# Using Euros in London, how widely accepted are they?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-euros-in-london-how-widely-accepted-are-they/529423
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 18, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-euros-in-london-how-widely-accepted-are-they/529423 "2010-02-18T02:32:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-euros-in-london-how-widely-accepted-are-they/529423/21 "2010-02-18T23:54:41Z")
> [@Ximenean](#):
>
> Trouble is, I almost got caught out by a proper, respectable-looking ATM in Russell Square, or thereabouts. I think it was Alliance & Leicester, some respectable British bank anyway, which didn’t normally ask for a withdrawal fee. At this ATM, however, I noticed at the last minute that they intended to charge me £1.50 or whatever it was for withdrawing my own money, the bastards. So I walked off in a non-touristy direction and found a civilised ATM instead.
Alliance and Leicester sold off a huge part of their ATM network. This is the kind of thing I’m talking about - I can’t really give any guidelines to foreigners that won’t be stupidly long, but looking for that charge will, I think, be pretty reliable.
Alternatively, I actually know Central London very well. Most of the time I try to live in Scotland, but when I’m not then I live in Greenwich and know most of the centre - I could probably help a doper find a cash machine next to any tube station in zone 1. But not in a timely fashion one suspects!
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### Author:  [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-euros-in-london-how-widely-accepted-are-they/529423/22 "2010-02-19T02:12:16Z")
Just a little aside: whatever cash (euros, pounds) you have at the end of the trip, try to exchange them before you get back to the US. Since US banks do so little currency exchange, you’re get a hefty processing fee added on.
My wife and I stashed a $10 Canadian note on our trip to the Montreal casino, so that we’d have guarenteed cab fare back to the hotel. We ended up not needing it, and forgot about the $10.
Back in DC, I went to a bank to ask about exchanging it. Besides getting a really shitty exchange rate, they wanted to charge me $5 USD, so I would’ve only got $1.50 back. I ended up keeping it in my wallet for the last 14 years.
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### Author:  [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-euros-in-london-how-widely-accepted-are-they/529423/23 "2010-02-19T02:24:34Z")
> [@AWB](#):
>
> Just a little aside: whatever cash (euros, pounds) you have at the end of the trip, try to exchange them before you get back to the US. Since US banks do so little currency exchange, you’re get a hefty processing fee added on.
>
> My wife and I stashed a $10 Canadian note on our trip to the Montreal casino, so that we’d have guarenteed cab fare back to the hotel. We ended up not needing it, and forgot about the $10.
>
> Back in DC, I went to a bank to ask about exchanging it. Besides getting a really shitty exchange rate, they wanted to charge me $5 USD, so I would’ve only got $1.50 back. I ended up keeping it in my wallet for the last 14 years.
Good thing it’s not a pile of $1 or $2 bills. They are worthless now.
We still have a few Lira and Francs somewhere. Souvenirs…
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-euros-in-london-how-widely-accepted-are-they/529423/24 "2010-02-19T02:27:58Z")
> [@AWB](#):
>
> Just a little aside: whatever cash (euros, pounds) you have at the end of the trip, try to exchange them before you get back to the US. Since US banks do so little currency exchange, you’re get a hefty processing fee added on.
>
> My wife and I stashed a $10 Canadian note on our trip to the Montreal casino, so that we’d have guarenteed cab fare back to the hotel. We ended up not needing it, and forgot about the $10.
>
> Back in DC, I went to a bank to ask about exchanging it. Besides getting a really shitty exchange rate, they wanted to charge me $5 USD, so I would’ve only got $1.50 back. I ended up keeping it in my wallet for the last 14 years.
What’s the problem? You speculated in CAD and won 😉
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### Author:  [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-euros-in-london-how-widely-accepted-are-they/529423/25 "2010-02-19T06:08:15Z")
> [@md2000](#):
>
> Good thing it’s not a pile of $1 or $2 bills. They are worthless now.
You’re referring to Canadian $1 and $2 bills. They are not worthless; they remain legal tender for their face value, though it is rare to see them in circulation. From the [Bank of Canada](http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes/general/character/1986.html) website on the 1986 banknote series:
> [@](#):
>
> The $1 note was not reissued as part of this series and was gradually withdrawn from circulation. More recently, the $2 note has also been withdrawn. Both denominations **(which remain legal tender)** were replaced by more durable and longer-lasting coins, reducing the costs of producing Canada’s currency.
Emphasis added.
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2010, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-euros-in-london-how-widely-accepted-are-they/529423/26 "2010-02-19T10:01:27Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#):
>
> If you need some pounds for walking around cash, just go to the ATM when your arrive at the airport or the train station.
Check out the specific fees on your ATM card and credit cards. Some do not charge fees for using them to pay but do charge for using them in an “out of network” ATM.
Make sure that you carry a MasterCard or, even better, Visa. Many credit card companies which are popular in the US are very limited or unknown in Europe.
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### Author:  [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2010, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-euros-in-london-how-widely-accepted-are-they/529423/27 "2010-02-19T10:16:09Z")
> [@AWB](#):
>
> Just a little aside: whatever cash (euros, pounds) you have at the end of the trip, try to exchange them before you get back to the US. Since US banks do so little currency exchange, you’re get a hefty processing fee added on.
>
> My wife and I stashed a $10 Canadian note on our trip to the Montreal casino, so that we’d have guarenteed cab fare back to the hotel. We ended up not needing it, and forgot about the $10.
>
> Back in DC, I went to a bank to ask about exchanging it. Besides getting a really shitty exchange rate, they wanted to charge me $5 USD, so I would’ve only got $1.50 back. I ended up keeping it in my wallet for the last 14 years.
Could be worse - I’ve still got a bunch of Zimbabwean dollars from when they were worth ten cents a piece.
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