How much cash do I need? - London Forum (2024)

8 posts

You don't need too much cash. Credit/debit is widely accepted in London. Though be aware that not every cab takes it. But you don't have to always (or ever) travel by cab.

Destination Expert

and already purchased an Oyster Card. I do not plan on any big spending.' If you will stay in London for three weeks and plan to use transport liberally then you may wish to give away or sell that Oyster for Visitors. Depending on where you will stay your transport use, seven day Travelcards will be cheaper than using PAYG on Oyster, but those Travelcards cannot be loaded on Visitor Oyster cards.

You do not have a location in your profile so we do not know what currency you use in your home country and as such cannot estimate the exchange rate from your (unknown) currency to sterling. Some people can easily spend £100 per day and others will spend at most £20 per day; Groceries may be more expensive than in your home city, but that's again unknown.

Unless you can buy sterling at a very good rate then plan to use your bank card to withdraw pounds from cashmachines when in London. The major clearing banks do not charge for withdrawals but your bank might, so check before departure.

Thank you. I have been reading up on the cads and their fares. It's a bit confusing with the different time rates.

Where I'll be staying is very close to the Buses & Tube, and local shopping area such as grocery and markets, so that is a plus.

Are you asking for budget purposes or because you want to bring the entire amount with you? It's very easy to withdraw cash at a bank ATM in London, you shouldn't have any issues. Beware of over using your credit cards unless you have one that doesn't charge international transaction fees, they can add up.

Everyone is different in what they want to spend, it's hard to give you advice on an actual amount.

I'm from New York. So I know the US to £'s conversion is not to great. I most likely will be using the Oyster mainly when sightseeing ( nothing to grand I'll be doing) just a few museums and that's it.

Both budget purposes and I do want to bring the entire amount. I don't like using credit cards much. I know travelling with cash is abit risky. But the fees for using my credit card there will be steep and I'm trying to avoid that.

Edited: 7 years ago

I think it would be helpful if you made a list of what you want to see that aren't free (like the Tower of London, theatre, special exhibit, etc), weekly spend for groceries, public transport, etc. You should have a rough idea of what that should be (perhaps £75 a week on groceries? £32 a week for a travelcard).

I'd pad it a little (£200?) just to be on the safe side for things you might not expect to need or any last minute changes to plans.

I have no plans for all the elaborate sightseeing spots. Just 5-6 museums all free. I have the £50 visitors oyster card. Any other sending out off pocket will be a few souvenirs at the most.

As for my weekly spending. I hardly spend much.

Edited: 7 years ago

LadyGC83, I would never bring in CASH the entire amount I planned to spend on holiday. I'd be afraid to for one thing and for another, where would be a safe place to keep it?

Possibly you might want to think about putting the money into a US checking account with debit card that partners with a UK banking group.

There are many threads on this subject, might do to read them and then make a decision that is right for your trip.

Personally, I plan on £100 per day, per person.

For 21 days that's £2100 or about $3050, too much to carry in cash some would think.

Far better to access your funds at ATMs than be a walking wallet.

Lady G, if you are that frugal then only you can answer this question. I doubt £50 pounds on a visitor oyster card will be enough for three weeks though, you'll most likely need to top up at some point. It doesn't sound like you are going to be out doing much though. Pity.