Post office money exchange

An ATM is probably your best bet. Places like the Post Office make their money from the 'spread'.
I've literally just been past the PO. Today they sell $ for 1.313 and buy them for 1.465.
Keswick Travel (the town's Travel Agent) may do a slightly better rate, but unlikely to be much better as the same spread principle applies.

The ATM's I can immediately think of are at Booths supermarket, the Co-op supermarket and The Cumberland (building society).

I think you’ve answered my question. Thanks for the local information. I have another unrelated question for you. We’ll be in Keswick for ten days without a car. Can we purchase multi trip bus passes? My guess is that we’ll be taking lots of bus trips.

Yes, North West Gold 7 day Megarider currently £37- any Stagecoach bus in Cumbria, plus to Newcastle, Skipton, Dumfries, Liverpool and Chester.
Locals do such long out of area trips, tourists don't!!
Also the North West 3 day explorer for £28- same validity area.
Buy on bus or the Stagecoach app.

Currently Stagecoach run all buses you are likely to use as a tourist.

The County Council are talking about forcing competition. Part of that conversation includes a multi operator ticket. But all of that is at a very early stage.

I don't know how the ATMs you have work but here for us at least there is a daily limit on how much you can take out. So, not only would you have to do multiple transactions but it would have to be over multiple days as well.

500 quid is the daily limit at ATMs as far as I know. Obviously going to take three days and three trips to the machine to get £1300. In my opinion, The Post Office is as good a place as any to exchange cash. I see you mention ordering the cash beforehand. That's a good idea. Many post offices won't have much cash around these days and may need to order it in.

I know Stuart finds it had to believe the good, honest people of the north are fiddling their books, but come on, asking for £1300 in cash in this day and age? Did they explain why they need cash?

Accommodation asking for £1300 in cash definitely rings some alarm bells.
Why would they need that much in cash? I would definitely be asking them why, in this day and age, it needs to all be in cash.

If you do go down this route I would definitely use a reputable bureau de change and change it in one go. Why run the risk of having to visit ATMs and have large amounts of currency in your possession for several days when you really don’t have to?

I’m not sure what the rules and regulations are these days but you could be asked by the staff at the Bureau why you are changing that amount of money. Just so you are prepared.

that's a lot of dosh these days.

I would certainly be curious.

I wouldn't go so far as some here but if they indeed are being imaginative I wonder how they are imaginative with their guests.

The way many locals would move that much cash is bank transfer. If they won't allow cards perhaps they will allow a bank transfer, difficult and expensive from the US or Canada but very easy and cheap using WISE who deposit straight in the recipient's account.

If they won't share their account details I would have both red flags and flashing red lights.

Accommodation asking for £1300 in cash definitely rings some alarm
bells.

It would for me as well. As Nigel noted they should have alternative ways to pay that don't require a wad of cash.

FWIW, my ATM daily withdrawal limit is set in US dollars (not pounds), and given the current exchange rate it would take me 4 days to get £1300. If you indeed do need that much cash you should order some of it from your bank ahead of time before you leave, though I'd be worried about carrying that around on holiday.

This also sounds really weird to me. I have never come across a business asking for PayPal only in the UK. It’s not a usual method of paying for services. Card payment would be the most usual method of paying for accommodation, possibly bank transfer but that would normally be for privately owned self catering accommodation or something like that. I’d expect a hotel to take cards.

In regard to ATM limits, there are two types. The most important is your bank's daily limit from your account, mine range from $250 USD to $1000.

Then, some ATMs may have a transaction limit, I have seen anywhere from 250 to 800 GBP online. This however can be overcome by simply doing more than one transaction, at different ATMs if need be.

Also, if you are a somewhat savvy traveler, you may travel with more than one ATM card, so that eases the dilemma.

Finally, calculate the cost, but even using a credit card for a cash advance usually is cheaper than exchanging cash this can be done at an ATM.

But to others concerns, requiring payment in cash is certainly a flag, they are either avoiding taxes, letting an unapproved/regulated property, or an outright scam. For Keswick, I would guess one or both of the first two options. If London, probably all three.

Then, some ATMs may have a transaction limit, I have seen anywhere from 250 to 800 GBP online. This however can be overcome by simply doing more than one transaction, at different ATMs if need be.

