ATMs & Magnetic Strip debit card...

The chip & pin is nearly everywhere. Some places will graciously accommodate you while others...not so much. Suggest you research your credit cards to learn which ones have that feature & change at least one before you leave. All the best, Cathy
Gainesville, Florida 6/24/13

All ATMs will accept magnetic strip cards. There are a lot of grocery stores in Europe, that only accept chip & pin debit cards, no credit cards of any variety, so make sure you have cash on hand.

Don't get a chip & PIN card for a trip you take every 8 years. ATM's still take regular old magnetic debit cards for cash - that hasn't changed. Many off-tourist businesses do not have the capability or clerks do not know how to still use the magnetic swipe and sign cards - so be prepared to pay cash in such places (like neighborhood grocery stores). Tourist oriented businesses will almost all still take magnetic cards. Automated machines will mostly be chip & PIN. Chip & PIN has been adopted almost everywhere in Europe, but the northern countries are more advanced in its use than in the south.

ATM's in the UK happily accept magnetic strip cards. As I understand it, stores, cafes, etc., are supposed to accept them, but many have staff that don't know how. That said, I've never had a problem handing a U.S. card to someone in any well traveled part of the UK. They know how to handle them. Still, I always go around with cash in my pocket. Locations that use automated systems are much more likely to be only chip and pin.

I've made four trips to the UK in the past nine months. ATM cards work fine. Mag strip credit cards generally work (twice had to reach for the CP, both times at gas stations out of probably fifty total gas purchases). AmExp is widely accepted even at small groceries (but not at Clark's for some odd reason). I've never had a debit card.

Excellent! Thanks so much everyone!