What You Need to Know About Currency in Scotland (2024)

FAQs

What You Need to Know About Currency in Scotland? ›

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.

The pound Stirling (£), commonly abbreviated to GBP, is the official currency used in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. One pound is written as £1 and is divided into 100 pence (p). On this page you can find useful information about money in Scotland, how it works and how you can spend it.

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.

Q: Is a Scottish £1 worth the same as an English £1? A: Yes! It's the same currency (British Pounds Sterling. You will often see the currency code of GBP).

A one week trip to Scotland usually costs around $1,300 (£1,036) for one person and $2,599 (£2,072) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

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.

In Scotland, you'll need cash to pay for taxis, incidentals, small purchases and tips. You can take US dollars with you and exchange them at the airport or make an ATM withdrawal.

1 GBP = 1.255545 USD May 14, 2024 00:50 UTC

The currency converter below is easy to use and the currency rates are updated frequently.

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

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.

Is it illegal to refuse Scottish money in England? ›

Bank of England notes are the only banknotes that are legal tender in England and Wales. Scottish, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and Manx banknotes are not legal tender in England and Wales. However, they are not illegal under English law and creditors and traders may accept them if they so choose.

When tilted you can see the shimmering effect on the band. There is a HOLOGRAM on the foil patch on the front of the £20, £50 and £100 notes. If you tilt the note you should see the image change between the Bank of Scotland logo and the numerical value of the note.

Scottish banknotes are unusual, first because they are issued by retail banks, not government central banks, and second, because they are not legal tender anywhere in the United Kingdom.

We recommend spending at least five days along the North Coast 500, although 7 days (or more, if you can afford the time) will give you a far greater understanding of this very special area of Scotland. Check out our online itineraries for inspiration.

July and August are when most Britons take their holidays, so in addition to the higher prices, you'll have to deal with crowds and limited availability of accommodations. Sure, in winter Scotland is usually rainy and cold -- but it doesn't shut down when the tourists leave.

You ought to carry very little cash, almost everywhere takes cards (and some prefer it and a few will only take cards). In terms of a budget that seems fine but don't start with £1000 cash, more like £50 (but not a £50;note) and use cards……

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.

Credit & debit cards

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

Regarding the British Pound & the Euro -- Tourists from other parts of Britain don't need to be told, but for those arriving from overseas: Europe's primary currency, the euro, is not officially used in Scotland. Great Britain's currency is the pound sterling.