Will my US debit card work in London?


Will my US debit card work in London? Debit cards with a Mastercard or Visa logo are widely accepted in Europe. American Express is somewhat less common, except at tourist destinations. Most banks charge a foreign transaction fee and/or a currency conversion fee, so it is worth double-checking these costs before departure.


Why is Amex not accepted in UK?

Because American Express charges companies big fees. And retailers would sooner not give away so much of their profit to a card company, especially when almost everyone in the UK who has Amex also has some other way to pay so it's not like retailers lose the sale over it generally.


Do I need cash in London?

Do I need to bring cash to the UK? It's a good idea to have small amounts of cash to hand. You may need coins or notes when parking, or require some for tipping. When paying for small items it can also be simpler to hand over a few coins than a card or a banknote.