Best way to get British pound notes or travelers checks in the US

Traveler checks are dinosaurs. Hardly anyone uses them anymore, and it's very difficult to get them cashed. Best to use ATM machines, or even cash (secured in you money belt underneath you clothes): http://youtu.be/Ur7NgbJ1G30 Cash can easily be exchange, at exchange desks and banks...they're all over the place in London...including the airports.

The dollars-to-pounds direct exchange has terrible rates. It's best to get all or most of your cash from ATMs once you arrive in the UK. Some people, like me, like to buy some local currency before we get to the country (100 pounds, 100 euros, whatever) so that we don't have to immediately find an ATM. Although the exchange rate is terrible, I find it worth it to have some local currency on hand to get me started.

As I and many others constantly post, the cheapest and most convenient way to obtain local currency is via a debit card at a local ATM. It will never be cheaper any other way.

NO ONE uses travelers checks anymore. You will find it difficult to walk more than five minutes anywhere urban without coming across an ATM machine. Use your credit card to get cash. If you are like my in-laws who act like it's still 1974 and never use their credit card, it would be better for your piece of mind to do what my in-laws do and never go anywhere. Seriously, we have use our cards thousands of times in 20+ countries and have not once had a fraudulent charge show up.

I'm sure Randy meant to say use your DEBIT/ATM card to get cash. If you use your credit card, you'll be charged for a cash advance and it'll cost you much more.

Quite right. I should have been more clear. Though even credit card use would probably incur fewer fees than buying currency from your local bank in the US or going to one of the becoming-more-rare currency exchange businesses in Europe.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions, which seem to be unanimouos - use my debit card. I will, and I will also try to have a few hundred pounds on me (not weight) before I get there. Thank you again.

Esther, no need to take any UK money with you; just stop at the first ATM and get some when you land. We NEVER take any local currentcy when we travel to the EU; we just get it at a local ATM. Even the smallest towns havve ATM's. Check the rates that your bank charges to use an ATM. You can get ATM/Debit cards that charge nothing.
Notify your ATM Debit card bank and your VISA credit card bank about your travel plans, or they may shut down your card, just when you need it.

Esther, no need to take any UK money with you; just stop at the first ATM and get some when you land. We NEVER take any local currentcy when we travel to the EU; we just get it at a local ATM. Even the smallest towns havve ATM's. Check the rates that your bank charges to use an ATM. You can get ATM/Debit cards that charge nothing.
Notify your ATM Debit card bank and your VISA credit card bank about your travel plans, or they may shut down your card, just when you need it.

Esther, no need to take any UK money with you; just stop at the first ATM and get some when you land. We NEVER take any local currentcy when we travel to the EU; we just get it at a local ATM. Even the smallest towns havve ATM's. Check the rates that your bank charges to use an ATM. You can get ATM/Debit cards that charge nothing.
Notify your ATM Debit card bank and your VISA credit card bank about your travel plans, or they may shut down your card, just when you need it.