Greater London Travel Forum

Catching a taxi from St Pancras to hotel, can you pay in Euros?

I suppose you might be able to (apparently taxi-meters with a euro function on the meter do exist), but it would not be very sensible: the exchange rate you may get is not likely to be favourable. It is better to use the local curency, imo.

Use an ATM to get some GBP. There will be one in St Pancras somewhere (it's a very swish place now). There are also exchange offices at the Eurostar level.

It'll be highly unlikely.Use anything but pounds stirling in the England! A taxi fare isn'y going to be high ---so, you don't need to change a lot of money.
However, you'll need pounds for hotel tips etc. anyway ---so why not change your money at St.Pancras?

I hope that this helps!

Stephen crazyman2

Definitely not - I know one person who tried and fortunately they had £ with them. Some taxis are supposed to have a gizmo on the meter which allows you to pay in pounds but a) you would firstly have to cherchez le taxi and b) quite frankly, why? The exchange rate will be appalling and you will receive change in pounds, unless you manage exact or near-to-exact change. There are ATMs at St Pancras - can't tell you exactly where but they are pretty much in evidence, as I know I have passed at least one on my way from the main entrance to the Eurostar area.

No. This no more likely than me comeing to Perth and trying to pay in Euros. You may be able to pay with a credit card and have the banks deal with the exchange issues.

DG

"This no more likely than me comeing to Perth and trying to pay in Euros. You may be able to pay with a credit card and have the banks deal with the exchange issues."

Well, Perth is not part of Europe. As UK is part of EU, I was told you can use both Pounds and Euros. Ok for the taxi, I will have to change some money, so actually it is not true that Euros can be used in UK in shops?

Some, a few of the larger shops will take Euros. However,the exchange rate is abismal.

You have been given incorrect information.

The UK is indeed part of the EU. However, it has not adopted the euro, nor has it any p[lans to do so, so the legal currency is GBP only.

You may find some large shops in central London which accept euros, but you will (as noted above) almost certainly be given a rotten exchange rate.

The vast, vast majority of places (in London and elsewhere) will only accept GBP. So best get some from an ATM at St Pancras.

Pounds only.

Not all countries in the EU have adopted Euros, most plan to when the economic conditions are right. That time looks pretty far off as far as the UK is concerned.

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/the_euro/the_euro6482_en.htm

During my 2 weeks stay in Paris, I will visit London for 2 days only. I will get a travel card from my OZ bank with a few thousands Euros in it. So, is it better to change the Euros on me at St Pancras station or use the Euro travel card to withdraw Pounds? As the currency in the card will be Euros, I am not sure what kind of fee will be involved. Or would I be better off to use my OZ credit card to withdraw some Pounds at the train station?

That all depends on the exchange rate on the day, and on what charges your bank/card provider has in place.

If you exchange euros at an exchange bureau (anywhere, not just at St P) you'll pay some commission.

But changing money twice (i.e. to euros and then to GBP) is usually a pretty good way to lose out.

Check the exchange rate just before you leave home. It might be better to go straight from Australian dollars to GBP, rather than take the euro route. Make sure your bank knows you'll be abroad, and where/when: many have started to block cards if they do not know, because of the massive increase in card fraud.

If your PIN includes letters, make sure you know the numerical equivalent. Keypads in Europe rarely have letters.

Thanks leics for the wise advice.