ATM's in the U.K.

Hi Michelle, Four trips to the UK, have never seen an option for account type (I see that at home, not there). The funds have always been drawn from the checking account tied to the card. Do make sure the card is tied to a checking account is the advice I have always seen online.

It will not show you all of your accouts....your ATM card needs to be connected to your checking account only. You should have it disconnected from your savings account while you are in the UK.

If your two accounts are "linked", make sure the checking account is designated as the "primary" or "default" account for your ATM card. ATM's in Europe won't give you a choice of account.

Yes, you only have 1 choice and that is your checking account. You cannot move or get money from any other account. Also, remember that when taking cash from the ATM, if you get 100 Pounds, that will be about $154.00 give or take a bit, plus your ATM fees and charges. The ATM in UK will not charge you a fee.

You can save a little bit by asking your bank if it has an arrangement with a UK bank. E.g. Bank of America has done a deal with Barclays allowing BofA card to be used at Barclay ATM's without some of the usual fees.

Thank you all for your tips on ATM's in the U.K. I will make certain that my ATM funds are tied to my primary checking account, and will inquire about partner bank arrangements.

In the UK nearly all current account banking is 'free' paid for by overdrafts, loans etc. Unless you use one of the few ATM's that charge for use, ( by law prominently displayed) there is no charges at the UK end. The exchange rate will be at the global interbank rate and any charges deducted will be purely from your card issuer. The only thing to look for (world over, not just UK) is that ATM's increasingly ask you do you want to be charged in the currency of the card, your own currency or the local currency the amount you are withdrawing. Its a bit of a scam in that most people at first sight think, how nice, I know exactly how much this is going to cost me, I'll choose my own currency.
What you're not told is that the local bank does the currency exchange so you get hit by two lots of charges your own bank and the ATM's bank.

Bob, I appreciate your thorough explanation of a possible mistake I probably would have made. So your advise would be to accept any charges/withdrawls based upon British Pounds instead of dollars when given that choice?

Yes, never pay in US dollars in Europe if offered that choice, always pay in the local currency. The wholesale interbank exchange rates you'll get using credit/debit cards are always much better than any rate you'll get elsewhere. Just make sure you get a card with very low/no fees your end by your issuer. Its not just ATM's, this particular "scam" is becoming particularly commonplace in hotels and restaurants even in multinational household names when paying by card.
As well as a lousy exchange rate and bank charges by the retailers bank you'll also get your own banks charges on top. In tourist areas of London you might see retail outlets offering to take Euro's and US Dollars (cash), its always a lousy exchange rate. Its the kind of lousy exchange rate that I would end up with if your local restauarnt in the US agreed to take UK sterling in payment. US Dollars without any incentive to do otherwise are about as attractive to people in Europe as a European currency is to folk in the US.