What currency do I need to take...if any?

Naturally you’ll need some cash but many places will accept your credit card. Easiest way to get British Pounds is to use a bank ATM once you arrive. Good chance you’ll find one in the airport. USD are not accepted in Europe, so don’t bring any except for what you’ll need to get home.

Look at "General Europe" FAQ. There you'll find "Money Tips" with Rick Steve's tips on acquiring local cash.

Thanks.
I will check with CC about getting currency. I have a BOA debit card.

Its like anywhere else, including where you live...

People use their local currency - how do you think the corner shop where you live would respond if someone wanted to pay with Euros or Rubles?

Many (most) places are used to taking credit cards and do so routinely. Some smaller places will prefer cash and might give you the stinkeye if you wave a credit card but accept it , some just take cash only. You need some cash.

If you want to "get burned' then order foreign currency from your bank at home, exchange dollars at the airport, or any other place that does "currency exchange".

Smart travelers simply pull some cash from their home bank account by using their bank/credit union's debit card at an ATM in Europe.

Call your banks (whoever issues your credit cards and ATM card) before you go and give them a heads-up about your travels so they don't lock your card due to fraud. Always bring at least 2 of each, just in case you have trouble with one.

The UK uses Pounds for currency.

I will check with CC about getting currency

If you mean you plan to use a credit card (CC?) to get cash, that's a bad idea. Getting cash from a credit card is a cash advance, and you start paying very high interest the day you get that money -- it's a loan, at very high interest (like, mafia loan shark rates). Never do this unless its an emergency and you have no alternative.

Use a debit card to pull cash from your own bank account at home, not a credit card.

Ummm. You get cash using a debit card. Don't use a debit card to pay for anything. You charge purchases with a credit card. You tell the card people where you will be so that your cards work and the overseas transactions are not blocked.

For more detailed info, read this Money section of the Travel Tips. The local currency is GBP or £.

No...I understand. When I said CC... I meant debit card. I use a bank of America ATM and there are not any partners (according to their website in Scotland so I won't be able to use the ATM there unless getting burned bad for fees. I think Barclay ATM's are the only ATM's in England that partners with BOA but I will double check.

I will be using the Capital One Visa CC to pay for my transactions when I can because of no fees.

If you want Barclays, use Barclays Branch Finder https://www.barclays.co.uk/branch-finder/

click ATM

Use ATM cards at bank ATM machines for walking around cash over there. Everything else goes on a credit card.

I use my debit card to pay for things in Europe all the time with no problem.
I also use it to get cash from an ATM as others have said.

Yes, you will get badly screwed by the BofA ATM charges. But it will still not be as bad as attempting to use the currency exchange at the airport to swap actual USD for GBP or even buying currency from your local bank (if it is BofA or Chase or Wells etc.).

There are Barclay banks in Scotland and several of their ATMs in and throughout Scotland. All of them give out GBP (Great Britain Pounds) which is the only money accepted in all of the UK.

Nearly everyone take credit cards. Some smaller shops may not or the merchant may have a minimum purchase requirement. So having some cash on hand is always a good thing.

And this is just a general question, not necessarily aimed at anyone in particular: Why do so many people from the United States expect foreign countries to accept the USD for payment of anything? Where are they getting that idea?

I have BofA too. I’m charged $3 per withdrawal no matter the amount if i use a partner bank. That’s acceptable to me.

BofA’s partner bank in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) is Barclays. You shouldn’t be charged a fee for getting money using one of its ATMs with your BofA ATM card.

Hey Susan. So....if I need 100 pounds from any ATM BOA only charges you an additional 3 pounds? Does Any ATM work?

BofA "fine print": https://www.bankofamerica.com/deposits/atm-fees-faqs/
Understand the types of fees charged: The non-Bank of America ATM usage fee is $5. This fee is assessed for each withdrawal, transfer or balance inquiry performed at a non-Bank of America ATM in a foreign country. In addition, the ATM operator may charge an access fee for cash withdrawals. Your deposit account statement will reflect the U.S. dollar equivalent of your foreign ATM withdrawal. Bank of America will assess an international transaction fee of 3% of the U.S. dollar amount for all ATM withdrawals processed in foreign currency. International ATM operators may offer to do your currency conversion for you, but they may charge a higher fee for conversion. To insure that your currency conversion does not incur a fee higher than the one stated above, you may refuse the ATM operator's offer to convert the amount of the transaction. The fee is assessed as a separate transaction fee on the posting date of the withdrawal.
You can avoid the non-Bank of America ATM usage fee and ATM operator access fee by using one of our international partner ATMs in the corresponding countries listed below:
Global ATM Alliance Partners Coverage Area
Barclays United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey and the Channel Islands

homeby, if i use a partner bank (Barclays), i’m charged $3 - not £3.
In France, it’s Parisbas. In Germany it’s Deutsche Bank, etc. all $3.
I was last in Paris last June, going again this year (+ England) and will see if it’s changed. But honestly, i don’t care what it is unless it gets over $5. I don’t want to change banks, or use another bank for travel.
I take out a lot when i get cash from an ATM, so the fee is insignificant to me (unless over $5). I mostly use cash to pay for things. Any cash i have leftover i keep for my next trip the next year.

If BoA charges 3% on all foreign transactions, then maybe take a wad of US$ in a money belt and change them in the UK. Whether you need to change $ at the airport depends on how you're getting from the airport into the city. For instance, if you land at Heathrow, you can use your credit card to buy tickets for the Heathrow Express and/or the tube (if you buy Oyster cards). But if you need cash to get to your hotel, you'll have to change some at the airport - maybe $50 or $100 and bite the bullet. Once in the city, you can check rates at the currency exchanges. Chances are you'll get a better rate for a large amount.

It does depend on how much cash you think you'll need. If you pay for most stuff with your cc, then we're talking peanuts for a couple hundred pounds. If you're going to need a lot of cash for small purchases, tips, taxis, vending machines and such . . . . .

My account is with BoA and I don't pay any fees when using Barclay Bank cash machines as BoA has a relationship with them.

what currency do I need in Scotland and England?

The currency is the British pound £. That you didn't get £s before your trip means you didn't allow yourself to be bilked. I'm happy for you! Barclays Bank Scotland locations.

My account is with BoA and I don't pay any fees when using Barclay Bank cash machines as BoA has a relationship with them.

Not exactly correct that you don't pay any fees. Yes, the out of system fixed fee is waived, but you pay a FX transaction fee as a percentage of the withdraw of your money:

Bank of America will assess an international transaction fee of 3% of
the U.S. dollar amount for all ATM withdrawals processed in foreign
currency.

I’ve been in the UK since Thursday, I haven’t needed any cash at all. I don’t even have any, except for a few pence that my friend gave me from his last trip. They don’t charge for the toilets any longer.

Dont forget credit card machines can crash, mine did last week

Bank of America will assess an international transaction fee of 3% of
the U.S. dollar amount for all ATM withdrawals processed in foreign
currency.

The above is not ubiquitous for all BoA accounts. I pay no international transaction fees with BoA partners including Barclays Bank in the UK, Deutsche Bank in Germany, BNP Paribas in France, and Scotiabank in Canada.

Do you know that from checking the mid-market rates to the actual rate you got for each withdrawal? They won't show the 3% as a separate charge (or any one-time fees). For instance if withdraw 100 pounds and there are no fees at all, and the mid-market rate is 1.30, then your $ account should reflect around $130. But if they take 3%, the amount on your account would be around $134.