British Pound Sterling vs Credit card

I would be surprised if £60 wouldn’t be enough.

By yourself? or a couple? I like to have enough to pay for lunch or a couple pints, so maybe 20 GBP, maybe 40 between my wife and I. You could do a bit more to create a safety buffer, but whatever, the last day, make a point to spend it. You really do not need to be stashing GBP for future trips unless you visit frequently.

But my last trip to London, I had no cash, and needed no cash. My prior trip, I was driving and out in the countryside, and needed cash (coins really) for parking and laundry, maybe one or two other things.

Maybe the saving grace, is that I think they are done converting notes to polymer, so no more expired notes for a while. Such a headache over the last 10-15 years.

I've posted this elsewhere, but tips to my golf caddies were my only use for GBP in 5 weeks last summer in the UK. Otherwise credit cards for absolutely everything.

In March, I started with £30 and came home with £20. The other £10 was spent at the Laundromat and church collection plate. Most places were card only. I even had to use my card for a 90p postcard.

Without getting into the whole tipping debate, I would say none. I travel to the UK 4-5 times a year, and I've had the same £20 in my wallet for several years.

Small items- pretty much every shop and market stall in London takes and prefers card. Card only is actually not common, but card preferred certainly is - you can use cash, but you may get a few surprised looks from the shop staff, and they may not always have change.

If you do want to have cash, take it in fives, tens or twenties only. £50 notes are really difficult to get rid of, due to lack of change.

Thank you for all your helpful advice. I will definitely follow your suggestions. Much appreciated! Looking forward to revisiting London for a few days and then going on a week long tour of the Cotswolds.

In 2023, I was very surprised that in London, almost nobody took cash. So I spent most of it before leaving to go to Lewes. When I got into the mini cab my landlord called for me, the cab driver informed me that the credit card thingy in the cab wasn't working. It was some sort of network problem, he explained. He had to drive to an ATM, and I popped out of the car and got some cash with which to pay him.
I don't think I've ever showed up with more than 100 pounds.

More importantly, make sure your credit cards are contactless.

One of my favorite food places in London now only takes contactless credit cards. No pins, no signatures. Contactless.

I spend 3-4 months a year in the UK. The only times I have used cash in the last two years were:

Taxis in Dundee

Getting my haircut in Dundee.

Paying for a meal in York when their CC machines weren't working. If you didn't have cash they said I could go to an ATM and come back. I had some cash.

One shopping mall wanted me to pay for to use the toilets. I had not change. I asked a security guard where I could get some change. He just said not to bother and let me in.

So, the answer is, get some but not that much. If you really need more, you can always find a bank and an ATM.

I haven’t touched cash in the UK in 3 years.

I've had the same £20 in my wallet for several years.

Simon, I hope it isn't a paper note. They have now been replaced by polymer notes and the paper notes were withdrawn from circulation in September 2022 and asre no longer legal tender....

"Simon, I hope it isn't a paper note"

No, polymer. Although I keep meaning to spend it and keep forgetting...