Money and duty free for United Kingdom

Currency and Money

Currency information

See the individual Money sections within the Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland sections for information on currency specific to these regions.

Pound (GBP; symbol £) = 100 pence. Notes are in denominations of £50, £20, £10 and £5. Additional bank notes issued by Scottish banks (including £1 notes) are accepted in all parts of the UK, although some smaller shops outside Scotland may prefer English banknotes. Coins are in denominations of £2 and £1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 pence.

Credit cards

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted. Cash can be obtained from a multitude of ATMs available across the country.

ATM

Cash can be obtained from a multitude of ATMs available across the country.

Travellers cheques

Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Pounds Sterling.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0930-1630 (there may be some variations in closing times). Some banks are open Saturday morning; some all day Saturday.

Currency restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if travelling from or to a country outside the European Union.

Currency exchange

Money can be exchanged in banks, exchange bureaux, some post offices and many hotels. The exchange bureaux are often open outside banking hours but charge higher commission rates. All major currencies can be exchanged.

United Kingdom duty free

Overview

England, Wales and Scotland duty-free allowance for all travellers outside the UK:

The following items may be imported into England, Wales and Scotland by travellers over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty:
• Tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco or 200 sticks of tobacco for E-cigarettes. These can be combined provided travellers do not exceed their total tobacco allowance.
• Alcohol: 18L of still wine and 42L of beer, plus either 4L of spirits stronger than 22% or 9L of fortified or sparkling wine or other liqueurs up to 22%. These can be combined provided travellers do not exceed their total alcohol allowance.
• Other goods including souvenirs up to the value of £390 (or £270 if arriving by private plane or boat).

Northern Ireland duty-free allowance for travellers from the EU:

Technically there are no limits to the amount of alcohol and tobacco you can bring into Northern Ireland, provided that you are over 17 years of age, coming from any of the EU countries, transport the goods yourself, have already paid duty on the goods and will use the goods yourself or give them away as gift. But the recommended guidelines are:
• 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco or 800 sticks of tobacco for E-cigarettes.
• 90L of still wine.
• 110L of beer.
• Either 10L of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22% or 20L of fortified or sparkling wine or other liqueurs up to 22%.

Northern Ireland duty-free allowance for travellers from non-EU countries:

The following items may be imported into Northern Ireland without incurring customs duty by travellers over 17 years of age from non-EU countries:
• Tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco or 200 sticks of tobacco for E-cigarettes. These can be combined provided travellers do not exceed their total tobacco allowance.
• Alcohol: 4L of still wine and 16L of beer, plus either 1L of spirits stronger than 22% or 2L of fortified or sparkling wine or other liqueurs up to 22%. These can be combined provided travellers do not exceed their total alcohol allowance.
• Other goods including souvenirs up to the value of £390 (or £270 if arriving by private plane or boat).

Please note: A customs declaration can be submitted online a maximum of 5 days before entry.

Banned Imports

Prohibited items include controlled drugs, offensive weapons, self-defence sprays, endangered animal and plant species, rough diamonds, indecent and obscene materials, as well as counterfeit and pirated goods that infringe intellectual property rights.

Visitors from non-EU countries should also not bring meat and dairy products, as well as plants.

Firearms, explosives and ammunition are also restricted and need a special license.