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I'm going to London very, very soon and as a traveler beginner, I'm having a huge problem.

I had a problem with my bank (they mess it all and forgot the request I made to exchange money) and now I don't have any pound to take with me before the trip. It means that I'll land in London without a penny in my wallet.

I'll take euros with me and I'm planning use a ATM in the airport so I can have some money to use to get to the center of London but right now I'm looking for a better option to exchange money in London.

Do you know any places where I can exchange some Euros to Pounds without paying ridiculous taxes? I'll be extremely grateful if any of you who knows the best deals, share your knowledge with me!

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    Check with your bank what the costs are but for me it is always the cheapest to use the ATM. I do think this question has come along a few times already, so do use the search option here, please.
    – Willeke ♦
    May 3, 2017 at 14:08
  • Possible duplicate: travel.stackexchange.com/questions/23037/…
    – Kris
    May 3, 2017 at 14:27
  • You don't exchange your Euros - pulling the local currency out of an ATM is always the cheapest option. Note that in many countries the ATM has a question/suggestion about 'converting them' (I forgot the exact wording), to which you always reply 'No' (for the same reason).
    – user40521
    May 3, 2017 at 14:30
  • The ATM in the airport usually has higher exchange rates btw; you might also stop at the exchange counter at your departure airport (usually in the international terminal) and change just 50-100 Euro to pounds, just enough to get you started (and, yes, at a ridiculous rate).
    – Giorgio
    May 3, 2017 at 14:58
  • I'm can't remember which bank (maybe Nationwide), but an ATM on the northeast side of Tottenham Court Rd near the Goodge Street station told me upfront that it wouldn't charge a fee for using the ATM with a US card. My bank charged a fee though.
    – mkennedy
    May 3, 2017 at 17:05

1 Answer 1

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Unless you are extremely price sensitive, use any ATM you see. Meaning, don't 'exchange' your Euros.

You will always get the best combined rate (exchange + fee) from any random ATM than you will at any exchange desk.

If a few euros and cents are meaningful to you, you will have to locate an ATM at a bank or on a network that has a favorable relationship with your home bank. This will save or possibly eliminate the transaction fee.

Also keep in mind that all the trains to London take credit or debit cards.

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    So, is there anything wrong with this answer? Without comment, downvote is totally unwarranted and unhelpful. I'll happily make edits, but I will also defend an otherwise correct answer.
    – Johns-305
    May 3, 2017 at 16:23

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