Scotland currency travel guide (2024)

FAQs

Scotland currency travel guide? ›

In Scotland, the unit of currency is the pound (£), which is used throughout the entire UK. All major credit cards can also be used across Scotland, with Visa and MasterCard being most widely accepted. Scotland has its own bank notes that look different to those in the rest of the UK, however their value is the same.

Our Scottish currency is the British Pound (GBP) and all notes that say “Pound Sterling” are accepted. Both Scottish and English notes are widely used in Scotland. We use the same coins in Scotland and England, so they are fine too.

You will find that all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard & American Express) and debits cards are widely accepted. The same is true of Travelers cheques which should be in GBP to avoid extra exchange rate charges. There are also a multitude of ATMs available throughout Scotland so you will have easy access to cash.

Great Britain's currency is the pound sterling. However, some euro-friendly businesses in central Edinburgh and Glasgow will accept euro coins and notes. The easiest and best way to get cash away from home is from a cash machine or cash point. The Cirrus (tel.

Bank cards and travel cards

Most establishments in Scotland accept major credit and debit cards, making purchasing when travelling around convenient. However, we advise carrying some cash for smaller transactions, especially in rural areas where card acceptance may be limited or a minimum card spend is in place.

Foreign currency is rarely accepted, but don't worry, it's easy to exchange any foreign currency in Scotland. Banks, hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks can be found at our international airports and also in most of our city centres.

Tip in the local currency

Whenever you tip during your trip to Scotland it is important to use the local currency, that is - British pounds. Otherwise you'll leave your service providers with cash they can't use without paying high fees on currency exchange.

Credit Cards and Debit Cards are used widely in Edinburgh and across Scotland with Visa and Mastercard being the most commonly accepted. American Express can be used but may not be accepted by all retailers, so bringing an alternative card is encouraged.

We estimated $2,000 per person. We are not true budget travelers; we save in some places (like eating PB&J for lunch every day) so that we can splurge in others (like guided boat tours). You could do a two-week road-trip around Scotland for less than $1,500 per person.

Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard, Diners Club and American Express credit cards are widely accepted throughout Scotland and Northern England.

Do you tip in Scotland? ›

There are no hard and fast rules for tipping in Scotland. If you are happy with the service, a 10-15% tip is customary, particularly in a restaurant or café with table service. A tip is not necessary if a service charge has been added to the bill by the establishment.

Nowhere in Scotland will accept Euros, even Edinburgh. The currency throughout the whole of the United Kingdom is pound sterling. You can get Scottish bank notes and English bank notes but they all have exactly the same value.

Is Edinburgh an expensive city? Yes, Edinburgh is considered to be an expensive city when compared to other cities in the UK. However, it is still more affordable than in major cities like London.

In Scotland, ATMs usually offer the best exchange rates. Avoid exchanging money at commercial exchange bureaus and hotels, which often have the highest transaction fees. You can find ATMs at almost all bank branches, as well as at most large supermarkets, some petrol stations, in shopping malls, and some post offices.

All Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster banknotes (as with all Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes) remain legal currency, will not be withdrawn from circulation in the same way as the Bank of England notes, and have no end date for acceptance. You are unable to swap / deposit commemorative coins.

In Scotland, we use the pound sterling (GBP), just like the rest of the United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland). We have our own Scottish bank notes, but all cash in pound sterling is accepted here. Therefore bank notes issued in England and Northern Ireland are also valid.

On average, a budget trip to Scotland is estimated to cost around £55, €62, or $66 per day.

While you can get away with just having the Euro on hand for much of Western Europe, if you're planning to visit the United Kingdom (UK) or Switzerland during your travels (and often many group tours and cruise itineraries will stop off in these locations!), you'll need to also take with you some Great British Pounds ( ...