I'm not sure how accurate this is. £500 daily is the usual if you're withdrawing from UK banks using UK cash machines. It doesn't matter if you go to different machines, it's a daily limit. There may be some who get special dispensation for £800 daily, but I've never seen that on regular bank accounts. YMMV withdrawing from foreign banks using UK ATMs of course.

There are an awful lot of self appointed tax inspectors on this forum.

The place I stayed at last night in Carlisle said they were cash only, or bank transfer. When I actually arrived it turned out they would accept cards, but as a last resort due to the fees involved. I have half a dozen shops within walking distance of my home in West Cumbria which are cash only.
Everyone knows fine well that they are honest, trying to keep prices as low as possible for customers, which people appreciate.
Interestingly three times in the past month at my local big supermarket I have had to reverse or part reverse card payments due to pricing errors, each time I have been repaid in cash without being asked.
I can imagine some of the smaller B and B's in town would appreciate being paid in cash, but at £130 a night this is somewhere larger.
It would be interesting to know where this is (by PM if need be). I'm surprised places are taking bookings for next June yet.
Keswick is not the Isle of Skye, needing bookings way in advance.

Nor is it Scotland in general with its licensing rules.

There are 2 daily limits imposed on ATM withdrawals. Your home bank has 1 limit and the ATM bank has 1 limit. The lower of the 2 limits will apply.

And I agree with the other posters. £1300 cash is a red flag. If you would like to post a link or name of your accommodations, maybe someone here can share their experience.

How people manage their business is literally their business at the end of the day. I don't mean to sound like a "self appointed tax inspector", but it's worth commenting on because it's so unusual to see a business run in this way these days. There's no good reason for it when everyone else can manage.

I have a slightly more nuanced view, for what it's worth. I've related the story of how I always paid my mechanic in cash, because I cared enough to do so. It was fine by me because we had a relationship. I'm not so interested in helping complete strangers run a cash business in these days of ubiquitous card payments. I'd be likely to take my business elsewhere if I could if someone asked me for £1300 for a hotel stay. I might feel differently about someone selling honey they made at a farmers' market. Depends.

Could it not be that the owners are happy to take cash, a cheque or bank transfer but the OP coming from overseas thinks that for him the easiest way is cash?

'There are an awful lot of self appointed tax inspectors on this forum'
Not self appointed or a tax inspector but my job is similar.

Regardless of whether this business is trying to avoid tax or not, their apparent payment policy is hugely inconvenient for their customers. Expecting customers to access and carry large amounts of cash just to stay there is ridiculous. I wonder if there has been some miscommunication, that they will accept cash but will accept payment by other more sensible means as well? I really think it is worth checking.

Regarding the beyond reproach businesses in West Cumbria I'd love to know how everyone 'knows' they are honest but that is my slightly cynical job head in action. I'm sure most are, but their policies do seem quite short sighted. The small amount businesses save by not paying card fees is probably more than wiped out by lost sales from people who do not have cash on them.

I thought I was bad enough having a go at northerners in general, now you bring West Cumbrians into it! lol

Fact of the matter (imho) is that they're "at it" as I would say in Glasgow, possibly because they know you're Americans.

Post Office is as good a place as any to change dollars, also imho. Their rates seemed to be geared towards fairness rather than scalping, in years gone by when I've bought Euros [and dollars, once, now I think about it] there.

I totally agree that asking for that much cash in this day and age, regardless of where in the UK, is a bit suspect. And I agree with Emma, I think these days a business will lose more by not having a card machine than the fees would actually cost. Like Gerry the only times I pay cash are to businesses I know quite well- and that is rare.

All that said, if you decide to go ahead with this booking I think the post office is your best bet.

Thanks for all your input. I’ve contacted my accommodations and asked if they can accept other payments besides cash. I’m sure it’s a reputable Guest House. They’re listed in Rick’s books saying that they are cash only. I’ve changed the number of nights we’re staying, so now we “only” need £1100. I’ll post again with their answer.

Have you searched the forums for information on this b&b? Perhaps someone has posted their recent experience and you could message them to see how they handled the cash only situation.