Roberta Aguirre
If you're travelling to London and want to know if you can use euros at the airport, the answer is a little complicated. While the official currency in the UK is the pound sterling, some shops and restaurants at London airports such as Heathrow may accept euros, but the exchange rate may not be favourable, and you will likely be given change in pounds. It's recommended that you exchange your euros for pounds at a bank or a currency exchange, although it may be difficult to find ATMs that dispense euros at the airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can euros be used in London? | Some shops in London, especially those that are tourist attractions, will accept euros. However, shops and service providers generally only take sterling. |
| Can euros be used in London airports? | Some shops and services at Heathrow Airport will accept euros, but the exchange rate may not be favourable, and shops may not accept coins. |
| Exchanging euros | Euros can be exchanged for pounds at banks in London, or at currency exchange companies such as Travelex. However, it is recommended to change currency before arriving in London to get a better exchange rate. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Some shops in London and Heathrow Airport accept euros
While the official currency of the U.K. is the pound sterling, and shops and service providers will, as a rule, only accept sterling, some shops in London accept euros. For example, the European cafe at the bottom of Regent Street (near Piccadilly) accepts euros but gives change in pounds.
Some of the bigger department stores, especially those that are tourist attractions, will take euros and other foreign currencies. Selfridges (all branches) and Harrods will both take pounds sterling, euros, and US dollars at their ordinary cash registers. Selfridges also takes Canadian dollars, Swiss francs, and Japanese yen.
If you have coins, you may be able to donate them at Heathrow, which has several collection boxes for charity. If you have notes, you can exchange them at any bank in London or at a few places such as Harrods.
It is worth noting that the exchange rate for euros at Heathrow Airport may not be favourable, and shops may not accept euro coins. It may be more cost-effective to exchange your currency before arriving at the airport or to use a credit card.
Airport Scanners and Digital Cameras: Safe or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
You will get change in pounds, which may not be a good exchange rate
While some shops in London, including Heathrow Airport duty-free shops, may accept euros, you will get change in pounds, which may not be at a good exchange rate. This means that you may lose value with every exchange. For example, a European cafe near Piccadilly accepts euros but gives change in pounds, which is not the best exchange rate.
It is recommended that you hang onto your leftover currency until you get home and change it all at once into your national currency. If you are anxious to get rid of your excess euros, you can donate them to charity at Heathrow, which has several collection boxes that accept any currency.
If you are looking to exchange your euros for pounds, you can do so at a bank in London or at a few places such as Harrods, which accepts foreign currency. However, be aware that no bank exchanges coins. Alternatively, you can exchange your euros at a currency exchange ATM, but these may charge a withdrawal fee and offer poor rates.
Therefore, while you may be able to use your euros at some shops in London and Heathrow Airport, it is important to consider the potential disadvantages of doing so, such as unfavourable exchange rates and the possibility of losing value with each exchange.
Chewing Gum and Airport Security: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Coins are unlikely to be accepted, only notes
While some shops and duty-free shops in London airports like Heathrow may accept euros, it is unlikely that they will accept euro coins. Some sources suggest that you will get a poor exchange rate at the airport, and you will likely be given change in pounds.
It is recommended that you exchange your euros for pounds at a bank in London, or at a department store such as Harrods or Selfridges, which also accepts foreign currency. However, it is important to note that no banks exchange coins. If you have euro coins, consider using them for small purchases, such as tipping a hotel doorman or airport porter, or donating them to charity. Alternatively, you could save them for your next trip to a country that uses the euro or exchange them at your bank when you return home.
If you have a credit card, you can also use that to pay for purchases in London, and the card will be charged in pounds. This will allow you to avoid the hassle of exchanging currencies and potentially losing money in the exchange.
Additionally, it is worth noting that most ATMs at Heathrow Airport are owned by currency exchange companies, and there are reports of poor exchange rates and additional fees. If you need to withdraw euros, consider ordering them online in advance and collecting them from a currency exchange desk at the airport.
PCR Testing: Airport Availability and Access
You may want to see also
Explore related products
You can exchange euros for pounds at a bank in London
Although the official currency of the UK is the pound sterling, some shops and service providers in London may accept euros. However, they will usually give you change in pounds, and the exchange rate may not be favourable.
Therefore, it is advisable to exchange your euros for pounds at a bank in London. You can also do this at your home bank before travelling to London, which will often offer you a fair exchange rate and low commissions. If you choose to do this, remember to contact your bank a few weeks in advance to arrange the exchange.
Alternatively, you can exchange your euros for pounds at a foreign exchange company, such as Thomas Exchange Global or Moneycorp. These companies often offer better exchange rates than banks and may provide a wider range of currencies.
Please note that banks do not typically exchange coins, so it is advisable to exchange your euros for bills before arriving in London or to exchange your euro coins for bills at hotels or airports.
Thailand Visa: Airport Pickup or Prior Arrangement?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
You can donate leftover euros to charity at Heathrow
London's official currency is the pound sterling, and shops and service providers usually only accept this form of payment. However, some larger department stores and tourist attractions, such as Selfridges and Harrods, will accept euros and other foreign currencies.
If you're at Heathrow airport, you may be able to spend your leftover euros at duty-free shops, which have been known to take multiple currencies and put the remaining amount on a credit card. However, the exchange rate may not be favourable, and shops are unlikely to accept coins.
If you're looking to donate your leftover euros to charity, Heathrow has several collection boxes where you can contribute any spare currency. This money goes towards the airport's Charity of the Year and the BAA Heathrow Community and Environment Awards. Some airlines also collect spare change for charity, so you could consider donating your leftover euros to a flight attendant on your way over.
Airport Express and Pandora: A Perfect Match?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Some shops and services at London Heathrow Airport accept euros, but the exchange rate may not be favourable, and you will likely get change in pounds sterling. It is recommended that you exchange your euros for pounds at a bank in London or at a currency exchange desk at the airport.
The official currency of the U.K. is the pound sterling, and shops and service providers usually only accept this currency. However, some larger department stores that are tourist attractions, such as Selfridges and Harrods, will accept euros and other foreign currencies.
You can exchange euros for pounds at a bank in London or at a currency exchange desk at the airport. However, the exchange rate may not be favourable, and you may be charged additional fees. Alternatively, you can exchange your euros for pounds at a bank in your home country or save them for your next trip to a country that uses the euro.
