, compare a sterling transaction with the merchant's home-currency conversion.
Cash declaration
GOV.UK publishes separate cash-declaration rules for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Popular currency pairs
GBP conversion links
Related currencies
Regional and monetary links
Currency topics
These links use the country dataset's regional and monetary relationships rather than a single global popularity list.
FAQ
United Kingdom currency questions
Which currency is used in the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom uses the British pound as its official currency.
Does the United Kingdom have multiple official currencies?
The United Kingdom has one official currency: the British pound (GBP).
How can I compare the British pound?
Use the conversion links on this page to compare the United Kingdom's official currency with other supported currencies.
Sources and review
Rate data and official references
Data source: Frankfurter
Rate date:
Reviewed by: CurrencyHub Editorial Team
Editorially reviewed:
Content methodology
Country guidance is assembled from official monetary, payment-system and border-information sources. Missing details are omitted rather than inferred.
Sources
Report an errorExchange-rate information is provided for reference only and is not financial, trading or investment advice.